27 September 2024
45 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wel ington 6011
PO Box 805, Wel ington
Phone +64 04 495 7200
John Armstrong
Email: [email address]
[FYI request #28250 email]
dia.govt.nz
Tēnā koe John,
Your Official Information Act 1982 request reference OIA 2425-0200
I am responding to your email of 30 August 2024 to Te Tari Taiwhenua | the Department of
Internal Affairs (the Department) requesting information, appended below, under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
Al documentation, minutes of meetings, e-mails, and risk assessments for Grant
Illingworth KC, Judy Kavanagh, and Anthony Hil
There are 14 documents that fal within the scope of your request. A list of these documents
can be found in
Table one below.
I am partially releasing seven documents. Some information has been withheld under the
fol owing sections of the Act:
• 9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of natural persons;
• 9(2)(g)(i), to maintain the free and frank expression of opinions by or between or to
Ministers of the Crown or members or an organisation or officers and employees of
any public service agency or organisation in the course of their duty;
• 9(2)(g)(ii), to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the protection
of such Ministers, members of organisations, officers, and employees from improper
pressure or harassment; and
• 18(c)(i), as making available the information requested would be contrary to the
provisions of a specified enactment.
The documents being released are attached as
Appendix A.
I am also withholding seven documents under the fol owing sections of the Act:
• 9(2)(a);
• 9(2)(g)(i); and
• 18(d), as the information requested is or will soon be publicly available.
Additionally, certain notations, such as in-confidence designations, have been redacted for
administrative purposes.
Response to your request
Grant Il ingworth KC, Anthony Hil , and Judy Kavanagh provided information to the
Department to support consideration of their appointment, which has informed the
response to questions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7.
Question 1: work for, or interests in, any pharmaceutical companies or corporation
The candidates did not identify that they have worked for or have interests in any
pharmaceutical companies or corporations.
Question 2: family with financial interests with any pharmaceutical companies or
corporations
The candidates did not identify that they have family with financial interests with any
pharmaceutical companies or corporations.
Question 3: connection or col aboration with Sir Ashley Bloomfield, Dame Jacinda Ardern,
Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, or Fepulea’i Margie Apa
The candidates did not identify that they have connection or collaboration with Sir Ashley
Bloomfield, Dame Jacinda Ardern, Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, or Fepulea’i Margie Apa.
Question 4: information supplied to Sir Ashley Bloomfield, Dame Jacinda Ardern, Rt Hon
Chris Hipkins, or Fepulea’i Margie Apa with regards New Zealand 's Covid-19 response
The candidates did not identify that they have supplied information to Sir Ashley Bloomfield,
Dame Jacinda Ardern, Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, or Fepulea’i Margie Apa.
Question 5: salary or package offered to Grant Illingworth KC, Judy Kavanagh, and Anthony
Hill
Grant Illingworth KC receives a daily fee of $1,680 as the Chair of the Royal Commission.
Judy Kavanagh and Anthony Hill each receive a daily fee of $1,620 as members of the Royal
Commission. These fees were set by Cabinet in December 2022. They are 20 percent higher
than the daily fees for members of other recent royal commissions.
Question 6: minimisation or elimination of any declared conflicts of interest
Based on the information provided to the Department by the Chair and Commissioners,
minimisation or elimination of any conflicts of interest were not required.
Question 7: financial or commercial interest with the Ministry of Health, Medsafe,
Pharmac, or other government services
The candidates did not identify that they have financial or commercial interest with the
Ministry of Health, Medsafe, Pharmac, or other government services.
Page 2 of 5
Access to the Ombudsman
You have the right, under section 28(3) of the Act, to seek a review of my decision by the
Office of the Ombudsman. The postal address of the Office of the Ombudsman is PO Box
10152, Wellington. Alternatively, you can phone 0800 802 602 or email
[email address].
Proactive release of this response
We intend to publish our response to your request on www.dia.govt.nz. This letter, with
your personal details removed, will be published in its entirety. Publishing responses
increases the availability of information to the public and is consistent with the Act’s
purpose of enabling effective participation in the making and administration of laws and
policies and promoting the accountability of Ministers and officials.
