11 July 2024
Anna Wilson
[FYI request #27144 email]
Dear Anna
I refer to your request of 5 April 2024, which you refined on the 25th of April 2024, requesting
the following under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
All correspondence between Hon Penny Simmonds and her Ministerial staff
regarding Flexible Funding
All correspondence between Hon Penny Simmonds and her seconded Private
Secretaries regarding Flexible Funding
Al correspondence between Hon Penny Simmonds, Hon Penny Simmonds’ staff
(both Ministerial and seconded Private Secretaries) and the media regarding Flexible
Funding
For the first part of your request, I have identified nineteen items of correspondence that
have been identified as being in scope of your request.
There are thirteen items of correspondence that I have received that was then forwarded to
my staff that I am withholding in full under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, protect the privacy of
natural persons, as they relate to personal circumstances. The thirteen emails were then
forwarded to my staff to get a response.
I am releasing six items of correspondence I have received in scope of the first part of your
request, with redactions under section 9(2)(a) of the Act. I am also releasing one report in
full.
#
Email subject line:
Release Status
1
Clarification to flexible
Partially released
2
Clarification Lines Draft v.1
Partially released
3
Details to release – Question response today
Partially released
4
OIA - minister of finance - new guidelines for Whaikaha -
Partially released
where is the consultation
5
REPWHK244042 Clarification to Flexible Funding
Partially released
Purchasing Rules and guidance (003)
6
Todays meeting (Epilepsy NZ)
Partially released
#
Document title
Release Status
1
REP/WHK/24/4/042 Clarification to Flexible Funding
Released in full
Purchasing Rules and guidance
For the second part of your request relating to correspondence between myself and the
Whaikaha private secretary, I have identified two items of correspondence in scope of your
request. These are being released to you with redactions under section 9(2)(a) & 9(2)(g)(i) of
the Act.
#
Email subject line:
Release Status
1
Clarifications
Partially released
2
Memo re_ Flexible Funding Use and evidence of use
Partially released
beyond the original intent of the funding
For the third part of your request, all media queries were passed through the Ministerial
Advisor. These are attached and listed below, with redactions under section 9(2)(a) of the
Act.
#
Email subject line:
Release Status
1
Media request- The press
Partially released
2
Newshub_TV3 Media Enquiry - Penny Simmonds
Partially released
3
TO CONFIRM_ Newshub query_ Pedicures and haircuts
Partially released
Al proactively released material that is in scope of your request is located on Whaikaha’s
website.
Response to OIA requests can be found here:
https://www.whaikaha.govt.nz/about-
us/corporate-publications/responses-to-oia-requests
Reports received by the Minister can be found here:
https://www.whaikaha.govt.nz/about-
us/corporate-publications/reports-to-the-minister/2023-reports-to-the-minister and here:
https://www.whaikaha.govt.nz/about-us/corporate-publications/reports-to-the-
minister/reports-to-the-minister-in-2024
If you would like to receive any of the reports, you will need to make an Official Information
Request to Whaikaha.
I am also attaching a table that includes a list of documents relating to changes to
Purchasing Rules and EMS, which was attached in a previously answered OIA request.
Some of these documents have been proactively released, and the balance are withheld in
full under (9(2)(f)(iv). Any requests to release these documents would need to be addressed
to the current Minister for Disability Issues, Hon. Louise Upston.
#
Date of document Title
1
5 December 2023
Ministerial briefing – EP/WHK/23/11/007 Whaikaha - Ministry of
Disabled People Funded Disability Supports
2
13 December
Talking points: Notes to support Hon Simmonds to discuss
2023
Whaikaha cost pressures with the Minister of Finance
3
15 December
Ministerial briefing – REP/WHK/23/12/016 Options to manage
2023
cost and spend growth in disability supports
4
20 December
ELT memo - Limiting ‘sensitive expenditure’ through flexible
2023
funding
Note: This paper was never presented to ELT. Instead a new
paper was drafted and presented in February 2024.
5
19 February 2024
ELT memo - Changes to Flexible Funding
6
19 February 2024
ELT memo – Proposed Measures to manage demand within
EMS
7
19 February 2024
Excerpt from ELT Meeting Minutes
8
19 January 2024
Ministerial briefing – REP/WHK/24/01/003 Prioritising options to
manage cost and spend growth in disability supports.
9
22 February 2024
Ministerial briefing – REP/WHK/24/2/018 Changes to
Equipment and Modification Services and flexible funding to
manage Whaikaha expenditure
10 28 February 2024
Excerpt from Action Points from Whaikaha officials meeting with
the Minister for Disability Issues
11 4 March 2024
ELT memo - Implementation Plan for changes to Flexible
Funding
12 4 March 2024
Excerpt from ELT Meeting Minutes
13 7 March 2024
Ministerial briefing – REP/WHK/24/03/025 Update on progress
on Whaikaha savings options
14 14 March 2024
Memo to Minister - Update on implementing changes to EMS
and flexible funding to manage Whaikaha expenditure
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Office of the Ombudsman of
my decision to this response in accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. The relevant details
can be found on their website at: www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
Kind regards,
Hon. Penny Simmonds
Minister for the Environment
Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment
