6 December 2022
Ministerial Services
45 Pipitea St, Thorndon
PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, New
Zealand
Phone +64 4 495 7200
Website: www
.dia.govt.nz
Francis Cole
[FYI request #21164 email]
Dear Francis Cole
Request for information (OIA 2223-0402)
Thank you for your request for information dated 20 November 2022 made under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Department of Internal Affairs (the
Department). You requested the following information:
I would like to make the following information request 1. the latest ministerial credit expense of jacinda ardern I note this is released quarterly and the latest for jacinda ardern is november 2021 on
your website.
Response to your request
The Ministerial Services group at the Department is responsible for processing and
administering Ministerial expenses and entitlements.
In accordance with Section 33 of th
e Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services)
Act 2013, Ministerial Services discloses information and documentation on Ministerial
expenditure on the Department’s
website on a quarterly basis. These quarterly releases
include information on international and domestic travel (including spousal travel), and
accommodation costs for Ministers entitled to continuous Wellington accommodation.
Information on how to understand Ministers’ expenses and how Ministerial expenses is
released by the Department is also provided.
Additionally, the Department proactively releases Ministerial credit card expenditure every
quarter for transparency and accountability, even though it is not a statutory requirement.
You can find the Department’s latest quarterly release of Ministerial credit expenses for 1
July to 30 September 2022
here.
The most recent credit card expenses for Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern’s office were for 1 July – 30
September 2021 which had already been publicly released by the Department
here. We are
therefore refusing your request under section 18(d) of the Act as the information requested
is already publicly available.
Since 30 September 2021, there have been no Ministerial credit cards expenses for Rt Hon
Jacinda Ardern.
The next set of Ministerial credit card expenses is due to be released by the Department on
2 March 2023
here.
We intend to publish this OIA response on
www.dia.govt.nz (with your personal details
having been removed). Publishing responses to OIA requests increases the availability of
information to the public and is consistent with the purpose of the Act to enable effective
participation in the making and administration of laws and policies, and to promote the
accountability of Ministers and officials.
If you have any concerns with the information in this response, you have a right to request
an investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the Act. Information
on how to do this is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.
Yours sincerely
Briget Ridden General Manager – Ministerial Services
Te Haumi – Enterprise Partnerships
Te Tari Taiwhenua – The Department of Internal Affairs
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