Te Tari Taiwhenua
Internal Affairs
2 April 2024
Ministerial Services
45 Pipitea St, Thorndon
PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Phone +64 4 495 7200
Website: www.dia.govt.nz
Daniel F Benson-Guiu
fyi-reguest-26021-
[email address]. nz
Dear Daniel Benson-Guiu
Request for information (OIA 2324-0722)
Thank you for your request for information dated 7 March 2024 made under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. You requested
the following information:
Dear Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet,
The following is an OIA request as per the Official Information Act 1982.
1. How many nights has the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stayed overnight at Premier
House since taking office?
2. What is the average cost of security and other staffing measures incurred when the
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his guests stay overnight at Premier House?
3. Has Prime Minister Christopher Luxon paid for this cost (i.e. by invoice, salary deduction,
or other means) each time he has stayed overnight since taking office?
On 11 March 2024 you were informed that part two of your request regarding
"average cost of. ..
other staffing measures" and the entirety of part 3 of your request had been transferred to the
Department of Internal Affairs (the Department) to respond.
Response to your request
Te Whare Pirimia - Premier House (Premier House) is the official residence of the Prime Minister
of New Zealand. Under clause 16(1) and 16(2) of the
Members of Parliament (Accommodation
Services for Members and Travel Services for Family Members) Determination 20231 (the
Determination), Premier House is the official Wellington Residence of the Prime Minister,
regardless of whether the Prime Minister's primary residence is within the Wellington area.
1 https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2023/0195/latest/whole.html
The Department is responsible for managing and maintaining official ministerial residences on
behalf of the Crown, such as Premier House. The Department must provide Premier House with
the maintenance and support services equivalent to the status it holds as the official residence,
whilst also delivering services to the Prime Minister as the resident.
There are dedicated staff that work ons1te at Premier House to oversee the day-to-day
management of the property, support with events. These staff are required at Premier House
regardless of whether the Prime Minister is residing at the property or not.
No additional costs are incurred for staffing measures when Rt Hon Christopher Luxon and his
guests stay overnight at Premier House. There is no requirement for Rt Hon Christopher Luxon to
pay for staff costs via invoice, salary deduction, or other means. Funding for costs related to
Official Residences is met through the
Vote Internal Affairs -
Services Supporting the Executive
Multi Category Appropriation.
Therefore, your request is refused under section
18(e) of the Act, that the document alleged to
contain the information requested does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot
be found.
We may publish this OIA response on www.dia.govt.nz (with your personal details having been
removed). Publishing responses to OIA requests increases the availability of information to the
public and is consistent with the purpose of the Act to enable effective participation in the making
and administration of laws and policies, and to promote the accountability of Ministers and
officials.
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 at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Briget Ridden
Generai Manager - Ministerial Services
Te Haumi - Enterprise Partnerships
Te Tari Taiwhenua - The Department of Internal Affairs
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