23 November 2021
C Carpenter
[FYI request #17394 email]
Dear Mr Carpenter
Official Information Request
Our Ref: 2021-0154
I refer to your official information request received on 29 October 2021 for:
“Notwithstanding that the Parliamentary Services is an independent body, I believe that you
have some oversight of that body.
To that end, I am requesting copies of any advice, instructions or other directions that apply to
the Parliamentary Services insofar as appointments to vacancies are concerned and copies of
any correspondence between PSC and the Parliamentary Services.
I understand that there have been several people appointed to IT jobs paying over $150000 per
year where normal public service appointment processes have taken place (such as publicly
advertising the jobs) and what has hal marks of nepotism are evident.
The public would also be interested in the PSC expectations of al tax-funded agencies when it
comes to recruitment and appointment”.
Our Response
The Public Service Commissioner does not have responsibility for the employment processes within
the Parliamentary Service. The Parliamentary Service was established by the Parliamentary Service
Act 1985 and continues under the provisions of the Parliamentary Service Act 2000 and is accountable
to the Speak er of the House of Representatives.
Employment of Parliamentary Service employees is the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the
Service, who appoints employees in line with employment requirements in the Parliamentary Service
Act (including requirements for notifying vacancies, making appointments based on merit, and
having a procedure for review of appointments), as wel as the Employment Relations Act 2000.
Therefore, we are refusing the first two parts of your request under section 18(e) of the Official
Information Act 1982 on the grounds that the information requested does not exist.
In response to your question where you have asked regarding the Commission’s expectations when
it comes to recruitment and appointment within the Public Service departments, on 28 April 2020 the
Public Service Commissioner issued
guidance under s.95(c) of the Public Service Act 2020 as
operational guidance on the
Government Workforce Policy Statement on expectations for
employment relations.
It applies to Public Service agencies’ decision making on pay and other public sector agencies are
asked to take this guidance into account in their decision making.
Please find listed in the table below the guidance referenced above which is publicly available on the
Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission website at the links provided for in the table. We are
refusing part of your request for the Commissioner’s expectations under section 18(d) of the Official
Information Act 1982 on the grounds that the information requested is publicly available.
Item
Document Description
Website Address
Public Service Pay Guidance
1.
Public Service Pay Guidance 2021
2021
Government Workforce Policy Statement on the
2.
Government’s expectations for employment relations in the
Government Workforce Policy
public sector
Statement
3.
Further advice to public sector employers.
Employment Relations
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Please note that we intend to publish this letter (with your personal details removed) on the
Commission’s website.
Yours sincerely
Nicky Dirks
Manager – Ministerial and Executive Services
Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
Document Outline
