The Health Minister is defending staff confidentiality agreements.

Labour has complained to the Public Service Commission about the number of non-disclosure agreements gagging Health New Zealand staff from talking about work.

It claims 67 staff have signed them since June - including senior leaders responsible for briefing media and members of Parliament.

Minister Shane Reti says he has no concerns.

"The previous Government did as well - whether they used confidentiality agreements or NDAs or a similar sort of process. They need to be used appropriately, but it's commonplace in commercial environments with particularly sensitive issues."

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