Nāku noa, nā
Jeremy Cauchi
Director, Ministerial and Monitoring
Page 3 of 5
Table one: Documents in scope
# Document name
Document
Released for Reason for
date
withheld
withholding
1 [Cabinet paper] Phase 2 of the Royal
Undated
Withheld
18(d)
Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons
2 [Cabinet minute] Phase 2 of the Royal
26 August
Withheld
18(d)
Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons
2024
3 [Cabinet Social Outcomes Committee Minute]
21 August
Withheld
18(d)
Phase 2 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into 2024
COVID-19 Lessons
4 [Briefing] Talking points for Cabinet Committee: 16 August
Extract
-
Phase 2 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into 2024
COVID-19 Lessons
5 [Briefing] Draft Cabinet paper: Phase 2 of the
1 August
Extract
-
Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19
20214
Lessons
6 [Email chain] Forms for Royal Commission
30 to 31 July Partially
9(2)(a)
member notification
2024
released
7 [Attachment 1 to Document 2] Appointment
Partially
9(2)(a)
Disclosure form
released
8 [Attachment 2 to Document 2] Candidate CV
Withheld
9(2)(a)
form
9 [Email chain] Forms for Royal Commission
1 to 24 July
Partially
9(2)(a)
candidate nomination
2024
released
9(2)(g)(i)
9(2)(g)(ii)
10 [Email] COVID-19 RC candidate for second
Partially
9(2)(a)
phase Judy Kavanagh
24 July 2024 released
9(2)(g)(ii)
11 [Attachment 1 to Document 5] COVID-19 RC
Withheld
9(2)(g)(i)
candidate for second phase Judy Kavanagh
12 [Email chain] Second Phase Covid Royal
16 to 17 July Partially
9(2)(a)
Commission – Expression of Interest –
2024
released
9(2)(g)(ii)
Confidential
13 Appointment disclosure form – Kavanagh
4 July 2024
Partially
9(2)(a)
released
14 Appointment disclosure form – Illingworth
24 June 2024 Partially
9(2)(a)
released
18(c)(i)
Page 4 of 5
Appendix: Information request
“Can you please supply all documentation, minutes of meetings, e-mails, risk
assessments for Grant Il ingworth (Chair), Judy Kavanagh (Commissioner) and Anthony
Hill (Commissioner) for the Covid-19 Royal Inquiry role, including;
1) Does Grant Il ingworth (Chair), Judy Kavanagh (Commissioner) and Anthony Hil
(Commissioner) work for or have interests in any Pharmaceutical
Companies/Corporations currently and in the past? If so, who and what these
interests are?
2) Does Grant Il ingworth (Chair), Judy Kavanagh (Commissioner) and Anthony Hil
(Commissioner) have any family with financial interest with any Pharmaceutical
Companies/Corporations? If so, who and what these interests are?
3) Does Grant Il ingworth (Chair), Judy Kavanagh (Commissioner) and Anthony Hil
(Commissioner) currently have, or had in the past, any connection and / or
collaboration with Ashley Bloomfield, Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins or Margie
Apa? If so, please supply any and all communications.
4) Has Grant Il ingworth (Chair), Judy Kavanagh (Commissioner) and Anthony Hil
(Commissioner) supplied any information to Ashley Bloomfield, Jacinda Ardern,
Chris Hipkins or Margie Apa with regards NZ 's Covid-19 response? If so, please
supply any and all such communications.
5) What salary / package has been offered to Grant Il ingworth (Chair), Judy
Kavanagh (Commissioner) and Anthony Hil (Commissioner) and how does this
compare with similar roles?
6) If any conflicts of interest were identified then please supply all documentation
showing minimisation and /or elimination of the conflicts of interest.
7) Does Grant Il ingworth (Chair), Judy Kavanagh (Commissioner) and Anthony Hil
(Commissioner) have any financial and / or commercial interest with Ministry of
Health, Medsafe, Pharmac and / or other Government Services (International or
NZ)?”
Page 5 of 5
