Dear Ministry for Disabled People,

Kia ora,

Under the Official Information Act 1982 I am requesting the following information. I have numbered my requests for ease and have provided background information where applicable.

1) The number of Flexible Funding applications that Whaikaha has approved for overseas travel, massages, hairdressers, pedicures, tobacco, alcohol, and lotto tickets.

Following the announced changes to the Flexible Funding criteria, it has been stated that carers were accessing Flexible Funding to purchase overseas travel, massages, haircuts, pedicures, tobacco, alcohol, and lotto tickets.

When asked about the source of this information, it has been stated [in answer to Written Parliamentary Questions 4339 (2024), 4334 (2024), 4337 (2024), 4338 (2024)] that Whaikaha has examples of this expenditure.

The Briefing REP-WHK-24-02-018: Changes to Equipment and Modification Services and flexible funding to manage Whaikaha expenditure was proactively released by Whaikaha also confirmed that Flexible Funding had been used for some of these purposes (referenced on Page 6).

Therefore, I am requesting the number of flexible funding applications that Whaikaha has approved for overseas travel, massages, hairdressers, pedicures, tobacco, alcohol, and lotto tickets. I request that the number be broken down into these sub-categories.

2) The examples of Flexible Funding applications for the above categories that Whaikaha provided to the then-Minister for Disability Issues Hon Penny Simmonds.

In response to Written Parliamentary Questions 4339 (2024), 4334 (2024), 4337 (2024), 4338 (2024) Minister Simmonds has stated that she was “provided with examples of this kind of expenditure”.

Therefore, I am requesting the examples that Whaikaha provided to Hon Penny Simmonds of flexible funding being used for overseas travel, massages, hairdressers, pedicures, tobacco, alcohol, and lotto tickets.

I note that the Official Information Act 1982 does not just apply to written information but also captures verbal information. If verbal examples were provided in lieu of written information, I ask that a recollection of these verbal examples is provided and then any written information that the Whaikaha employee was basing these examples off.

3) Any examples of Flexible Funding applications for the aforementioned categories that Whaikaha has provided to the new Minister for Disability Issues Hon Louise Upston

4) All correspondence between Whaikaha and Minister Simmonds’ office, including the Minister herself and all her Ministerial and departmental staff, relating to Flexible Funding

Kind regards,

Anna Wilson

Dear Ministry for Disabled People,

Can you please acknowledge receipt of this request and confirm that it is being processed under the Official Information Act 1982?

Thank you,

Anna Wilson