John Luke
[FYI request #25352 email]
14 February 2024
Dear John Luke
OIA 23-24-30: New Minister Thank you for your email of 9 January to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), making a
request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). You requested the following
information:
o The date, time and location of your initial meeting with the new Minister for your department;
(NZTE)
o A list of attendees at this meeting
o The cost of any flights and accommodation for staff who reside outside of wellington to attend
this meeting
o Any documentation provided at the meeting
o All notes (including handwritten notes) taken at the meeting by department staff;
o A copy of any emails sent by department attendees or all staff communications regarding the
meeting with the new Minister.
Answers to your questions are as follows
• Two ministers of the crown share responsibility for NZTE's performance. The ministers
responsible for NZTE are the Minister for Trade, Todd McClay, and the Minister for
Economic Development, Melissa Lee.
The NZTE meeting with Minister for Trade was held at 4pm 28 November 2023 in his
office.
The NZTE meeting with Minister for Economic Development was held at 5pm 28
November 2023 in her office.
• Attendees at the NZTE Meeting with Minister for Trade: Minister for Trade, NZTE Board
Member, NZTE Chief Executive, NZTE General Manager Strategy, Performance and
Partners, NZTE General Manager People and Korako, NZTE Private Secretaries
• Attendees at the NZTE Meeting with Minister for Economic Development: Minister for
Economic Development, NZTE Board Member, NZTE Chief Executive, NZTE General
Manager Strategy, Performance and Partners, NZTE General Manager People and
Korako, Ministerial Advisor to Minister for Economic Development, NZTE Private
Secretaries
• The NZTE board member who attended resides outside Wellington. In relation to these
meetings, NZTE covered one night’s accommodation totalling $284. NZTE also paid for
taxi transportation costs totalling $237.80 which covered all taxi rides to and from airport
in both Hamilton and Wellington. We note that while in Wellington she also undertook a
variety of other engagements across her board directorship responsibilities and some
travel costs were shared.
T: +64 4 816 8100
F: +64 4 816 8101
W: nzte.govt.nz
W: newzealand.com/business
Level 15, The Majestic Centre, 100 Willis Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand, PO Box 2878, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
• NZTE’s Briefing for the Incoming Minister was the only piece of documentation provided
at the NZTE Meeting with Ministers. Please refer to NZTE’s Publications and Media
Releases Page for the NZTE Briefing for the Incoming Minister for November 2023. A
link to the page can be found here:
https://www.nzte.govt.nz/page/government-
publications-media
• NZTE is withholding all notes taken by departmental staff at the meetings under section
9(2)(g)(i) of the Official Information Act, to protect the free and frank expression of
opinions by or between or to Ministers of the Crown or members of an organisation or
officers and employees of any public service agency or organisation in the course of
their duty and Section 9(2)(f)(i), to maintain the current constitutional conventions
protecting confidentiality of communications with the Sovereign and collective and
individual ministerial responsibility.
• NZTE is withholding all emails sent by department attendees and staff communications
under section 9(2)(g)(i) of the Official Information Act, to protect the free and frank
expression of opinions by or between or to Ministers of the Crown or members of an
organisation or officers and employees of any public service agency or organisation in
the course of their duty, Section 9(2)(f)(i), to maintain the current constitutional
conventions protecting confidentiality of communications with the Sovereign and
collective and individual ministerial responsibility and Section 18(f) due to the
substantial amount of work that would be required to research and collate the
information you have requested (emails between officials pre and post meeting).
You have the right under section 28(3) of the Act to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at:
www.ombudsman.parliament.govt.nz or freephone: 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Melissa Trochon
Director – Board & Ministerial
