Response to your OIA to Treasury.pdf

Reference: 20230287

29 August 2023

Delia Mason
[FYI request #23004 email]

Dear Delia

Thank you for your Official Information Act (OIA) request, received on 4 June 2023.
You requested:

… all advice you provided to Ministers from 2017-2022 about the proposal for
health system reform. Please include:
- all advice about the establishment of the Health and Disability System Review
led by Heather Simpson, and the government decisions that were taken following
that report
- all advice about the establishment of the health reforms unit inside DPMC, and
- all advice to Ministers that led to the establishment of the new health agencies,
including any views on whether agencies were ready for the 1 July 2022 'go live'
date.

Please interrupt my request broadly and include any emails, meetings, briefings,
memos, cabinet papers etc that relate to this request.

On the 26 June 2023 the Treasury extended your request for 40 working days due to
the large quantity of information that needed to be searched through to
comprehensively answer your request.

On the 7 July 2023 the Treasury partially transferred part of your request for all advice
about the establishment of the health reforms unit inside DPMC to the Department of
Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), as Treasury does not hold this information.

On the 30 July 2023, you contacted Treasury inquiring why the request had been
partially transferred to DPMC. We contacted you on the 7 August 2023 confirming that
it was only a partial transfer and that we still intended to provide you with all Treasury
advice concerning the health reforms.

Information being released

Please find enclosed the following documents:

1 The Terrace
PO Box 3724
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
tel. +64-4-472-2733

https://treasury.govt.nz

Item
Date
Document Description
Decision
1.    4 June 2020
Treasury Report T2020/1710: Health and
Release in part
Disability Review
2.    5 March 2021
Treasury Report T2021/419: Health and Disability
Release in part
System Reform - Briefing for Ministerial Oversight
Group, 9 March 2021
3.    13 August
Joint Report T2021/2054: Health Reform:
Release in part
2021
Appropriations, Budget Responsibilities and
Funding Design Principles
4.    16 September
Treasury Report T2021/2292: Disability System
Release in part
2021
Transformation Cabinet Paper - Treasury Advice
5.    8 October
Treasury Report T2021/1992: Vote Health -
Release in part
2021
Budget 2022 Transition Package

I have decided to release the relevant parts of the documents listed above, subject to
information being withheld under one or more of the following sections of the OIA, as
applicable:

•
section 9(2)(g)(ii) – to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through
protecting Ministers, members of government organisations, officers and
employees from improper pressure or harassment,
•
section 9(2)(f)(iv) – to maintain the current constitutional conventions protecting
the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers and officials,
•
section 9(2)(g)(i) – to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the
free and frank expression of opinions,
•
section 9(2)(b)(ii) – to protect the commercial position of the person who supplied
the information, or who is the subject of the information,
•
section 9(2)(j) – to enable the Crown to negotiate without prejudice or
disadvantage, and,
•
section 9(2)(k) – to prevent the disclosure of information for improper gain or
improper advantage.
Some information has been redacted because it is not covered by the scope of your
request.

Direct dial phone numbers of officials have been redacted under section 9(2)(k) in
order to reduce the possibility of staff being exposed to phishing, social engineering
and other scams. This is because information released under the OIA may end up in
the public domain, for example, on websites including Treasury’s website.

Please note that regarding Item 1, Treasury Report T2020/1710: Health and Disability
Review that the $30 million over two years figure on pages 2 and 8, is not what was
eventually funded. The eventual funding amounted to $5 million in the first year
(2021/22), with the second year considered as part of Budget 2021 [Paragraph 35
2

refers Cabinet papers relating to The Health and Disability System Review - March
2021 - Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (futureofhealth.govt.nz)]
Regarding Item 2, Treasury Report T2021/419: Health and Disability System Reform -
Briefing for Ministerial Oversight Group, 9 March 2021 - more detail surrounding
paragraph 22 can be found here, https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/proactive-
release-health-and-disability-system-reform-briefings

Additionally, paragraph 40 notes that the Transition Unit was seeking $126 million as
an annual operating allowance. This is not what was funded. At Cabinet 2021, $36.707
million was provided to fund the Transition Unit within DPMC, for the 2020/21 financial
year until 2022/23 financial year. See  Cabinet Minute CAB-21-MIN-0116.24: 2021
Budget Package: Vote Prime Minister and Cabinet - 16 April 2021 - Budget 2021
Information Release (treasury.govt.nz) for more information.

