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Advice sent to the Minister of Health in February 2026 is listed below, along with links to any documents that have been proactively released.

Briefings, memos and aides mémoire to Hon Simeon Brown, Minister of Health, 1 – 28 February 2026 
Date SentReferenceTitle 
2/02/2026H2026077513Withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Official Information Act
3/02/2026H2026077819Waitangi Day attendance
4/02/2026H2026077596Quarterly meeting with the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee on 10 February 2026
4/02/2026H2026077439Update on costs to support implementation of an administrative data census model
4/02/2026H2025075825Government response to the Petition to release the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine contract
4/02/2026H2026078056Budget 2026 Vote Health Bilateral Pre-Meeting
4/02/2026H2025070442Enhancing assessment and management of neurodevelopmental conditions in children
5/02/2026H2026077422Withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Official Information Act
5/02/2026H2026078049Withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Official Information Act
5/02/2026H2026077639Withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Official Information Act
10/02/2026H2026077470Withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Official Information Act
10/02/2026H2026078233Meeting with BioOra
10/02/2026H2026078489Meeting with Christchurch Cancer Foundation
11/02/2026H2026077645Withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Official Information Act
12/02/2026H20260773422026 March Baseline Update Submission for Vote Health
12/02/2026H2026077414Withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Official Information Act
12/02/2026H2026078163Health New Zealand monthly report – November and December 2025
12/02/2026H2025077125Withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Official Information Act
12/02/2026H2026078160Options on progressing genomics in New Zealand 
12/02/2026H2026078231Withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Official Information Act
13/02/2026H2025076581Revised approval process for the Nelson Hospital Redevelopment
13/02/2026H2026077832Social Investment Ministers Group meeting Tuesday 17 Feb 2026
13/02/2026H2026077550Transfer of funding and purchasing responsibility for ambulance medicines
16/02/2026H2025077094Meeting with the Calvin Chua Philanthropic Trust
16/02/2026H2026077539Meeting with Pharmaceutical Society Of New Zealand 
16/02/2026H2025077198Meeting with Pharmacy Council
17/02/2026H2026077466Cover briefing Amendment to Health Capital Settings      
18/02/2026H2025076356Government response to the Petitions Committee report – nationwide regulations and standards for laser tattoo removal
18/02/2026H2026078166Controlled drugs stocktake requirement in Misuse of Drugs Regulations
19/02/2026H2026077822Withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Official Information Act
19/02/2026H2025075632Withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Official Information Act
19/02/2026H2025075245Meeting with the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ
20/02/2026H2026078018Primary Care Health Target – update on implementation planning
20/02/2026H2026078597Advice on community-based obstetric ultrasounds
20/02/2026H2026077446Withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Official Information Act
20/02/2026H2026078645Options to restrict usage of nitrous oxide
25/02/2026H2026077324Withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Official Information Act
26/02/2026H20260786202026/27 Draft Letters of Expectation for the Health and Disability Commissioner, the Health Quality and Safety Commission, the Health Research Council of New Zealand and New Zealand Blood and Organ Service
26/02/2026H2026078858Update on the Budget 2024 funding allocations for COVID-19 and Pandemic Preparedness
26/02/2026H2026078230Withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Official Information Act
26/02/2026H2026078767Withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Official Information Act
26/02/2026H2026079100Regulatory settings for medical devices 
26/02/2026H2026079123Withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Official Information Act

Download the list

Briefings, memos and aides mémoire to Hon Simeon Brown, Minister of Health 1 – 28 February 2026
( pdf, 120.27 KB )

Downloads

Withheld information

Some parts of this information release would not be appropriate to release and, if requested, would be withheld under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). Where this is the case, the relevant sections of the Act that would apply have been identified. Where information has been withheld, no public interest has been identified that would outweigh the reasons for withholding it.

SectionConclusive reasons to withhold official information
Section 6(a)Prejudice New Zealand’s defence, security or international relations.
Section 6(b)Prejudice any international government or organisations entrusting information to the government on a basis of confidence.
Section 6(c)Prejudice the maintenance of the law (including the prevention, investigation, and detection of offences and the right to a fair trial).
Section 6(d)Endanger the safety of any person.
Section 6(e)Seriously damage the economy by prematurely disclosing decisions to change or continue with Government economic or financial policies.
SectionOther reasons to withhold official information
Section 9 (2)(a)Protect the privacy of natural persons (including the privacy of a deceased person).
Section 9 (2)(b)Protect information where the making available of the information would disclose a trade secret or would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of the information.
Section 9 (2)(ba)Protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence or which any person is compellable to provide, where the making available of the information would be likely to prejudice the supply of similar information or information from a similar source and it is in the public interest that such information should continue to be supplied, or it would be likely otherwise to damage the public interest.
Section 9 (2)(c)Avoid prejudice to measures protecting the health or safety of members of the public.
Section 9 (2)(d)Avoid prejudice to the substantial economic interests of New Zealand.
Section 9 (2)(e)Avoid prejudice to measures that prevent or mitigate material loss to members of the public.
Section 9 (2)(f)Maintain the constitutional conventions which protect confidentiality of communications by or with the Sovereign or her representative, collective and individual ministerial responsibility, the political neutrality of officials, and the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers and officials.
Section 9 (2)(g)Maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions by, between, or to, Ministers, officers and employees of a Department or members of an organisation, in the course of their duty, or through protection of any of them from improper pressure or harassment.
Section 9 (2)(h)Maintain legal professional privilege.
Section 9 (2)(i)Enable a Minister or Department to carry out commercial activities.
Section 9 (2)(j)Enable a Minister or Department to carry out negotiations without prejudice or disadvantage.
Section 9 (2)(k)Prevent the disclosure or use of information for improper gain.
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