5 July 2024
Harris Leigh
[FYI request #27150 email]
Tēnā koe Harris
Official Information Act (OIA) request: Number of engagements of Doug Craig/RDC
Consulting
On 6 June 2024
, you contacted Stats NZ requesting, under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act), the following information:
Under the Official Information Act I seek information on
1) the number of times Statistics New Zealand has contracted services from or
otherwise engaged Mr Doug Craig either directly, through RDC Group, or
through any other mechanism such as temporary employment contract or
engagement through another company.
2) the number of times Statistics New Zealand has contracted services from or
otherwise engaged RDC Group.
3) the total quantum paid to Mr Craig and RDC through the engagements
mentioned in (1) & (2). Given the potential for commercial confidentiality, I am
happy for you to redact hourly rates, it is the total quantum paid that I am
seeking.
4) For each engagement identified whether or not the engagement was by a
competitive market process.
5) Whether Mr Craig was engaged (in any manner) to provide services to Stats NZ
when Stats NZ chief executive Mark Sowden announced Mr Doug Craig of the
RDC Group had been appointed to undertake an investigation 5 June 2024.
6) Information about the competitive market process that led to Mr Craig being
engaged to undertake the investigation announced by Mr Sowden on 5 June
2024. In the absence of a competitive market process, any information held by
the Stats NZ on the selection process that led to Mr Craig being selected for this
project.
For requests 1, 2 & 3 please take the time frame as being from 1 July 2019 until
now.
For the current financial year I am happy to receive figures from 1 July 2023-30 May
2024.
I will respond to each of your questions in turn.
1) the number of times Statistics New Zealand has contracted services from or
otherwise engaged Mr Doug Craig either directly, through RDC Group, or through
[email address]
toll-free 0508 525 525
stats.govt.nz
8 Willis Street, Wellington
PO Box 2922, Wellington 6140
any other mechanism such as temporary employment contract or engagement
through another company.
2) the number of times Statistics New Zealand has contracted services from or
otherwise engaged RDC Group.
From 1 July 2019 to 6 June 2024 Stats NZ has engaged the RDC Group three times, with
Doug Craig being the main contact on the first two listed below:
•
Complaints Investigation/Assurance Advice: To review matters relating to the alleged
misuse of census forms and census data. This investigation is currently underway.
•
Strategic advice and governance: Review and provision of advice on opportunities for
the Leadership Team and Stats NZ to enhance arrangements relating to its leadership
and governance arrangements to support effective decision making, risk management
and governance oversight of Stats NZ strategy and operations. This has been
completed.
•
Census 2013 Issue Remediation Support: Support to understand the implications of
any errors in the 2013 Census population counts (as determined by the analysis
currently underway) and advice on how these implications could be remedied. This has
been completed.
3) the total quantum paid to Mr Craig and RDC through the engagements mentioned
in (1) & (2). Given the potential for commercial confidentiality, I am happy for you
to redact hourly rates, it is the total quantum paid that I am seeking.
The first contract is currently underway and to date no payment has been made.
For the remaining two contracts listed above Stats NZ has paid the RDC Group a total of
$86,045.00.
4) For each engagement identified whether or not the engagement was by a
competitive market process.
RDC Group is a member of the All of Government Consultancy Services Panel (the Panel).
Engagements via the Panel are exempt from the requirements to undertake a competitive
market process under Rule 57 of the Government Procurement Rules. In order to
participate on the Panel, the RDC Group was required to submit a Request for Proposal
(RFP) response to MBIE’s procurement centre of excellence.
5) Whether Mr Craig was engaged (in any manner) to provide services to Stats NZ
when Stats NZ chief executive Mark Sowden announced Mr Doug Craig of the
RDC Group had been appointed to undertake an investigation 5 June 2024.
Doug Craig and the RDC Group had no current contracts with Stats NZ when they were
appointed to undertake the current investigation on 5 June 2024.
[email address]
toll-free 0508 525 525
stats.govt.nz
8 Willis Street, Wellington
PO Box 2922, Wellington 6140
6) Information about the competitive market process that led to Mr Craig being
engaged to undertake the investigation announced by Mr Sowden on 5 June 2024.
In the absence of a competitive market process, any information held by the Stats
NZ on the selection process that led to Mr Craig being selected for this project.
Information relating to the selection process for Doug Craig has been published on the
Stats NZ website alongside the terms of reference of the investigation. This info is included
below:
Doug Craig is the Director of the RDC Group. He is an experienced public sector leader
and a former State Services Deputy Commissioner, with a background in law, accounting,
and strategy. He has significant experience in implementing large and complex proj ects
and has advised on and led many organisational wide responses to critical incidents of a
similar nature. Craig is a member of the Public Service Commission’s panel of independent
reviewers.
Should you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact Stats NZ at:
[email address]. If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to seek an investigation and
review by the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.
It is Stats NZ’s policy to proactively release its responses to official information requests
where possible. This letter, with your personal details removed, will be published on the
Stats NZ website. Publishing responses creates greater openness and transparency of
government decision-making and helps better inform public understanding of the reasons
for decisions.
Nāku noa, nā
Kate Satterthwaite
Deputy Chief Executive and Chief of Staff
Office of the Chief Executive
Stats NZ
[email address]
toll-free 0508 525 525
stats.govt.nz
8 Willis Street, Wellington
PO Box 2922, Wellington 6140
