15 May 2025
Sarah Samson
By email to:
[FYI request #30702 email]
Dear Sarah
OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT REQUEST 2025/23
On Saturday 12 April, you made a request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the OIA) for the
following information:
Following your response to my OÍA request dated 26 March, I am seeking further information
regarding the two personal grievances that were escalated to the ERA, and also some
information about personal grievances generally over the past ten years.
Please provide dates for these two cases, in particular when did the ERA make its
determinations. 1. How many personal grievances were found against the Electoral Commission in addition to
these two cases noted in my request over the past ten years. 2. Please provide any internal correspondence relating to the outcomes of the cases referred
to in my request that were found against the Electoral Commission, in particular relating to
changes made in processes as a result of these unfavourable determinations. 3. Please provide any information relating to disciplinary action taken against relevant
managers as a result of these unfavourable decisions.
Responses to each of your questions are listed below:
1. How many personal grievances were found against the Electoral Commission in addition to
these two cases noted in my request over the past ten years.
Over the past 10 years there have been no additional personal grievances found against the
Electoral Commission. Our response is based on additional personal grievances that went to the ERA.
2. Please provide any internal correspondence relating to the outcomes of the cases referred to in
my request that were found against the Electoral Commission, in particular relating to changes
made in processes as a result of these unfavourable determinations.
Please find attached all internal correspondence relating to the outcomes of the cases referred to in
this request that were found against the Electoral Commission.
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
Some contact details, such as phone numbers, some email addresses, and names, have been
withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA which relates to the privacy of natural persons. In each
case where redactions have been made under section 9(2)(a), 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.
Internal correspondence relating to the outcomes of the case:
• After the Determination was issued in January 2025, the Chief Executive announced the case
had been heard and found against the Commission (all staff briefing 14 February 2025).
We have not made any changes in processes as a result of the Determination. The following changes
set out below were delivered as part of our FY24/25 workplan and these changes will increase our
capability around induction and employment relations matters:
• In 2025 we updated our induction programme with the following changes:
o Require compulsory modules, including Cyber Security, to be completed in the first two
days of employment.
o All new employees to attend a mihi whakatau in their first month.
o Introducing a new compulsory module “Doing things right | Mahia kia tika”. This module
covers the Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interests and requires all employees to
complete at induction and annually thereafter.
• The ICT Acceptable Use policy was reviewed in 2024 and is being finalised taking into
consideration feedback from employees.
• The People & Culture Team created a new permanent role in 2024 “Senior Advisor Employment
Relations”. This role will work closely with our internal Legal, Regulation and Policy team and
with all managers to ensure a consistent and robust approach to employment relations matters.
• In July 2024 the following Management Essentials online training modules were developed and
rolled out to all managers.
o “How we do things.” This module aligns to the Commission’s values and compulsory re-
signing of the code of conduct for all employees.
o Performance and Development.
o Employment Relations.
3. Please provide any information relating to disciplinary action taken against relevant managers
as a result of these unfavourable decisions.
No disciplinary action was taken against the managers involved in the ERA case.
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.
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
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
