Appendix B combined Redacted.pdf

Document 2
From:
Nick Vincent
To:
9(2)(a)
Cc:
Jeremy Cauchi; Ministerial Correspondence; James Taaffe
Subject:
IA20245104 - Classification Office - Proposed reappointment of the Chief Censor
Date:
Tuesday, December 10, 2024 9:53:50 AM
Attachments:
IA20245104 - Classification Office - Proposed reappointment of the Chief Censor.docx
IA20245104 - Appendix A - Draft Appointments Paper for the Chief Censor.docx
IA20245104 - Appendix B - Concurrence letter to Hon Nicola Grigg.docx
IA20245104 - Appendix B - Concurrence letter to Hon Paul Goldsmith.docx
Hi 9(2)(a)
Attached is a briefing seeking the Minister’s decision on the reappointment of the Chief
Censor for a second term. The timeframe for a decision is 20 Jan 25.
Also attached are letters from the Minister to Ministers Goldsmith and Griggs seeking their
concurrence to the reappointment if she decides to reappoint the Chief Censor.
Please let me know if you need hard copies or more information.
Nga mihi
Nick

Document 3
Purpose
1.  The term of the Chief Censor expires on 19 July 2025.
2.  This briefing seeks your agreement to either reappoint the current Chief Censor,
Ms Caroline Flora, or commence a process to appoint a new Chief Censor. Your early
indication is requested as the process for appointment for this position typically takes
a substantial length of time.
The Chief Censor is a statutory officer established under the Films, Videos, and
Publications Classification Act 1993 (the Act)
3.  The Chief Censor is appointed by the Governor-General, on your recommendation,
with the concurrence of the Minister of Justice and the Minister for Women. The
appointment is for up to three years and the Chief Censor may be reappointed.
Remuneration is set by the Remuneration Authority.
4.  The Chief Censor holds office as chairperson of the Board of the Office of Film and
Literature Classification (the Office). The Chief Censor is also the Chief Executive of the
Office of Film and Literature Classification Office. The role has responsibility for
allocating duties and responsibilities among staff, and ensuring the Office has sound
strategic direction, financial performance, and operational conduct. The Chief Censor
has additional functions under the Act, including granting the public leave to submit an
unclassified publication for classification, allowing previously classified publications to
be given a new classification, “calling in” unclassified publications to be classified, and
granting exemptions upon request.
5.  The Act has no provision for the Chief Censor to continue in the role once their term
expires unless reappointed by the Minister. The Act also does not al ow for an Acting
Chief Censor. The Deputy Chief Censor would assume the Chief Censor’s
responsibilities if an appointment has not been completed by 19 July 2025.
The current Chief Censor may be reappointed and we recommend you do so
6.  The current Chief Censor, Caroline Flora, was appointed 20 July 2022 for the standard
three year term.
7.  Ms Flora has degrees in science, psychology and law, and has held senior public sector
leadership positions. Before her appointment as the Chief Censor, Ms Flora was the
Associate Deputy Director General of System Strategy and Performance at the Ministry
of Health. She has worked for most of her career in policy and service delivery in areas
of preventing harm, including family violence and child protection. (We can provide
more information on her professional background if you wish).
8.  Ms Flora is highly skilled in operational leadership, which she demonstrated most
recently in the restructure of the Office to ensure its operational and financial
sustainability. She has built strong, productive, and collaborative relationships with
sector leaders, and is well regarded in New Zealand and international y.  She has a
well-developed understanding of the complexities involved in managing the balance of
freedom of expression and harm prevention across the two primary functions of the
office: making determinations on illegal objectionable material and tackling violent
extremism online, and age and content classification of publications.
9.  9(2)(g)(i)

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9(2)(g)(i)



A new Chief Censor could bring a fresh perspective to the role, but comes with risk
10.  9(2)(g)(i)







      .
13.  The Department recommends that you reappoint Ms Flora for a second three-year
term as Chief Censor.
Next steps
14.  If you agree to reappoint Ms Flora, a draft Cabinet paper for your feedback prior to
Ministerial consultation in 2025 is attached as Appendix A. Once we have received
your feedback on the paper we wil  provide an updated paper and al  of the supporting
documents required to complete the appointment.
15.  If you decide to reappoint Ms Flora you wil  need to seek the concurrence of the
Minister of Justice and the Minister for Women to the reappointment. Draft letters to
the Ministers are attached as Appendix B.
16.  The appointment would take effect from 20 July 2025.
17.  If you wish to consider a new Chief Censor, the Department wil  commence the
appointment process immediately, to ensure a decision is made before July 2025.

