Penelope Neuberger
[FYI request #28137 email]
19 September 2024
Dear Penelope
OIA 24-25-17: Overseas Trip for Health and Safety Manager
Thank you for your email of 22 August 2024 to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE),
making a request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). You requested the following
information:
Can you please explain why the Health and Safety Manager went on a trip to South America
recently? Whilst I understand the importance of ensuring employee wellbeing, I believe this
trip was unnecessary and has raised several questions about the effective use of
government resources.
Specifically, I would like the details on the following;
1. What costs were incurred for the trip, including what type or class of travel did the Safety
Manager take (Premium Economy, Business etc), accommodation and travel expenses.
2. Why was this trip prioritised? This organisation has many international offices why was
this one chosen and how many people received a health and safety "assessment" whilst the
manager was there?
3. Why wasn't an alternative method taken such as video conferencing or local
representatives in the office taking the manager through the assessment? Could the same
goals be achieved without the need for international travel? 4. The itinerary/agenda for this trip. 5. This trip was taken during a time of austerity within the New Zealand government and
when a restructure was taking place within this organisation, why was this deemed so
important to be completed? And why were other offices not given the same treatment?
Answers to your questions are as follows
The health and safety of our people is a priority for NZTE. We undertook a review of our South
American offices by our Director of Safety and Wellbeing to ensure we are delivering on this
priority.
1. The total cost incurred for the 14-day review was $6,744. The Director of Safety and
Wellbeing travelled Economy Class.
2. Latin America presents a range of risks for NZTE employees. The reviews undertaken
were of office and relevant sites, not based on specific people. NZTE has a number of
safety and security protocols designed to keep people safe, the visits to the two offices
below were to confirm that the controls NZTE has in place are sufficient. This was done
in conjunction with a review of consular security updates and event safety management
updates.
Santiago – Event activity requires good health and safety and risk management
planning for the benefit of NZTE employees and customers. The Director of Safety and
Wellbeing joined an event to oversee the health and safety planning prior to the event
and supervised the implementation of an event emergency and crisis plan.
T: +64 4 816 8100
F: +64 4 816 8101
W: nzte.govt.nz
W: newzealand.com/business
Level 15, The Majestic Centre, 100 Willis Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand, PO Box 2878, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Sao Paulo – NZTE has determined that certain offices and locations be reviewed by
someone outside of the office location to ensure effective security protocols were in
place and being followed with regards to consular activities.
3. The reviews required someone who has an in-depth knowledge of the security settings
required by NZTE. It also required the reviewer to be independent of the region to fully
understand the local risk profile. The review required testing of systems and protocols
that could not be conducted off site/ virtually.
4. Please refer to Appendix One for the itinerary of the review.
5. NZTE has offices and people in 37 locations internationally. Globally there is an
increase of safety and security risks, in particular violence and aggression. NZTE is
required to ensure that consular security at offices is appropriate and best practice. In
certain locations this requires independent assessment and a higher level of scrutiny.
You have the right under section 28(3) of the Act to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at:
www.ombudsman.parliament.govt.nz or freephone: 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Melissa Trochon
Director – Board & Ministerial
Appendix One: Review Itinerary
Date
Activity
25 May 2024
Flight Wellington to Auckland
Flight Auckland to Santiago
26 May 2024
Weekend
27 May 2024
Time Off in Lieu
28 May 2024
Santiago office work*
29 May 2024
Santiago office work
30 May 2024
Exponor Chile Trade Fair- Antofagasta
31 May 2024
Exponor Chile Trade Fair- Antofagasta
1 June 2024
Flight Santiago to Sao Paulo
2 June 2024
Weekend
3 June 2024
Sao Paulo office work
4 June 2024
Sao Paulo office work
5 June 2024
Flight Sao Paulo to Santiago
6 June 2024
Flight Santiago to Auckland
7 June 2024
Flight Auckland to Wellington
*Office work across all locations included the following activities:
• New Regional Director and Regional Office Manager (ROM) training
o ROM safety responsibilities
o Crisis Management Plan
o Health and Safety expectations
o Inductions
• Office, equipment, security and process checks
