12 March 2024
45 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wel ington
6011
PO Box 805, Wel ington 6140
Phone +64 4 495 7200
Marcus via FYI
Email
: [email address]
[FYI request #30057 email]
Website
www.dia.govt.nz
Tēnā koe Marcus,
Your Official Information Act 1982 request OIA2425-0776 Thank you for your email of 12 February 2025 to the Department of Internal Affairs (the
Department) requesting information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). Your
original request is attached as
Appendix A.
On 11 March 2025, you refined and clarified your request. Your amended request is
attached as
Appendix B.
Extension of your request
Under section 15A(1)(b) of the Act, the timeframe to respond to your request has been
extended by 25 working days to 16 April 2024. This is because consultations necessary to
make a decision on your request are such that we cannot respond within the original time
limit.
The Department will endeavour to provide you with a response earlier if possible.
Accessing the Ombudsman
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of my decision by the Office of the
Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Jeremy Cauchi
Director Ministerial and Monitoring
Appendix A: Original request
- Any and all information regarding the financial status and/or continued viability of
the Film and Video Labelling Body (referred to as FVLB hereafter) from 2019 until
Present, including but not limited to:
- Any monthly/quarterly/yearly reports that provide a status update on the Film and
Video Labelling Body's financial health and/or ability to continue operations
- Any correspondence (email, SMS etc) discussing the "Material Uncertainty Related to
Going Concern" note included in the FVLB's 2019 and 2020 financial statements, which
were prepared by William Buck Audit (NZ) Limited
- Any correspondence (email, SMS etc) noting the apparent absence of the material
uncertainty disclaimer from the FVLB's financial statements for 2021 and onward,
which is when the DIA funding period appeared to start.
- Any correspondence (email, SMS etc) regarding the decision by the DIA to provide
ongoing funding to the FVLB, which began from 2021
- A copy of any contract(s) regarding DIA funding for the FVLB which began from 2021
- Any ministerial briefings prepared for the Minister of Internal Affairs regarding the
FVLB's financial health and/or ability to continue operations. For reference, I believe
this would have been any briefings for the following ministers across the requested
period:
- Tracy Martin (2017 - 2020)
- Jan Tinetti (2020 - 2023)
- Barbara Edmonds (2023)
- Brooke van Velden (2023 - Present)
Appendix B: Amended request
- Information regarding the specific items listed below, relating to the financial status
and/or continued viability of the Film and Video Labelling Body (referred to as FVLB
hereafter):
- Any monthly/quarterly/yearly reports that provide a status update on the Film and
Video Labelling Body's financial health and/or ability to continue operations
- Any correspondence (email, SMS etc) discussing the "Material Uncertainty Related to
Going Concern" note included in the FVLB's 2019 and 2020 financial statements, which
were prepared by William Buck Audit (NZ) Limited
- Any correspondence (email, SMS etc) noting the apparent absence of the material
uncertainty disclaimer from the FVLB's financial statements for 2021 and onward,
which is when the DIA funding period appeared to start.
- Any memos or official advice regarding major decisions by the DIA in deciding to
provide ongoing funding to the FVLB, which began from 2020.
- A copy of any contract(s) regarding DIA funding for the FVLB which began from 2021
- Any ministerial briefings prepared for the Minister of Internal Affairs regarding the
FVLB's financial health and/or ability to continue operations. For reference, I believe
this would have been any briefings for the following ministers across the requested
period:
- Tracy Martin (2017 - 2020)
- Jan Tinetti (2020 - 2023)
- Barbara Edmonds (2023)
- Brooke van Velden (2023 - Present)
While I've tried to be pretty specific with the scope of what I'm interested in, I realize
that this still may be a large amount of information to request so I'm happy to discuss
any further refinements in scope and/or potentially offsetting the cost of labour needed
(depending on the cost of course)