DOIA 2223 2596 Nathan Sanders Final response.pdf

7 June 2023

Ref: DOIA 2223-2596

Nathan Sanders
Email: [FYI request #22743 email]

Tēnā koe Nathan

Thank you for your email of 9 May 2023 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the OIA), the following information:

1.  A breakdown of all costs associated with the development, implementation,
marketing, advertising and support of eInvoicing in NZ to date.
2.  The number of registered businesses in NZ
3.  The number of businesses that have registered to use/send/receive eInvoices

On 22 May 2023, we sought clarification from you. We advised that we interpreted the second aspect of
your request (seeking “the number of registered businesses in NZ”) as referring to operating businesses in
New Zealand, and asked if you could confirm that that was what you meant. We advised that you would
find your answer on the publicly available information that Statistics New Zealand provides on their
website here: www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/new-zealand-business-demography-statistics-at-
february-2022/.

In the same correspondence, we advised you of our data col ation parameters regarding the breakdown
you sought in Question 1, and the number of eInvoice capable registered businesses you sought in
Question 3. Specifical y with regard to Question 3, we advised you that we could not provide you with the
number of businesses that have registered to use or send eInvoices because the only registration data we
ask of businesses relates to their eInvoice receiving capabilities.

We asked that you get back to us on or by Wednesday 24 May 2023 if you wished to provide clarification.
As we have not heard from you, we have progressed your request for response.

Our response to your request is outlined below.

1.  A breakdown of all costs associated with the development, implementation, marketing, advertising
and support of eInvoicing in NZ to date.

Please refer to the below table in response to this aspect of your request.

These figures are accurate as at 30 April 2023.

Please note that we have amended your categories:

•  ‘Development’ and ‘Implementation’ were combined due to the overlap between these
categories.
•  ‘Marketing’ and ‘Advertising’ were combined due to the overlap between these categories.
•  The ‘Support’ category includes people costs (e.g. salaries) and other discretionary costs (e.g.
travel).
•  Added 'Contracts’ and ‘Corporate Overheads’ categories due to the materiality of these costs.

eInvoicing Investment

Category
Value ($000)
Contracts
1,227
Marketing / Advertising
1,023
Corporate Overheads
1,870
Support
8,270
Development / Implementation
1,709
Total
14,099

2.  The number of registered businesses in NZ

As communicated to you on 22 May 2023, we interpreted this question to refer to businesses actively
operating in New Zealand. We refuse this aspect of your request under section 18(d) of the OIA, as the
number of operating businesses in New Zealand is publicly available on the Statistics New Zealand’s
website: www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/new-zealand-business-demography-statistics-at-
february-2022/.

3.  The number of businesses that have registered to use/send/receive eInvoices

As per our advice to you on 22 May 2023, MBIE cannot provide you with the number of businesses that
have registered to use or send eInvoices because the only registration data we ask of businesses relates
to their eInvoice receiving capability. We therefore refuse this aspect of your request under section 18(g)
of the OIA, as MBIE does not hold that information and we do not believe that that information is held by
(or more closely connected to the functions of) another agency.

Under section 18(d) of the OIA, on the aspect of your request seeking the number of businesses
registered to receive eInvoices, we have not provided the number here but refer you to the up-to-date
information that is publicly available on the home page of MBIE’s eInvoicing website:
https://www.einvoicing.govt.nz/.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further assistance,
please contact [email address].

Please note that this response and enclosed documents, with your personal details removed, may be
published on the MBIE website: www.mbie.govt.nz/about/open-government-and-official-
information/published-official-information-act-requests/.

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

Mark Wierzbicki
General Manager eInvoicing
Finance and Performance