18 January 2024
45 Pipitea St
PO Box 805
Wel ington 6140
T Murray
Phone +64 4 495 7200
Via FYI.org.nz
Fax +64 4 495 7222
[FYI request #25108 email]
Websit
e dia.govt.nz
Tēnā koe T Murray
Your Official Information Act 1982 request, reference OIA 23/24-0419
I am responding to your email of 9 December 2023 to Te Tari Taiwhenua | the Department
of Internal Affairs requesting the fol owing information under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act):
In reference to meetings with the new ministers: Racing, Ministerial Services, Internal
Affairs and Local Government. I would like to request the fol owing information:
•
The date, time and location of your initial meeting with the new Minister for
your department;
•
A list of attendees at this meeting
•
The cost of any flights and accommodation for staff who reside outside of
wel ington to attend this meeting
•
Any documentation provided at the meeting
•
Al notes (including handwritten notes) taken at the meeting by department
staff;
•
A copy of any emails sent by department attendees or all staff communications
regarding the meeting with the new Minister.
In response, please find attached
Appendix A which provides the details of each initial
meeting Te Tari Taiwhenua had with each of the new Ministers. We have also included
records related to the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Hon Louise Upston,
and the Minister for Digitising Government, Hon Judith Col ins, which are part of Te Tari
Taiwhenua’s portfolios.
I can advise that, as at 9 December 2023, no meetings had taken place with the Minister
Responsible for Ministerial Services, Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, or the Minister for Racing, Rt
Hon Winston Peters. Therefore, this part of your request is refused under section 18(e) of
the Act, as the information does not exist.
Please find attached
Appendix B, which provides notes taken at the meeting with the
Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector on 27 November 2023. In response to your
remaining questions about documentation provided at the meeting, notes taken by
departmental staff and emails or communications sent about the initial meetings, I can
advise that no information exists. Therefore, these parts of your request are refused under
section 18(e) of the Act.
Access to the Ombudsman
If you are dissatisfied with our decision on your request for information, you have the right,
under section 28 of the Act, to make a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman. The
Office of the Ombudsman can be contacted by phone on 0800 802 602, via post at PO Box
10152 Wellington or via email t
o [email address].
Proactive release of our response
We intend to publish our response to your request on www.dia.govt.nz. This letter, with
your personal details removed, will be published in its entirety. Publishing responses
increases the availability of information to the public and is consistent with the Act’s
purpose of enabling effective participation in the making and administration of laws and
policies and promoting the accountability of Ministers and officials.
Ngā mihi
Jeremy Cauchi
Tumuaki | Director Ministerial, Monitoring, and Capability
Page 3 of 3
Appendix A
Minister
Date, time and
List of attendees
Cost of any
Documentation Al notes by
Copy of any emails
location of
flights and
provided at the department
sent by department
meeting
accommodation
meeting
staff
attendees or al staff
for staff
communications
regarding the
meeting with the
new Minister
Minister for the
27/11/2023
• Paul James, Chief Executive
None – all
None
Attached as
None
Community and
5:00pm to 5:30pm • Suzanne Doig, General Manager
attendees are
Appendix B
Voluntary Sector,
Policy Group
Wellington based
Hon Louise
Upston
• Clare Allison, Director Gambling,
Racing and Media Content
• Maria Robertson, Deputy Chief
Executive
Minister for
29/11/2023
• Paul James, Chief Executive
None – all
None
None
None
Digitising
10:30am to
• Ann-Marie Cavanagh, Deputy Chief
attendees are
Government, Hon 11:00am
Executive
Wellington based
Judith Col ins
Minister of
28/11/2023
• Paul James, Chief Executive
None – all
None
None
None
Internal Affairs,
2:30pm to 3:00pm
attendees are
Hon Brooke van
Wellington based
Velden
Minster of Local
27/11/2023
• Paul James, Chief Executive
None – all
None
None
None
Government, Hon 4:00pm to 4:30pm • Michael Lovett, Deputy Chief
attendees are
Simeon Brown
Executive
Wellington based
Page 3 of 3