Dear Health New Zealand,

From: Nigel Gray
Date: 1 March 2026

I request the following information under the Official Information Act 1982.

For the purposes of this request, “medications” refers to all prescription medicines regulated under the Medicines Act 1981.

I am seeking all documents, policies, guidelines, protocols, training materials, internal communications, and decision‑support resources held by your agency that relate to nutrient depletion and associated physiological effects caused by commonly prescribed medications. This includes, but is not limited to, depletion of B‑vitamins, magnesium, vitamin D, CoQ10, zinc, potassium, and impacts on methylation pathways, mitochondrial function, neurotransmitter systems, and liver detoxification capacity.

This request covers six areas:

1. Patient Information and Disclosure
All documents that instruct, require, or guide clinicians, pharmacists, or other health professionals to inform patients about nutrient‑depletion risks or associated physiological effects of medications.

2. Monitoring and Biochemical Screening
All documents that outline monitoring requirements, recommended testing intervals, or biochemical screening protocols for nutrient depletion or related physiological impacts of long‑term or high‑risk medication use.

3. Rehabilitation or Restoration Pathways
All documents describing any rehabilitation, nutrient‑restoration, or physiological recovery pathways for patients whose nutrient status, methylation capacity, mitochondrial function, neurotransmitter balance, or liver detoxification capacity may be affected by long‑term medication use.

4. Informed Consent Processes
All documents that explain how informed consent is considered complete when nutrient‑depletion risks and associated physiological effects of medications are not disclosed to patients.

5. Harm‑Minimisation and Patient‑Safety Frameworks
All risk‑assessment frameworks, harm‑minimisation guidelines, or patient‑safety documents that address nutrient depletion or related physiological impacts of long‑term medication use.

6. Physiological System Impacts
All documents your agency holds that address the effects of medications on:

methylation pathways

mitochondrial function

neurotransmitter systems

liver detoxification processes (Phase I and Phase II)

This includes any monitoring requirements, rehabilitation pathways, or restoration protocols associated with these systems.

Scope and Format
For all six areas, I request:

all current documents

all historical documents still held

all drafts, internal memos, and emails discussing the existence, development, or absence of such policies

If no documents exist for any area, please confirm that no such documents are held.

If any part of this request relates to another agency’s responsibilities, please transfer that portion under section 14 of the Official Information Act.

I am happy to receive the information electronically.

Yours faithfully,
Nigel Gray

Yours faithfully,

Nigel Gray