7 June 2024
Patrick
[FYI request #26969 email]
Ref: PMO OIA 256-2023-24
Dear Patrick
Official Information Act request about the “I Am Hope” charity
Thank you for your request made under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), received
on 24 May 2024. You requested:
“[Numbering added]
[1]
Please provide any documents or correspondence provided to you office that
shows that the Charity I am Hope generates $5.70 for every $1 invested.
Additionally please provide the following:
[2]
Documents that declare conflicts of interest between National Party MP and
companies involving ex national party members.
[3]
what performance measures would be given to I am Hope.
[4]
the procurement process documents for choosing to fund I am Hope, what other
charities were considered, and whether funding the public health system was
considered.”
I believe that Parts [1], [3] and [4] of your request as numbered above are more closely
connected to the functions of the Minister for Mental Health, Hon Matt Doocey. Accordingly, I
have decided to transfer these parts of your request to Hon Matt Doocey, as the Minster for
Mental Health under section 14(b)(ii) of the Act.
The Minister for Mental Health has the usual time limits from receipt of this transfer to make a
decision on your request.
For Part [2] of your request, relating to declarations of conflicts of interest, the Prime
Minister’s Office holds information about declarations of interest made by Ministers. Some of
those declarations may relate to interests that are in scope of your request.
Having considered your request and the information held, I am withholding this information
under the following sections of the Act:
• section 9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of natural persons;
• section 9(2)(ba)(ii), to protect information which is subject to an obligation of
confidence, where the making available of the information would damage the public
interest;
• section 9(2)(f)(iv), to maintain the constitutional conventions for the time being which
protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials;
and
• section 9(2)(g)(i), to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and
frank expression of opinions by or between or to Ministers or officials in the course of
their duty.
Successive Ombudsmen have long held the view that advice to Ministers on conflicts of
interest is inherently confidential. Details regarding conflicts of interest are not generally
disclosed, in order to ensure the confidentiality of Cabinet proceedings, to maintain the
effective conduct of public affairs and in some cases to protect personal privacy.
The Cabinet Office proactively releases some information about the management of
ministerial conflicts in accordance with an agreement with the Office of the Ombudsman.
This information covers transfers of responsibility and arrangements not to receive papers.
These releases are published on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s website
at:
www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/cabinet-office/ministers-and-their-
portfolios/ministers-interests. Information about certain financial and other interests of MPs (including Ministers) is
published on an annual basis in the Register of Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests of
Members of Parliament, available at:
www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-
financial-interests. In making my decision, in accordance with section 9(1) of the Act I have considered whether
the public interest in disclosure outweighs the need to withhold the information, and I have
concluded that it does not.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
Yours sincerely
Cameron Burrows
Chief of Staff
2
Hon Matt Doocey
Minister for Mental Health
[email address]
Ref: PMO OIA 256-2023-24
Dear Minister
Official Information Act request about the “I Am Hope” charity
On 24 May 2024, I received the
attached Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request from
Patrick. The request was for:
“[Numbering added]
[1]
Please provide any documents or correspondence provided to you office that
shows that the Charity I am Hope generates $5.70 for every $1 invested.
Additionally please provide the following:
[2]
Documents that declare conflicts of interest between National Party MP and
companies involving ex national party members.
[3]
what performance measures would be given to I am Hope.
[4]
the procurement process documents for choosing to fund I am Hope, what other
charities were considered, and whether funding the public health system was
considered.”
I believe that Parts [1], [3] and [4] as numbered above of the request for information about
the “I Am Hope” charity is more closely connected to your functions as the Minister for Mental
Health. Accordingly, I have decided to transfer these parts of the request to you under
section 14(b)(ii) of the Act.
I have today informed the requestor of the transfer, and that you have the usual time limits to
make a decision.
Yours sincerely
Cameron Burrows
Chief of Staff