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Recommendations
18.  We recommend that you:
EITHER

a)  agree to reappoint the Chief Censor, Caroline Flora, for a second
Yes/No
term from 20 July 2025;
b)  advise any feedback on the draft Cabinet paper; and
Yes/No
c)
sign and send the concurrence letters to the Minister of Justice
Yes/No
and the Minister for Women (Appendix B);
OR

d)  direct the Department of Internal Affairs to commence the
Yes/No
process to identify and appoint a new Chief Censor.

Jeremy Cauchi
Director, Ministerial and Monitoring

Hon Brooke van Velden

Minister of Internal Affairs

/
/

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Appendix A: Draft Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee Paper

Document 3

Document 3
Appendix B: Concurrence Letters to the Minister of Justice and the Minister
for Women

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In Confidence
Office of the Minister of Internal Affairs
Chair, Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee
Office of Film and Literature Classification: Chief Censor Reappointment
Proposal
1
This paper outlines my intention to recommend to the Governor-General that
she appoint Caroline Flora as the Chief Censor of the Office of Film and
Literature Classification (the Classification Office) for a second three-year
term commencing on 20 July 2025 and expiring on 19 July 2028.
Background
2
The Classification Of ice is established under the Films, Videos, and
Publications Classification Act 1993 (the Classification Act). Its role is to
classify publications such as films, books or computer files which may need to
be restricted or banned, and to provide information about classification
decisions and the classification system.
3
The Classification Of ice is an independent Crown entity under the Crown
Entities Act 2004 (the CEA), funded by a mix of Crown and third-party
revenue.
4
The Chief Censor, together with the Deputy Chief Censor, has a range of
duties, functions and powers under the Classification Act. Both the Chief
Censor and Deputy Chief Censor roles are full-time positions as the Chief
Executive and the Deputy Chief Executive of the Classification Of ice.
5
The Chief Censor and Deputy Chief Censor form the Board of the
Classification Of ice. For the purposes of the CEA, the Chief Censor is the
Chairperson of the Board.
6
In her role as the Chief Censor Ms Flora is the chief executive of the
Classification Of ice and is responsible for allocating duties and
responsibilities among staff.
7
The Chief Censor performs a number of additional functions under the Act,
including the power to:
• Grant members of the public leave to submit an unclassified publication for
classification
• Al ow previously classified publications to be submit ed in order to be given
a new classification
• 'Call in' an unclassified publication in order for it to be classified (this is
usually the result of complaints from members of the public).

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14
I am also confident that she has a strong understanding of the inherent risks
of censorship and the value of freedom of expression, and that the
Classification Of ice’s decision-making and public profile has not overstepped
its mandate in her time in role. Ms Flora is also a skil ed relationship manager
who is respected domestically and internationally.
15
In summary I am of the view that a recruitment process (conducted within time
and cost constraints to be completed by July 2025) would probably not deliver
a better skil  set than Ms Flora’s. Ms Flora has the knowledge and skil s
needed to lead the Classification Office’s implementation of key priorities and
has the intellectual and conceptual strength to understand the complexity of
its current and future challenges.
16
A Candidate CV Form is attached as Appendix B.
Representativeness of reappointment
17
I am satisfied that the reappointment of Ms Flora wil  provide for a well-
balanced Board in terms of gender, age, ethnicity and geographic
representation, and an appropriate mix of skil s and experience.
Remuneration
18
Under section 47(1)(b)(i) of the CEA, remuneration is set by the
Remuneration Authority.
Appointment process and consultation
19
The appointments of the Chief and Deputy Chief Censor are made by the
Governor-General on the recommendation of the responsible minister.
20
As required under the Classification Act, I have obtained the concurrence of
the Minister of Justice and the Minister for Women. I have also consulted with
Ministerial colleagues and have considered any feedback received.
Conflicts of interest
21
I can confirm that appropriate enquiries concerning conflicts of interest have
been carried out, in accordance with the Public Service Commission
appointment guidelines, to identify any conflict of interest that could
reasonably be identified, and no conflicts of interest have been identified.
Communications
22
A press statement wil  be issued once the reappointment has been approved
and Ms Flora has been notified.
Recommendation
23
It is recommended that the Committee note my intention to recommend the
Governor-General appoint Ms Caroline Flora as the Chief Censor for a further

Document 4
three-year term of office commencing on 20 July 2025 and expiring on 19 July
2028.

