Associate Minister of Finance's comment on public finances

Andrew Riddell made this Official Information request to David Seymour

The request was refused by David Seymour.

From: Andrew Riddell

Dear David Seymour,

Radio New Zealand, in an article on the Cook Strait ferries quoted you as follows

"The government is broke too, I'm afraid to say, and every time we spend a dollar on a ferry we can't spend it on a classroom or a hospital."

What expert or technical advice or briefings have you received that supports this statement.

Did that advice include informing you that New Zealand is a sovereign currency issuing country?

Ngā mihi

Andrew Riddell

Link to this

From: David Seymour (MIN)
David Seymour

Please note this is an automatically generated email.

Thank you for taking the time to contact Hon David Seymour. While David
considers all correspondence to be important, and all messages are read
and considered, it’s not always possible to provide a personal response.

• Correspondence about David’s ministerial portfolios will be considered
and responded to as appropriate
• If you are sending an invitation, please contact
[email address] who manages the Minister’s calendar
• If you live in the Epsom electorate, please contact
[email address]
• If you have a question about ACT Party policy, please contact
[email address]
• If you have copied your email to a Minister or MP with responsibility
for the issue you have raised, your message will be noted
• If you have made a request for official information, it will be managed
in accordance with the provisions of the Official Information Act.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Link to this

From: David Seymour (MIN)
David Seymour


Attachment image001.jpg
15K Download


Dear Andrew

 

Thank you for your email in which you submitted an Official Information
Act request as follows:

 

Radio New Zealand, in an article on the Cook Strait ferries quoted you as
follows

"The government is broke too, I'm afraid to say, and every time we spend a
dollar on a ferry we can't spend it on a classroom or a hospital."

What expert or technical advice or briefings have you received that
supports this statement.

Did that advice include informing you that New Zealand is a sovereign
currency issuing country?

 

We received your request on Tuesday 24 September 2024. We will endeavour
to respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later
than Tuesday 22 October 2024, being 20 working days after the day your
request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then,
we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

 

 

Kind regards, Annette

 

Annette Gratkowski | Private Secretary Executive
Support

 

 

Office of Hon David Seymour

[1]A pink and white Deputy Prime Minister (from 31 May 2025)
emblem with two
women holding flags Minister for Regulation
Description Associate Minister of Education
automatically
generated Associate Minister of Justice

Associate Minister of Finance

Associate Minister of Health

 

DDI 04 817 6333 | 7.6 Executive Wing, Parliament
Buildings

 

DSOIA264

 

 

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: David Seymour (MIN)
David Seymour


Attachment image001.jpg
15K Download


Dear Andrew

 

We refer to your request of 24 September 2024.

 

Mr Seymour made the statement in his capacity as the leader of the ACT
Party, not as a Minister. Therefore, the Official Information Act does not
apply.

 

Kind regards,  

 

 

Office of Hon David Seymour

Deputy Prime Minister (from 31 May 2025)
[1]A pink and white
emblem with two Minister for Regulation
women holding flags Associate Minister of Education
Description
automatically Associate Minister of Justice
generated
Associate Minister of Finance

Associate Minister of Health

 

DDI 04 817 6333 | 7.6 Executive Wing, Parliament
Buildings

 

DSOIA264

 

show quoted sections

Link to this

Andrew Riddell left an annotation ()

20 working days to decide Mr Seymour was speaking on the economy as the ACT leader not as Associate Minister of Finance!

Link to this

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
David Seymour only: