12 March 2025
Anna Wilson
[FYI request #30294 email]
Ref: PMO OIA 323-2024-25
Dear Anna Wilson
Official Information Act request: Policy relating to proactive release of Ministerial
diaries
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request, received on 4 March
2025. You requested:
“Under the Official Information Act 1982, I would like to request a copy of your
Government's policy on the proactive release of Ministerial diaries.
…
Therefore I wanted to enquire whether the Ministerial diary policy has been changed or
whether the previous precedent still stands?”
While the publication of Ministerial diaries is not a statutory requirement, since 2018
Ministers have proactively released their diaries on the Beehive website. The policy has not
changed under the current coalition government. The Prime Minister confirmed this in his
answer to Written Parliamentary Question 28335 (2023), which can be viewed on the
Beehive website at the following li
nk: 28335 (2023). Rt Hon Chris Hipkins to the Prime
Minister. I am refusing your request for the government’s policy on the proactive release of Ministerial
diaries under section 18(d) of the Act, as the information you have requested is publicly
available. You can read the policy at the following webpage on the Beehive website:
Government to proactively release Ministerial diaries | Beehive.govt.nz
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