Official Information Act Request
Requester’s details
Date: 19 December 2023
Name: Jean Roberts
Email: [FYI request #25071 email]
Reference number: ENQ-47228-Q2J3D4
Tēnā koe Jean
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) on 7 December
2023, for information regarding the cost of personal grievance (PG) the government has
incurred over the last 3 years.
A response to each part of your request follows.
1. The number of Personal Grievances raised in your Ministry, in the last 3 years
broken down by year, and categories (for example: Bullying, Unjustifiably
disadvantaged, constructive dismissal etc)
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has had no Personal Grievances raised in the
last three years.
2. (in the last 3 years) The number of Mediation that took place broken down by
year
3. (in the last 3 years) The number of successful mediation broken down by year
No workplace mediations have taken place in the last three years.
4. (in the last 3 years) Of the PGs raised, how many went to Employment
Relations Authority broken down by year?
5. (in the last 3 years) How many cases were found against the Ministry broken
down by year?
6. (in the last 3 years) How much money – in total- were paid to settle these cases
/ or pay the fee required by ERA broken down by year?
7. How much money was covered by the Ministry’s liability insurance?
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The EPA has had no cases go to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) in the last three
years. Therefore, there have been no payments to settle cases or fees because of ERA
proceedings, and no costs covered by the EPA’s liability insurance.
8. (in the last 3 years) How much money – in total – were paid to external Legal
consultants to defend the cases filed in ERA or to prepare the responses to the
case broken down by year?
As indicated above, the EPA has had no cases go to the ERA because of personal
grievances in the last three years and has therefore not paid external legal consultants to
defend or prepare a case response.
9. (in the last 3 years) How many ERA cases resulted in reinstatement of
employee broken down by year?
As indicated above, the EPA has had no cases go to the ERA in the last three years.
Therefore, the EPA has had no employees reinstated.
10. If a case is found against the Ministry (the Ministry lost), what are the
consequences to the Manager involved in the incident?”
The EPA has not had any cases go to the ERA, therefore has not lost a case.
I hope this information is helpful. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by
the Ombudsman of this decision under section 28(3) of the OIA. You can contact the
Ombudsman on 0800 802 602, or by email at [email address]
If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us via
[email address]
We may publish your request and our response on our websit
e, www.epa.govt.nz. We make
OIA responses available so others can read more about the work we do and the questions
we are asked. Any information that might identify you wil be removed to protect your privacy.
Nāku noa nā
Sarah Watson
General Manager, Finance and Systems
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Document Outline
