27 March 2025
David Palmer
[FYI request #30277 email]
Ref: PMO OIA 322-2024-25
Dear David
Official Information Act request: Timeline of Ministerial Warrants after resignation of
Andrew Bayly
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request, received on 3 March
2025. You requested information that relates to the resignation of Hon Andrew Bayly MP.
You asked 19 questions as below and highlighted:
“I would like to understand in more detail the timeline of events after Andrew Bayly MP
resigned his ministerial portfolios. It was reported in media that Bayly resigned "late
Friday evening" (that being Friday February 21st, 2025). It was not announced until the
following Monday that he had resigned.”
I have responded to each of your questions in turn.
1. At exactly what time was Mr Bayly's resignation from these ministerial portfolios
accepted by the Prime Minister?
The resignation of Mr Bayly was accepted by the Prime Minister on Friday evening 21
February 2025, via a phone call. The resignation became effective on Monday 24 February
2025, when it was accepted by the Governor-General, on the advice of the Prime Minister.
A further timeline of the events surrounding Hon Bayly’s resignation is available online at
Written Questions - New Zealand Parliament . In particular Written Parliamentary Questions
6352 (2025) – 6418 (2025).
Question 6379 (2025) set out the timeline in detail and this is all
the additional information the Prime Minister’s Office holds in relation to questions 1-6.
2. At what time exactly was the governor-general advised that Andrew Bayly had
resigned as Minister for ACC?
Please refer to question 1.
3. At what time exactly was Scott Simpson appointed Minister for ACC by the Prime
Minister?
Please refer to question 1.
4. At what time exactly was Scott Simpson notified that he had been appointed Minister
for ACC by the Prime Minister?
Scott Simpson was informed at approximately 3:30pm on Monday 24 February 2025, by the
Cabinet Office on behalf of the Prime Minister, that the Governor-General had effected his
ministerial appointments.
5. At what time exactly did the governor-general issue a ministerial warrant to Scott
Simpson for the ACC portfolio?
Please refer to question 1.
6. During the period between when Andrew Bayly resigned, and Scott Simpson was
issued a ministerial warrant, who was responsible for the ACC portfolio?
Hon Bayly was the minister responsible for the ACC portfolio until the Governor-General
accepted his resignation. The Governor-General then immediately appointed Hon Simpson
to the ACC portfolio.
7. Was there any period of time when there was no minister in charge of the ACC
portfolio, or any period of time when that responsibility was unclear? If so, please provide
details of when this period of time started and ended.
No.
8. At what time exactly was the governor-general advised that Andrew Bayly had
resigned as Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing?
Hon Bayly was not the Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing when he resigned as a
Minister therefore there was no change of portfolio Minister.
9. At what time exactly was Chris Penk appointed Minister for Small Business and
Manufacturing by the Prime Minister?
Please refer to question 8.
10. At what time exactly was Chris Penk notified that he had been appointed Minister for
Small Business and Manufacturing by the Prime Minister?
Please refer to question 8.
11. At what time exactly did the governor-general issue a ministerial warrant to Chris
Penk for the Small Business and Manufacturing portfolio?
Please refer to question 8.
12. During the period between when Andrew Bayly resigned, and Chris Penk was issued
a ministerial warrant, who was responsible for the Small Business and Manufacturing
portfolio?
Please refer to question 8.
13. Was there any period of time when there was no minister in charge of the Small
Business and Manufacturing portfolio, or any period of time when that responsibility was
unclear? If so, please provide details of when this period of time started and ended.
Please refer to question 8.
14. At what time exactly was the governor-general advised that Andrew Bayly had
resigned as Minister of Statistics?
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Hon Bayly was not the Minister of Statistics when he resigned as a Minister therefore there
was no change of portfolio Minister.
15. At what time exactly was Shane Reti appointed Minister of Statistics by the Prime
Minister?
Please refer to question 14.
16. At what time exactly was Shane Reti notified that he had been appointed Minister of
Statistics by the Prime Minister?
Please refer to question 14.
17. At what time exactly did the governor-general issue a ministerial warrant to Shane
Reti for the Statistics portfolio?
Please refer to question 14.
18. During the period between when Andrew Bayly resigned, and Shane Reti was issued
a ministerial warrant, who was responsible for the Statistics portfolio?
Please refer to question 14.
19. Was there any period of time when there was no minister in charge of the Statistics
portfolio, or any period of time when that responsibility was unclear? If so, please
provide details of when this period of time started and ended.
Please refer to question 14.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
Yours sincerely
Cameron Burrows
Chief of Staff
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