Authorised for lodgement

Hon Brooke van Velden
Minister of Internal Affairs

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Appendix A Organisation Form

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APH Organisation Form

Organisation and Responsible Portfolio
Office of Film and Literature Classification (Internal Affairs)
Brief Outline of the Functions and Responsibilities of the
Organisation
The Office of Film and Literature Classification (the Office) is established under the Films, Videos, and
Publications Classification Act 1993 to examine and classify publications including films, videos, books,
magazines, sound recordings and computer-based material. The Office has a statutory monopoly on the
classification of publications in New Zealand. It is a Crown entity, funded by a mix of Crown and third-
party revenue.

Current Membership
Name
Gender
Region
Ethnicities
Date of
Expiry date of
Identity*
(and Iwi if
original
present term
applicable)
appointment
Caroline Flora (Chief
F
Wellington
European New
20 July 2022  19 July 2025
Censor)
Zealander/ Pākehā
Rupert Henry Edward  M
Wellington
Welsh
4 October
4 October
Ablett-Hampson
2021
2027
(Deputy Chief Censor)

Date: 27/5/2024

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Appendix B Candidate CV Form

Document 4
Candidate CV Form

Name
Caroline FLORA
The Position
Organisation/Entity
Office of Film and Literature Classification
Position
Chief Censor
Term
Three-year term
Payment
Remuneration is determined by the Remuneration Authority
How the Candidate Meets the Needs of the Position
Skil s and attributes the
•  Management experience
candidate wil  bring to the  •  Legal training
position
•  Strong interpersonal and leadership skills
•  strong financial management,
•  positive stakeholder engagement
•  strong media presence
Possible conflicts of
Ms Flora has not declared any conflict of interests.
interest
Proposals for conflict
Ms Flora has agreed to promptly declare any actual or
management
potential conflict of interest or probity issues to the Minister of
Internal Affairs, who will decide how the conflict or probity
issue can best be managed. In the event that a conflict or
probity issue cannot be managed, Ms Flora is aware that the
Minister of Internal Affairs may reconsider Ms Flora’s
suitability for continuing in the role of Chief Censor.

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The Candidate
Name
Caroline FLORA

Address
Wellington
Ethnicity
New Zealand European / Pākehā
Age range
41-50
Gender
F
Current or most recent
Chief Censor, Classification Office
Employment
Government board
Classification Office
appointments held
Private and/or voluntary
Board member, Wellington Women’s Health Collective
sector board
appointments held

Qualifications and
Qualifications
experience
•  Leadership in Practice, Learning Development Centre (2019)
•  Management Essentials Foundation Programme, Learning
Development Centre (2015)
•  Master of Laws (with distinction), University of Otago (2008)
•  Post Graduate Diploma in Child Advocacy, University of Otago
(2008)
•  Professional Legal Studies, College of Law (2007)
•  Bachelor of Science, University of Otago (2006)
•  Bachelor of Laws, University of Otago (2006)
Employment experience
•  Chief Censor, Classification Office (2022 to present)
•  Associate Deputy Director-General System Strategy and Policy,
Ministry of Health (2021 to 2022)
•  Group Manager Population Outcomes / Family and Community
Health Policy, Ministry of Health (2017–2021)
•  Principal Advisor to the Police Executive (2017)
•  Ministry of Health Representative, Investing in Children
Programme (2015–2016)
•  Programme Manager Children’s Action Plan, Ministry of Health
(2014–2017)
•  Senior Portfolio Manager, Ministry of Health (2013–2014)
•  Nordic Procurement Specialist, Nespresso (2012–2013)

Document 4
•  Team Coordinator National Family Safety Team, New Zealand
Police (2011–2012)
•  Independent Contractor based in Norway (2011)
•  Portfolio Manager, Ministry of Health (2009–2011)
•  Agreements Administrator, Ministry of Health (2009)
•  Research Assistant, Faculty of Law, University of Otago (2008–
2009)
•  Law Clerk to Judith Ablett-Kerr QC (2007)
Professional memberships
•  To be confirmed.
Awards
•  Faculty of Law Summer Research Scholarship, University of
Otago (2008)
.
Date: 09/12/2024

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the Office. Importantly, she has the skil s and strategic capability that wil continue to
be needed over the next period of appointment to manage cost pressures without
disrupting delivery obligations. I have confidence that the Office is being managed to
avoid the risk of over-reach into freedom of expression, and to maintain an
appropriate public profile that reflects the status and constraints of the role of the
Chief Censor.
For these reasons, I propose the reappointment of the current Chief Censor for a
second term.
I would appreciate receiving your concurrence with my intended recommendation by
30 January 2025. If you wish to discuss this matter further, or receive any additional
information, please contact my private secretary, 9(2)(a)
at
9(2)(a)