Post Budget 2021, the functions of the Transition Unit were transferred to the Interim
Health entities. DPMC Health Reform: Transfer of Functions from Ministry of Health to
New Entities refers [see pages 6-17] (Briefing DPMC-2021/2022-1221 - Health Reform:
Transfer of Functions from Ministry of Health to New Entities - August 2022 - Proactive
Release: Health and Disability System Reform Briefings).

Regarding Item 5, Treasury Report T2021/1992: Vote Health - Budget 2022 Transition
Package, the table at paragraph 15 shows operating costs that evolved over time.
Please see paragraph 16 where it is noted that these numbers are expected to change.

Information publicly available

The following information is also covered by your request and is publicly available on
the Treasury, DPMC and Future of Health websites:

Item
Date
Document Description
Website Address
6.    8 June 2020
Paper: Response to the Health and
Cabinet papers relating to The Health
Disability System Review / Hauora
and Disability System Review -
Manaaki Ki Aotearoa Whānui CAB-20-
March 2021 - Department of the
MIN-0269
Prime Minister and Cabinet
(dpmc.govt.nz)
7.
1 December
Paper: Health and Disability System
Cabinet Decision CAB-20-SUB-0519:
2020
Review Response - update CAB-20-
Health and Disability System Review
MIN-0519
Response - update (December 2020)
(dpmc.govt.nz)
8.
11
Treasury Report: T2021/3595: Budget
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/def
December
2021 – Briefing for Vote Health
ault/files/2021-08/b21-t2020-3595-
2020
Bilateral
4382421.pdf
9.
14
Paper: The Health and Disability
Cabinet Decision CAB-20-SUB-0519:
December
System Review: Update
Health and Disability System Review
2020
CAB‐20‐SUB‐0519
Response - update (December 2020)
- Cabinet Material Information
Release (futureofhealth.govt.nz)
3

10.    14
Minute: The Health and Disability
Cabinet Decision CAB-20-SUB-0519:
December
System Review: Update
Health and Disability System Review
2020
CAB‐20‐MIN‐0519
Response - update (December 2020)
- Cabinet Material Information
Release (futureofhealth.govt.nz)
11.    16 February
Budget Ministers 1
Budget Ministers 1 – Budget 2021:
2021
Strategic outlook and choices - 16
Budget 2021: Strategic outlook and
February 2021 - Budget 2021
choices
Information Release
(treasury.govt.nz)
12.    4 March
Treasury Report T2021/316: Fiscal
Treasury Report T2021/316: Fiscal
2021
Strategy for Budget 2021
Strategy for Budget 2021 - 4 March
2021 - Budget 2021 Information
Release
13.    5 March
Treasury Report T2023/419- Health
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/def
2021
and Disability System Reform -
ault/files/2022-04/oia-20210340.pdf
Briefing for Ministerial Oversight
Group, 9 March 2021
14.    5 March
Treasury Report T2021/359: Draft
Treasury Report T2021/359: Draft
2021
package advice for Budget 2021
package advice for Budget 2021 - 5
March 2021 - Budget 2021
Information Release
15.    11 March
Treasury Report T2021/383: Briefing
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/def
2021
for Vote Health Budget 2021 Bilateral
ault/files/2021-08/b21-t2021-383-
Meeting - 15 March
4421093.pdf
16.    15 March
Aide Memoire T2021/651: Budget
Aide Memoire T2021/651: Budget
2021
2021 – further information on Health
2021 – further information on Health
and Disability Reform Initiatives
and Disability Reform Initiatives - 15
March 2021 - Budget 2021

Information Release
(treasury.govt.nz)
17.    15 March
Aide Memoire T2021/651: Budget
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/def
2021
2021 - Health reform initiatives
ault/files/2021-08/b21-t2021-651-
4430078.pdf
18.    16 March
Budget Ministers 2
Budget Ministers 2 – Emerging
2021
Budget 2021 Package - 16 March
Emerging Budget 2021 Package
2021 - Budget 2021 Information
Release (treasury.govt.nz)
19.    18 March
Paper: Health and Disability System
Cabinet Decision CAB-21-SUB-0092:
2021
Review - Proposals for Reform SWC-
Health and Disability System Review
21-SUB-0092 refers
- proposals for reform (March 2021)
(dpmc.govt.nz)
4

