26 March 2025
Jim Palmer
By email to:
[email address]
Dear Jim
OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT REQUEST 2025/09
On Friday, 28 February 2025 you made a request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the OIA)
for the following information:
1. all internal correspondence relating to staffing restructures relating to IT teams since 2023.
2. all briefings and advice relating to IT restructures since 2023.
3. a list of the number of personal grievances lodged against the Electoral Commission relating to
IT restructures since 2023.
4. a list of the number of complaints about the processes followed during IT restructures since
2023.
The changes to the Commission’s IT department in 2024 were undertaken to establish an
organisational design for a high performance, highly capable, modern IT team that supports the
Commission to meet its strategic objectives now and in the future. The Commission’s technology
needs continue to form a critical part of delivering its core functions, and the existing team structure
and position descriptions were no longer fit for purpose.
Included are the internal correspondence shared with all Commission staff regarding the IT Change,
specifically the change proposal document and change decision document. Correspondence with
individuals regarding impacts and decisions are withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA which
relates to the privacy of natural persons.
Included are the following papers to the Executive Leadership Team or the Board related to the IT
organisational structure change in 2024:
• Appendix A – ELT cover paper – IT decision 191124
• Board Paper - Information Technology - Organisational Overview 110924
• Board Paper - IT Organisation Proposal 110924
• Board Paper - IT Decision 271124
• Board paper Appendix C - IT Organisational Design - Change Risk Analysis
Legal advice relating to the IT restructure is withheld under section 9(2)(h) of the OIA on the ground
that the withholding of the information is necessary to maintain legal professional privilege and
Electoral Commission
Level 4, 34-42 Manners Street, PO Box 3220, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Telephone +64 4 495 0030 Fax +64 4 495 0031
www.vote.nz | www.elections.nz
under section 9(2)(a) on the ground that the withholding of the information is necessary to protect
the privacy of natural persons.
Some details have been withheld under section 9(2)(b)(ii) of the Official Information Act where the
making available of the information would be likely to prejudice the commercial position of the
person who supplied or who is the subject of the information.
In each case where redactions have been made under section 9, or documents have been withheld,
consideration has been given to and I am satisfied that the reasons for withholding of the
information are not outweighed by other considerations which render it desirable in the public
interest to make that information available.
There was one personal grievance raised relating to the IT change.
As part of the formal consultation, 6 pieces of feedback were received that commented on the
change processes followed. This feedback is summarised in the decision document included in this
response. No other information was collected regarding the number of complaints during the
process.
In the interests of transparency, we release responses to Official Information Act requests every 3
months. We will publish this response with your personal details redacted.
You have the right under section 28(3) of the Act to make a complaint to the Ombudsman if you are
not satisfied with the response to your request. Information about how to do this is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Lucy Hickman
Deputy Chief Executive, Enterprise Services
Electoral Commission
Level 4, 34-42 Manners Street, PO Box 3220, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Telephone +64 4 495 0030 Fax +64 4 495 0031
www.vote.nz | www.elections.nz
