14 February 2023
John Luke
[FYI request #21639 email]
Tēnā koe John
OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT REQUEST
I refer to your official information request of 26 January 2023 for:
I noted,
https://women.govt.nz/sites/public_files/Ministry-for-Women-Annual-Report-
2022_1.PDF
"Recognising women
We highlighted the significant contribution that women make to our communities
through the Honours system. In the 2022 New Year and Queens Birthday Honours,
women received 50.5 and 52.2 percent of the awards respectively. Across the two
rounds of nominations, 15 women proposed by our Nominations Service to the Minister
for Women received an honour."
"Across the two rounds of nominations,15 women proposed by our Nominations
Service to the Minister for Women received an honour."
Can you please provide how do you select which candidate to support or endorse for
Royal Honours? What is the process behind the selection and nomination. Do you have
a nomination panel? Please provide any internal policy, memo regarding this matter.
When considering potential candidates for Royal Honours, Manatū Wāhine nominates from
a wide range of women, from diverse geographic regions, expertise, ethnicity and age.
Potential candidates are identified through various channels, such as through our
community networks, throughout the year. Initial research on each potential candidate is
completed and nomination forms are drafted.
PO Box 10 049,
[Ministry for Women request email]
Wellington, New Zealand
women.govt.nz
The process for considering potential candidates is guided by the Ministry’s senior
leadership team and approved by the Chief Executive. The final list of candidates is
presented to the Minister for her consideration.
Please find attached our process document,
Advice sheet – How to put women forward for
a New Zealand Royal Honour, which is used to help guide staff when selecting nominees.
We follow the guidance set by the Honours Unit at the Department of Prime Minister and
Cabinet (DPMC). This is available on the DPMC website here:
https://dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zealand-royal-honours/make-
nomination/nominations-honours
https://dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zealand-royal-honours/make-nomination/new-
zealand-royal-honours-nomination
Consistent with the New Zealand Royal honours nomination guidelines, we do not divulge
who we are considering or who the Minister nominates. In addition, if nominees are not
selected for an honour in the upcoming round, they may be renominated for a future
honours list. The Honours Unit notes to all nominators that many hundreds of nominations
are made for Royal honours every year, and not all succeed. Every nomination made is,
however, fully considered. As such, this aspect of your request is refused under the
following sections of the Official Information Act:
• s 9(2)(a) to protect the privacy of natural persons;
• s 9(2)(ba)(i) to protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence,
where the making available of the information would be likely to prejudice the supply
of similar information, or information from the same source, and it is in the public
interest that such information should continue to be supplied;
• s 9(2)(f)(iv) to maintain the constitutional conventions for the time being which protect
the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials; and
• s 9(2)(g)(i) to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and
frank expression of opinions by or between or to Ministers or officials in the course
of their duty.
This response, with your personal details redacted, may be published on the Ministry’s
website. If you have any concerns or comments related to this, please let us know by
emaili
ng [email address], within two weeks of the date of this letter.
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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.
Nāku noa, nā
Maxine Shortland
Acting Director Corporate Services
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