IN-CONFIDENCE

Tēnā koe

On 3 April 2024 you emailed the Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982, the following information:

- can you please tell me who signed off for Jacinda Ardern's maternity leave.
- Specifically I'd like to know who authorized the magnitude of the payment. I'm given that it was more than any person in New Zealand was legally entitled to receive, can you confirm what the normal entitlement is and what limits there are and what ardern received.
- If she received more than the usual legal entitlement can you please tell me why.
- if she received the entitlement too soon after taking up her job can you please tell me why.
- Can you please confirm the normal limits and requirements for receiving maternit y pay in New Zealand

We have transferred your request to the Department of Internal Affairs as the information to which your request relates is not held by the Ministry but is believed to be held by the Department of Internal Affairs. In these circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the OIA to transfer your request.

Please note that according to sections 14 and 15(1) of the Official Information Act, the 20-working day response period is reset by the transfer and starts again on the day the Department of Internal Affairs receives the transfer notification. The Ministry notified the Department of Internal Affairs of the transfer today.

You will hear further from the Department of Internal Affairs concerning your request in due course.

Nā mātou noa, nā

Official Information Team | Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whānau

show quoted sections