Pay negotiations 2024 - arbitrator conflict of interest
Katie Torrington made this Official Information request to New Zealand Police
Response to this request is delayed. By law, New Zealand Police should normally have responded promptly and by (details and exceptions)
From: Katie Torrington
Dear New Zealand Police,
I am writing to submit a renewed request under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). This request follows my original submission dated 15 July 2024, which was declined under sections 18(c)(i) and 9(2)(j) of the Act.
Given that the pay negotiations between the Government and the Police Association for sworn officers have since concluded, I believe the grounds for withholding previously cited — particularly section 9(2)(j) regarding active negotiations — no longer apply.
I therefore respectfully request the following information:
1) The number of, and nature of, any contracts or engagements between NZ Police and Vicki Campbell or Equilibrium Legal from June 2023 to June 2024.
2) Any declarations of conflict of interest made by Vicki Campbell in relation to her role as arbitrator in the recently concluded sworn officer pay negotiations.
3) Records of communication between NZ Police and Vicki Campbell or Equilibrium Legal regarding her appointment as arbitrator for those negotiations.
If any part of this request remains subject to section 18(c)(i) of the OIA, I ask that NZ Police clarify precisely how the Arbitration Act 1996 prevents disclosure, and whether a summary or redacted version could reasonably be provided under section 16 of the OIA.
As the negotiations have concluded and the matter is of public interest, I believe the public interest in transparency now outweighs any residual need for confidentiality.
Yours faithfully,
Katie Torrington
From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Police
Tēnā koe
I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request below.
Your reference number is IR-01-25-17291.
You can expect a response to your request on or before 9 June 2025 unless an extension is needed.
Ngā mihi
Siena (she/her)
Advisor - Ministerial Services
Police National Headquarters
-----Original Message-----
From: Katie Torrington <[FOI #30950 email]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 2:40 PM
To: Ministerial Services <[email address]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - Pay negotiations 2024 - arbitrator conflict of interest
CAUTION: This email originated from outside the New Zealand Police Network. DO NOT click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and are assured that the content is safe.
Dear New Zealand Police,
I am writing to submit a renewed request under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). This request follows my original submission dated 15 July 2024, which was declined under sections 18(c)(i) and 9(2)(j) of the Act.
Given that the pay negotiations between the Government and the Police Association for sworn officers have since concluded, I believe the grounds for withholding previously cited — particularly section 9(2)(j) regarding active negotiations — no longer apply.
I therefore respectfully request the following information:
1) The number of, and nature of, any contracts or engagements between NZ Police and Vicki Campbell or Equilibrium Legal from June 2023 to June 2024.
2) Any declarations of conflict of interest made by Vicki Campbell in relation to her role as arbitrator in the recently concluded sworn officer pay negotiations.
3) Records of communication between NZ Police and Vicki Campbell or Equilibrium Legal regarding her appointment as arbitrator for those negotiations.
If any part of this request remains subject to section 18(c)(i) of the OIA, I ask that NZ Police clarify precisely how the Arbitration Act 1996 prevents disclosure, and whether a summary or redacted version could reasonably be provided under section 16 of the OIA.
As the negotiations have concluded and the matter is of public interest, I believe the public interest in transparency now outweighs any residual need for confidentiality.
Yours faithfully,
Katie Torrington
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This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #30950 email]
Is [New Zealand Police request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Police? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.
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WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this message or any of its contents. Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in error, please email or telephone the sender immediately
hide quoted sections
From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Police
Kia ora
I refer to your request below. I have been asked to advise you that Police requires an extension of time in which to respond to your request, pursuant to section 15A(1) of the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). Specifically, section 15A(1)(b), consultations necessary to make a decision on the request are such that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit.
Police requires until 16 June 2025 to provide a substantive response to your request, however we are endeavouring to provide this to you as soon as possible.
You have the right, under section 28(3) of the OIA, to make a complaint to an Ombudsman about this extension. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Kind regards, Michelle
Advisor – Police National Headquarters
-----Original Message-----
From: Ministerial Services
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 1:40 PM
To: '[FOI #30950 email]' <[FOI #30950 email]>
Subject: OIA Acknowledgement IR-01-25-17291
Tēnā koe
I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request below.
Your reference number is IR-01-25-17291.
You can expect a response to your request on or before 9 June 2025 unless an extension is needed.
Ngā mihi
Siena (she/her)
Advisor - Ministerial Services
Police National Headquarters
-----Original Message-----
From: Katie Torrington <[FOI #30950 email]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 2:40 PM
To: Ministerial Services <[email address]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - Pay negotiations 2024 - arbitrator conflict of interest
CAUTION: This email originated from outside the New Zealand Police Network. DO NOT click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and are assured that the content is safe.
Dear New Zealand Police,
I am writing to submit a renewed request under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). This request follows my original submission dated 15 July 2024, which was declined under sections 18(c)(i) and 9(2)(j) of the Act.
Given that the pay negotiations between the Government and the Police Association for sworn officers have since concluded, I believe the grounds for withholding previously cited — particularly section 9(2)(j) regarding active negotiations — no longer apply.
I therefore respectfully request the following information:
1) The number of, and nature of, any contracts or engagements between NZ Police and Vicki Campbell or Equilibrium Legal from June 2023 to June 2024.
2) Any declarations of conflict of interest made by Vicki Campbell in relation to her role as arbitrator in the recently concluded sworn officer pay negotiations.
3) Records of communication between NZ Police and Vicki Campbell or Equilibrium Legal regarding her appointment as arbitrator for those negotiations.
If any part of this request remains subject to section 18(c)(i) of the OIA, I ask that NZ Police clarify precisely how the Arbitration Act 1996 prevents disclosure, and whether a summary or redacted version could reasonably be provided under section 16 of the OIA.
As the negotiations have concluded and the matter is of public interest, I believe the public interest in transparency now outweighs any residual need for confidentiality.
Yours faithfully,
Katie Torrington
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #30950 email]
Is [New Zealand Police request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Police? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
===============================================================
WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this message or any of its contents. Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in error, please email or telephone the sender immediately
hide quoted sections
From: Katie Torrington
Dear Ministerial Services,
I refer to my Official Information Act request, for which you required an extension until 16 June 2025. As this date has now passed and I have not yet received a substantive response, I am following up to request an update.
I note that the timeframe under the OIA has now expired.
Yours sincerely,
Katie Torrington
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