Yours sincerely,

Hon Brooke van Velden
Minister of Internal Affairs

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In her first term in the role, Ms Flora has made substantial improvements to the way
the Office operates, the quality of the Office’s decisions, and the overall reputation of
the Office. Importantly, she has the skil s and strategic capability that wil continue to
be needed over the next period of appointment to manage cost pressures without
disrupting delivery obligations. I have confidence that the Office is being managed to
avoid the risk of over-reach into freedom of expression, and to maintain an
appropriate public profile that reflects the status and constraints of the role of the
Chief Censor.
For these reasons, I propose the reappointment of the current Chief Censor for a
second term.
I would appreciate receiving your concurrence with my intended recommendation by
30 January 2025. If you wish to discuss this matter further, or receive any additional
information, please contact my private secretary, 9(2)(a)
at
9(2)(a)

Yours sincerely,
Hon Brooke van Velden
Minister of Internal Affairs

Document 9
Talking points
Proposed appointment of Caroline Flora
• I propose to recommend to the Governor-General that she appoint Caroline Flora to
the role of Chief Censor for a second three-year term of office to start on the date of
appointment.
• Ms Flora has degrees in science, psychology and law and is legally qualified and has
held senior, public sector leadership positions. Before her appointment as the Chief
Censor she was the Associate Deputy Director General of System Strategy and
Performance at the Ministry of Health. She has previously been the Group Manager,
Principal Advisor, and Programme Manager at the Ministry of Health and
New Zealand Police.
• Ms Flora She has worked for most of her career in policy and service delivery in areas
of preventing harm, including family violence and child protection. She has led
complex and sensitive policies, such as the End of Life Choice Act 2019.
• Ms Flora is highly skilled in operational leadership, which she demonstrated most
recently in the areas of strategy, policy and operations in her work to restructure the
Classification Office to ensure it operates within budget.
• Ms Flora enjoys people leadership, and her strength is in building and maintaining
strong relationships.
The appointment process and remuneration
• When first appointed Ms Flora was selected as the recommended candidate via a
public call for expressions of interest. She was interviewed by a panel of senior
officials and has completed psychometric testing, including an assessment of her
resilience. This is a critical consideration given the nature of the content seen by the
Chief Censor.
• Remuneration for the Chief Censor is determined by Remuneration Authority.
The role of the Chief Censor
• The Chief Censor is a full-time role and has a range of duties, functions and powers
under the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act 1993, primarily in respect
of what publications may be submitted for classification by the Classification Office,
and under what conditions.
• The Chief Censor is Chief Executive of the Classification Office and, for the purposes
of the Crown Entities Act 2004, they are also the Chair of the Board.
• I believe Ms Flora wil continue to bring the necessary experience and skil s to lead
and manage the Classification Office and build and grow trusted relationships across
the sector.

Document 12
Nick Vincent
From:
Nick Vincent
Sent:
17 March 2025 15:05
To:
9(2)(a)
Subject:
RE: Chief Censor Gazette notice
Great, thanks very much. I ﬁled the hardcopies away safe and sound.
Nick
From: 9(2)(a)

Sent: 17 March 2025 11:07
To: Nick Vincent <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Chief Censor Gazette notice
Morning Nick,
Happy to let you know, I called Caroline on Friday and emailed her the docs. She was delighted. I wandered
over to the O ice and gave Jeremy the hardcopies of everything.
For your information the PR will be today most likely.
9(2)(a)
9(2)(a)

Internal Affairs Private Secretary | Office of Hon Brooke van Velden
Minister of Internal Affairs
Minister for Workplace Relations
MP for Tāmaki
9(2)(a)

    Website: www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
Authorised by Hon Brooke van Velden, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or transmission error
has misdirected this email, please notify the author by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the intended recipient, any
use, disclosure, copying or distribution is prohibited and may be unlawful.
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’ portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list: date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the meeting
was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will be released. If
you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be released. The
location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the provisions in the Official
Information Act, including privacy considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we
hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, or
are concerned about the release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the sender. You can read more about the proactive
release policy at https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releases#MS
From: Nick Vincent <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 17 March 2025 11:02 AM
To: 9(2)(a)

Subject: Chief Censor Gazette notice
1

Document 12

Hi 9(2)(a)

The Chief Censor Gazette notice was published on Friday (when I don’t work). Can you give us a
heads up before the press release is made so that Caroline can tell her sta  in advance?

Nick

Nick Vincent | Senior Policy Analyst
Ministerial and Monitoring
Policy and Te Tiriti
Department of Internal A airs | Te Tari Taiwhenua
45 Pipitea Street | PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, New Zealand | www.dia.govt.nz
9(2)(a)

Please note I work Monday to Thursday

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