Kia ora John
 
Thank you for your request of 21 April 2026 for the following information:
 

I am writing to request further information regarding Wellington Free
Ambulance’s involvement in the Pōneke Promise initiative operating in
Courtenay Place, in partnership with Wellington City Council and New
Zealand Police.

I am particularly interested in understanding the clinical and operational
impact of this model, and would appreciate clarification on the following:

1. Staffing and Model of Care
a. What is the standard staffing model (e.g. EMT, Paramedic)?
b. How many teams are typically deployed at any one time?

2. Patient Cohort
a. What are the most common patient presentations attended (e.g.
intoxication, minor trauma, mental health)?

3. Clinical Outcomes
a. What proportion of patients are treated and discharged on scene?
b. What proportion require transport to the Emergency Department?
c. Are alternative referral pathways utilised?

4. System Impact
a. Has the initiative reduced ambulance transport rates from the Courtenay
Place area?
b. Has it had any measurable impact on Emergency Department demand?

5. Operational Efficiency
a. Does this model reduce demand on frontline ambulance resources or
prevent repeat callouts?
b. Has it improved ambulance availability or response times elsewhere?

6. Clinical Risk and Decision-Making
a. What are the key clinical risks associated with this environment?
b. How are decisions made regarding transport versus non-transport?

7. Evaluation
a. Has Wellington Free Ambulance undertaken any formal evaluation of the
initiative?
b. What metrics are used to assess its effectiveness?

 
Your request asks for information which we believe is more closely aligned
with the functions of Wellington City Council. 
For this reason, Health New Zealand has decided to transfer your request
in full to Wellington City Council under section 14(b)(ii) of the Official
Information Act (OIA).
You can expect a response from Wellington City Council in due course.
 
Under section 28(3) of the OIA you have the right to ask the Ombudsman
to review any decisions made under this request. 
The Ombudsman may be contacted
by email at: [1][email address] or by calling 0800 802 602. 
If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch.  
 
Ngā mihi

Kathleen
Government Services
[2][email address]   

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
 

 

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delete this message

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]

Tēnā koe John
 
Thank you for your email transferred from Health New Zealand on ​4 May
2026​ to Te Kaunihera o Pōneke | Wellington City Council (the Council),
requesting the following information:
I am writing to request further information regarding Wellington Free
Ambulance’s involvement in the Pōneke Promise initiative operating in
Courtenay Place, in partnership with Wellington City Council and New
Zealand Police.

I am particularly interested in understanding the clinical and operational
impact of this model, and would appreciate clarification on the following:

1. Staffing and Model of Care
a. What is the standard staffing model (e.g. EMT, Paramedic)?
b. How many teams are typically deployed at any one time?

2. Patient Cohort
a. What are the most common patient presentations attended (e.g.
intoxication, minor trauma, mental health)?

3. Clinical Outcomes
a. What proportion of patients are treated and discharged on scene?
b. What proportion require transport to the Emergency Department?
c. Are alternative referral pathways utilised?

4. System Impact
a. Has the initiative reduced ambulance transport rates from the Courtenay
Place area?
b. Has it had any measurable impact on Emergency Department demand?

5. Operational Efficiency
a. Does this model reduce demand on frontline ambulance resources or
prevent repeat callouts?
b. Has it improved ambulance availability or response times elsewhere?

6. Clinical Risk and Decision-Making
a. What are the key clinical risks associated with this environment?
b. How are decisions made regarding transport versus non-transport?

7. Evaluation
a. Has Wellington Free Ambulance undertaken any formal evaluation of the
initiative?
b. What metrics are used to assess its effectiveness?
Your request is being considered under the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA).  
 
This letter is to advise you that the Council needs to extend the due date
of your response for 15 working days, pursuant to section 14(1)(b) of the
LGOIMA, as consultations necessary to make a decision on the request are
such that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably be made
within the original time limit. 
 
For this reason, you can expect a response from the Council no later
than ​23 June 2026​. 
 
If you have any concerns about this response please contact
[1][email address]. Alternatively, you are advised of
your right to raise any concerns with the Office of the Ombudsman at
[2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

Ngā mihi,

Chelsea

 

Chelsea McHugh

Senior Advisor Official Information | Official Information & Privacy |
Strategy & Finance | Wellington City Council

The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and
intended for the addressee only. If you are not the intended recipient,
you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or
make use of its contents. If received in error you are asked to destroy
this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is
appreciated.

 

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

Kia ora John
Thank you for your email transferred from Health New Zealand on ​4 May
2026​ to Te Kaunihera o Pōneke | Wellington City Council (the Council),
requesting the following information:
I am writing to request further information regarding Wellington Free
Ambulance’s involvement in the Pōneke Promise initiative operating in
Courtenay Place, in partnership with Wellington City Council and New
Zealand Police.

I am particularly interested in understanding the clinical and operational
impact of this model, and would appreciate clarification on the following:

1. Staffing and Model of Care
a. What is the standard staffing model (e.g. EMT, Paramedic)?
b. How many teams are typically deployed at any one time?

2. Patient Cohort
a. What are the most common patient presentations attended (e.g.
intoxication, minor trauma, mental health)?

3. Clinical Outcomes
a. What proportion of patients are treated and discharged on scene?
b. What proportion require transport to the Emergency Department?
c. Are alternative referral pathways utilised?

4. System Impact
a. Has the initiative reduced ambulance transport rates from the Courtenay
Place area?
b. Has it had any measurable impact on Emergency Department demand?

5. Operational Efficiency
a. Does this model reduce demand on frontline ambulance resources or
prevent repeat callouts?
b. Has it improved ambulance availability or response times elsewhere?

6. Clinical Risk and Decision-Making
a. What are the key clinical risks associated with this environment?
b. How are decisions made regarding transport versus non-transport?

7. Evaluation
a. Has Wellington Free Ambulance undertaken any formal evaluation of the
initiative?
b. What metrics are used to assess its effectiveness?
Your request is being considered under the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA).  
The Council has decided to grant your request in part, with some
information refused pursuant to the following sections of the LGOIMA:

* Section 17(g)(i), that the information requested is not held by the
local authority and the person dealing with the request has no grounds
for believing that the information is held by another local authority
or a department or Minister of the Crown or organisation

The Council requires further time to finish preparing our response to the
remaining questions in your LGOIMA request. We will endeavour to have our
response to no later than 30 June 2026​.
If you have any concerns about this response please contact
[1][email address]. Alternatively, you are advised of
your right to raise any concerns with the Office of the Ombudsman at
[2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

Ngā mihi,

Chelsea

 

Chelsea McHugh

Senior Advisor Official Information | Official Information & Privacy |
Strategy & Finance | Wellington City Council

 

The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and
intended for the addressee only. If you are not the intended recipient,
you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or
make use of its contents. If received in error you are asked to destroy
this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is
appreciated.

 

 

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Kia ora John
Please see the attached correspondence form Wellington City Council. 

Ngā mihi,

Chelsea

 

Chelsea McHugh

Senior Advisor Official Information | Official Information & Privacy |
Strategy & Finance | Wellington City Council

The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and
intended for the addressee only. If you are not the intended recipient,
you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or
make use of its contents. If received in error you are asked to destroy
this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is
appreciated.

 

 

show quoted sections