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
From: David Seymour (MIN)
David Seymour
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From: David Seymour (MIN)
David Seymour
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
-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Riddell <[2][FOI #28508 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2024 9:35 PM
To: David Seymour (MIN) <[3][email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Associate Minister of Finance's
comment on public finances
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
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This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
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From: David Seymour (MIN)
David Seymour
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
-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Riddell <[FOI #28508 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 24 September 2024 9:35 PM
To: David Seymour (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Associate Minister of Finance's
comment on public finances
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[2][FOI #28508 email]
Is [3][David Seymour request email] the wrong address for Official
Information requests to David Seymour? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[4]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[5]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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3. mailto:[David Seymour request email]
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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!
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