21 February 2024
45 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wel ington 6011
Phone +64 4 495 7200
Fax +64 4 382 3589
Emai
l [email address]
Websit
e www.dia.govt.nz
Jean Roberts
[email address]
Tēnā koe Jean
Your Official Information Act request OIA 2324 – 0519
I write regarding your Official Information Act (the Act) request, which was received by
Te Tari Taiwhenua, the Department of Internal Affairs (the Department) on 23 January 2024.
You have requested additional clarification following your earlier OIA request:
For my Q6, 7 and 8 -- I do not mean cases that just went to ERA. But cases in DIA,
resolved and monies paid under the Employment Relations Act 2000.
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?
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?
Response to your request
Please find below the response to your request. The responses cover the 2021, 2022 and
2023 years.
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?
The information you have requested is included in the confidential settlement agreements
between the Department and individual, protected under confidentiality. Therefore we are
withholding this information under s9(2)(ba)(ii) of the Act to protect information which is
subject to an obligation of confidence, and where the release would be likely to damage the
public interest.
7- How much money was covered by the Ministry’s liability insurance?
The Department has not drawn on any liability insurance to cover the settlement of any
personal grievances.
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?
In the last three years the Department has spent $278,040 on external legal fees.
We intend to publish our response to your request o
n 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 more effective participation in the making and administration of laws
and policies and promoting the accountability of Ministers and officials.
If you have any feedback or questions about the Department’s response, please let us know
at
[email address]. If you have any concerns with the information in this response, you
have a right to request an investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 28(3)
of the Act. Information on how to do this is available a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802.
Nāku noa
Simon George
General Manager, Pūmanawa Tangata – Human Resources
Page 2 of 2