20.    19 March
Treasury Report T2021/653: Budget
Treasury Report T2021/653: Budget
2021
2021: revised package for Budget
2021: revised package for Budget
Ministers 3 - 19 March 2021 - Budget
Ministers 3 - 19 March 2021 - Budget
2021 Information Release
2021 Information Release
21.    29 March
Minute: Health and Disability System
Cabinet Decision CAB-21-SUB-0092:
2021
Review - Proposals for Reform CAB-
Health and Disability System Review
21-MIN-0092 refers
- proposals for reform (March 2021)
(dpmc.govt.nz)
22.    29 March
Budget Ministers 3 Budget 2021: Final
Budget Ministers 3 – Budget 2021:
2022
Package
Final Package - 29 March 2021 -
Budget 2021 Information Release
(treasury.govt.nz)
23.    9 April 2021   Cabinet Paper: CAB-21-SUB-0116:
Cabinet Paper CAB-21-SUB-0116:
Budget 2021 Package
Budget 2021 Package - 9 April 2021
- Budget 2021 Information Release
(treasury.govt.nz)
24.    2 June 2021   Paper: Health and Disability System
Health and Disability Reform papers
Reform: Implementation and
informing legislation content -
Transitional Arrangements SWC-21-
November 2021 - Department of the
SUB-0080
Prime Minister and Cabinet
(dpmc.govt.nz)
25.    2 June 2021
Minute: Health and Disability System
Health and Disability Reform papers
Reform: Implementation and
informing legislation content -
Transitional Arrangements SWC-21-
November 2021 - Department of the
MIN-0080
Prime Minister and Cabinet
(dpmc.govt.nz)
26.    8 June 2021
Minute: Health and Disability System
Health and Disability Reform papers
Reform: Implementation and
informing legislation content -
Transitional Arrangements CAB-21-
November 2021 - Department of the
MIN-0206
Prime Minister and Cabinet
(dpmc.govt.nz)
27.    7 July 2021
Paper: Health and Disability System
Health and Disability Reform papers
Reform: Legislative Proposals SWC-
informing legislation content -
21-SUB-0107
November 2021 - Department of the
Prime Minister and Cabinet
(dpmc.govt.nz)
28.
7 July 2021
Minute: Health and Disability System
Health and Disability Reform papers
Reform: Legislative Proposals SWC-
informing legislation content -
21-MIN-0107
November 2021 - Department of the
Prime Minister and Cabinet
(dpmc.govt.nz)
29.
12 July 2021  Minute: Health and Disability System
Health and Disability Reform papers
Reform: Legislative Proposals CAB-
informing legislation content -
5

21-MIN-0274
November 2021 - Department of the
Prime Minister and Cabinet
(dpmc.govt.nz)
30.
20 July 2021  Joint Report T2021/1579: Joint Report:
Joint Report T2021/1579: Joint
Health Reform - A Multi-Year
Report: Health Reform - A Multi-Year
Approach to Health Funding – 30 July
Approach to Health Funding - 30 July
201
2021 - Budget 2022 Information
Release (treasury.govt.nz)
31.
30 July 2021  Joint Report T2021/1579: Health
Joint Report T2021/1579: Joint
Reform - A Multi-year Approach to
Report: Health Reform - A Multi-Year
Health Funding
Approach to Health Funding - 30 July
2021 - Budget 2022 Information
Release (treasury.govt.nz)
32.
20
Paper: Health and Disability System
Health and Disability Reform papers
September
Review: Further Policy Decisions for
informing legislation content -
2021
the Health Reform Bill CAB-21-SUB-
November 2021 - Department of the
0378
Prime Minister and Cabinet
(dpmc.govt.nz)
33.
20
Minute: Health and Disability System
Health and Disability Reform papers
September
Review: Further Policy Decisions for
informing legislation content -
2021
the Health Reform Bill CAB-21-MIN-
November 2021 - Department of the
0378
Prime Minister and Cabinet
(dpmc.govt.nz)
34.
14 October
Paper: Health and Disability System
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/def
2021
Reform - national budget and funding
ault/files/2022-09/b22-swc-21-min-
settings SWC-21-SUB-0157:
0157-4661895.pdf
35.
26 October
Minute: Report of the Cabinet Social
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/def
2021
Wellbeing Committee: Period Ended
ault/files/2022-09/b22-cab-21-min-
22 October 2021
0430-4661880.pdf
36.
19 October
Paper: Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill:
Health and Disability Reform papers
2021
Approval for Introduction (CPC-21-
informing legislation content -
SUB-0024)
November 2021 - Department of the
Prime Minister and Cabinet
(dpmc.govt.nz)
37.
19 October
Minute: Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill:
Health and Disability Reform papers
2021
Approval for Introduction (CPC-21-
informing legislation content -
SUB-0024)
November 2021 - Department of the
Prime Minister and Cabinet
(dpmc.govt.nz)
38.
19 October
Minute: Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill:
Health and Disability Reform papers
2021
Approval for Introduction for release
informing legislation content -
(CAB-21-MIN-0417)
November 2021 - Department of the
Prime Minister and Cabinet
6

