6. Question No. 6—HealthDr SHANE RETI (National) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 6—Health6. Dr SHANE RETI (National) to the Minister of Health: How many contracting or consulting arrangements has Te Whatu Ora made with contractors or consultants since 1 July 2022 and how many of these arrangements were for public relations or communications advice?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Minister of Health): A number of health services are delivered under contracts including all aged residential care services primary care services most laboratory services and community health services. In addition capital works projects engage contractors. However in terms of Te Whatu Ora's national functions I am advised that up to 2 March 2023 it has commenced 343 new contractors or consultants since 1 July 2022. Of those 26 new contractors or consultants since 1 July 2022 are for communications engagement and public relations activity in its national functions. Te Whatu Ora does not have available data on new district-level contracting or consulting arrangements and does not currently have a single payroll system or central register of consulting arrangements yet. I am advised that Te Whatu Ora has established a contractor and consultant workforce review to improve data on this workforce and is focused on decreasing spending on contractors and consultants.Dr Shane Reti: Which is correct: the answer she has just given that there are 343 new national-level contract arrangements or her answer to written question No. 43274 from a few weeks ago that there are 626 new national-level contracting arrangements?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: I paid attention to the member's question today and to its reference to arrangements made with contractors or consultants since 1 July 2022 to mean only brand-new contracting or consulting arrangements made by Te Whatu Ora in the time frame. The 343 does not include contracts which were already in place or given an extension.Dr Shane Reti: Does she stand by her answer to written questions that the Ministry of Health has spent $21 million on consultants in just the first six months of the health reforms and if so so can she name one of her health indicators that have improved for the $21 million?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: The purpose of the health reforms was to reorientate our system towards one in which we can make sure that services are available locally that there is no longer a postcode lottery for services and where Māori health is elevated and pursued actively through Te Aka Whai Ora. Those are the goals of the reforms. During that time the Ministry of Health made lots of progress on keeping the country safe from COVID and on contact tracing monkeypox to eliminate outbreaks. The ongoing work with the reforms will bear fruit over time.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Point of order. That was a very interesting answer but neither of the two legs of that supplementary question were answered. One was Can she confirm $21 million?" and "Can she point to a single health indicator that's improved?" The long commentary did not address either of those legs.SPEAKER: Yeah I disagree—I disagree. I think the overall statement that the Minister did address the overall question. Now if the member wants a specific answer: one leg.Dr Shane Reti: How does she justify the $2.2 million within the Māori Health Authority budget this year just for PR consultants that she stated in answer to written questions?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: Te Aka Whai Ora is a new part of our health landscape. It has to make sure that the public understands what its job is to do—Hon Grant Robertson: Especially with all the misinformation coming from over there.Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: —and indeed with the misinformation that it is subject to. I've been pleased to be out with Te Aka Whai Ora in the community drawing attention to the good work they're doing."