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133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
27 March 2026
T Hayden
By email: [FYI request #33911 email]
Ref: H2026079427
Tēnā koe T Hayden
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health – Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 1 March 2026 for:
I would like to request the number of staff in public relations or communications roles at
the Ministry of Health for 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
In accordance with section 18(d) of the Act, most of the information you have requested is
publicly available, as the Ministry reports annually to Parliament’s Health Select Commit ee.
This information is published in the Ministry’s Annual Review Questionnaire. The relevant
questionnaires for the years requested be found at the following links:
2020/2021 Q52: Ministry of Health (Responses to written questions 1-147) - New Zealand
Parliament
2021/2022 Q52:
Ministry of Health (Responses to written questions 1 - 162) - New Zealand
Parliament
2022/2023 Q52: Ministry of Health (Responses to questions 1 - 206) - New Zealand Parliament
2023/2024 Q168: Ministry of Health (Responses to post-hearing questions 117-356) - New
Zealand Parliament
2024/2025 - The standard annual question was not asked by the Health Select Commit ee
during this financial year. In line with the definitions provided by the Public Service
Commission
1, the number of staff employed in these roles as at 30 June 2024 was 12.
1
www.publicservice.govt.nz/guidance/guidance-communications-function-
definition?_searchAnalytics=eyJlbmdpbmVOYW1lIjoicHJvZC10a20iLCJxdWVyeVN0cmluZyI6IkNvbW11b
mljYXRpb25zIEZ1bmN0aW9uIERlZmluaXRpb24gIiwiZG9jdW1lbnRJZCI6InNpbHZlcnN0cmlwZV9jbXNfb
W9kZWxfc2l0ZXRyZWVfNzUwIiwicmVxdWVzdElkIjoiRWhCcW51NFJUNS1zNUlfZHBiLUYtZyJ9
2025/2026 - The data for this financial year has not yet been compiled. However, as at the date
of your request, 1 March 2026, the number of staff employed in these roles was 12.
I trust this information fulfils your request.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this decision, please feel
free to contact the OIA Services Team on
: [email address].
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-official-
information-act-requests.
Nāku noa, nā
Celia Wellington
Deputy Director-General
Corporate Services | Te Pou Tiaki
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