(dpmc.govt.nz)
39.
19 October
Minute: Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill:
Health and Disability Reform papers
2021
Approval for Introduction for release
informing legislation content -
(CAB-21-MIN-0417)
November 2021 - Department of the
Prime Minister and Cabinet
(dpmc.govt.nz)
40.
20 October
Minute: Health and Disability System
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/def
2021
Reform: National Budget and Funding
ault/files/2022-09/b22-swc-21-min-
Settings. SWC-21-MIN-0157
0157-4661895.pdf
41.
26 October
Minute: Report of the Cabinet Social
Proactive Release: Health and
2021
Wellbeing Committee: Period Ended
Disability System Reform National
22 October 2021 (CAB-21-MIN-0430
Budget and Funding Settings -
refers)
August 2022 - Department of the
Prime Minister and Cabinet
(dpmc.govt.nz)
42.
9 November
Budget Ministers 2 Fiscal Strategy
Budget Ministers' Materials: Budget
2021
Ministers 2 Slides - 9 November
2021 - Budget 2022 Information
Release (treasury.govt.nz)
43.
20 January
Treasury Report: Briefing: T2022/47:
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/def
2022
Communicating Planning Parameters
ault/files/2022-09/b22-t2022-47-
to the Health System
4609102.pdf
44.
10 February
Treasury Report: T2022/47: Budget
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/def
2022
2022 Health Bilateral: Emerging Health  ault/files/2022-09/b22-t2022-47-
Transitional Package
4609102.pdf
45.
11 February
Treasury Report: T2022/6: Budget
Treasury Report T2022/6: Budget
2022
2022 - Options for Draft Package
2022 - Options for Draft Package - 11
February 2022 - Budget 2022
Information Release
46.
1 March
Treasury Report: T2022/ 410: Follow
Treasury Report T2022/410: Follow
2022
up advice on Budget 2022 Vote Health
up advice on Budget 2022 Vote
new investment package
Health new investment package - 1
March 2022 - Budget 2022
Information Release
47.
4 March
Treasury Report: T2022/435: Draft
Treasury Report T2022/435: Draft
2022
Budget Ministers 4 Material
Budget Ministers 4 material - 4 March
2022 - Budget 2022 Information
Release
48.
8 March
Treasury Report: T2022/355: Making a
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/def
2022
safe move to multi-year funding for
ault/files/2022-09/b22-t2022-355-
Vote Health
4619611.pdf
49.
1 April 2022
Budget Ministers 6 Final Budget 2022
Budget Ministers' Materials: Budget
7

Package
2022 - Budget Ministers 6 Slides
Final - 1 April 2022 - Budget 2022
Information Release
(treasury.govt.nz)
50.
22 October
Letter: Budget 2022 Invitation Letter -
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/def
2022
Little - Health
ault/files/2022-09/b22-inv-health-
4535950.pdf

Accordingly, I have refused your request for the documents listed in the above table
under section 18(d) of the OIA:
•  the information requested is or will soon be publicly available.
Some relevant information may have been removed from documents listed in the
above table and should continue to be withheld under the OIA, on the grounds
described in the documents.

Information to be refused

Due to the substantial amount of work that would be required to collate your request for
emails regarding the health system reform, we are refusing this part of your request
under section 18(f) of the OIA - that the information requested cannot be made
available without substantial collation or research. The nature of the reforms involved
and the duration over many years means there is a significant volume of emails that
are in scope of your request.

We have considered whether charging or extending the timeframe for responding to
your request would help, as required by section 18A of the OIA. However, the number
of documents already publicly available and the additional ones that have been
released under this OIA mean that there is a comprehensive picture of the decision-
making process for the reforms.

Please note that this letter (with your personal details removed) and enclosed
documents may be published on the Treasury website.

This reply addresses the information you requested. You have the right to ask the
Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision.

Yours sincerely

Jess Hewat
Manager, Health and ACC
8