Reference: 20250341

16 June 2025

Andrew Riddell
[FYI request #30991 email]

Dear Andrew

Thank you for your Official Information Act request, received on 16 May 2025. You
requested the following:

Please provide copies of all communications since 1 November 2024 from
yourself or your office to The Treasury in relation to attendance of people at the
December 2024 HYEFU 'lock-up' and next Thursday's Budget 'lock-up'.

Note that 'communications' includes verbal messages, phone calls, and texts in
addition to emails, briefings, and the like.

Information being released

Please find enclosed the following documents:

Item  Date
Document Description
Decision
1.    5 November 2024
Email: Lock-up attendance
Release in full
2.    29 November 2024
Email: HYEFU & BPS: ROI RSVPs – update for
Release in full
MoFs office 29 Nov
3.    3 April 2025
Email: RE: Budget lock-up ROI: Update on
Release in full
finalised wording
4.    24 April 2025
Email: RE: B25 ROIs as at 24 April
Release in full
5.    29 April 2025
Email: RE: Emails/notes from agreed HYEFU/BPS
Release in full
category approach with MoFs office
6.    14 May 2025
Email: FYI: Budget 2025 ROIs- Follow up
Release in full
responses
7.    15 May 2025
Email: Budget 2025 ROIs sorted by category
Release in full
8.    20 May 2025
Email: RE: Budget 2025 lock-up- Last minute
Release in full
requests on attendance

I have decided to release the documents listed above, subject to information being
withheld under one or more of the following sections of the OIA, as applicable:
1 The Terrace
PO Box 3724
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
tel. +64-4-472-2733

https://treasury.govt.nz

•  contact details under section 9(2)(g)(ii) – to maintain the effective conduct of
public affairs through protecting ministers, members of government
organisations, officers and employees from improper pressure or harassment,
and

•  staff direct telephone numbers, under section 9(2)(k) – to prevent the disclosure
of official information for improper gain or improper advantage This is because
information released under the OIA may end up in the public domain, for
example, on websites including Treasury’s website.

In making my decision, I have considered the public interest considerations in section
9(1) of the OIA.

Please note that this letter (with your personal details removed) and enclosed
documents may be published on the Treasury website.

This reply addresses the information you requested. Under section 28(3) of the OIA,
you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any decisions made under this
request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.

Yours sincerely

Emily Fulford
Acting Manager, Budget

2

link to page 4 link to page 11 link to page 14 link to page 17 link to page 18 link to page 20 link to page 21 link to page 22 Table of Contents
1.
RE LockUp attendance
1
2.
29 November 2024 - ROI RSVPs - update for MoF's office (HYEFU)
8
3.
3 April 2025 - Update on finalised wording and ROI criteria (Budget)
11
4.
RE B25 ROIs as at 24 April
14
5.
RE Emailsnotes from agreed HYEFUBPS category approach with MoF's office
15
6.
FYI Budget 2025 ROIs - Follow up responses
17
7.
15 May 2025 - Update on acceptances to restricted briefing (Budget)
18
8.
Budget 2025 lock-up - Last minute requests on attendance
19

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
Page 1 of 20
*
From:
Jayne Winfield [TSY]
Sent:
Tuesday, 5 November 2024 10:53 am
To:
Paul Comer [TSY]; Myrah Walters [TSY]; Julie Scobie [TSY]; Bryan McDaniel [TSY]
Cc:
Andrew Rutledge [TSY]
Subject:
RE: LockUp attendance
Hi All,

There are two items in this

1.  In respect to Mr Rennie, the usual process, this would have been raised with us earlier – as  ming is
problema c now so need to move this forward ASAP. We will need to complete a memo that goes through
Stacey Wymer (As SRO for HYEFU) ASAP before being agreed at the Secretary level on what our
recommended ac on is. @Paul Comer [TSY] – happy to assist where needed.

2.  On the changing to embargo rules – we should discuss with Stacey about approach.

Thanks

Jayne

From: Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 10:46 AM
To: Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>; Julie Scobie [TSY] <[email address]>;
Bryan McDaniel [TSY] <[email address]>; Jayne Winfield [TSY] <[email address]>
Cc: Andrew Rutledge [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: RE: LockUp attendance

Thanks for that Myrah

I’ve just spoken with Jayne – and we absolutely agree that we’ll need to escalate this to appropriate level for
consideration.

Paul

From: Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 10:42 AM
To: Julie Scobie [TSY] <[email address]>; Bryan McDaniel [TSY] <[email address]>;
Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>; Jayne Winfield [TSY] <[email address]>
Cc: Andrew Rutledge [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: RE: LockUp attendance

Kia ora Paul,

No issues with the first sentence.

Agree with Julie and Bryan re: previous examples of breaking embargo rules. In terms of Craig Rennie and the CTU –
you’re proposing that we decline his ROI (for an undetermined period) based on information that we (the Treasury)
do not have and without any breaches to our current embargo rules. Is that correct? My question is to what purpose
1

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
Page 2 of 20
we think this will achieve considering that it sounded like it had been dealt with by MoF office (when you told us
previously). As MoF office issue, I think there should be a warning in kind from the office on this occasion e.g. the
office sending a warning letter in the first instance, and the new ‘rule’ added to the ROI. My concern is that
otherwise when Mr Rennie and the CTU kick up a fuss, we’re unnecessarily risking Treasury’s reputation on issue
that will likely look politically motivated on the part of MoF office.
I also have issues with the inclusion of rule 8 which seems to have come out of left field based on previous
discussions between Bryan, Julie and myself. I'm aware that you’ve said there were comments on the edges or
sidelines but again, I’d be curious to know what specifically the issues were. My concern is that this rule has come
from somewhere that doesn’t understand how the media work. From a logistical standpoint, how would we enforce
this? Will the embargo lift earlier? Or in the case of Budget, will it start earlier? Noting that on Budget Day, press
gallery members are given special permission to leave the Banquet Hall early (while under embargo rules) to get to
the House for MoF’s speech – therefore, what opportunity would they realistically have to interview attendees?
(within their own workplace at that). It would be helpful to have context on your conversations with MoF office that
have resulted in this suggestion, so we can better understand what the Treasury reasoning would be if asked.
Ultimately I think we’re opening ourselves up to backlash on this or simply putting in a rule that ‘looks good’ but will
have no effect.
Ngā mihi, nā

Myrah Walters | Senior Communica ons Advisor | Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury
s9(2)(k)
| Email: [email address]
From: Julie Scobie [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 10:12 AM
To: Bryan McDaniel [TSY] <[email address]>; Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>;
Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>; Jayne Winfield [TSY] <[email address]>
Cc: Andrew Rutledge [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: RE: LockUp attendance

Hi Paul

I can’t see any issues with adding in: The purpose of Ministerial and Treasury lockups is to provide advance access to consider
material under embargo before it becomes public. This is to provide sufficient time to media, and economic and financial
organisations, so that the complex information presented can be analysed and reported accurately when embargo is lifted,
assisting in transparency and accountability to the public.

However, I can imagine a lot of backlash if we add in:
8.  Recorded interviews of other a endees shall only take place a er embargo has been li ed.

As mentioned earlier, this is a new topic (to me at least) that seems to have arisen from FSG this year, I’ve never
been involved in any feedback or discussion over the years about recording during the lock-up being an issue.

Re Craig Rennie:
I don’t think Craig actually broke the lock-up embargo rules and I anticipate backlash from him/CTU if we ban
him.  But if we do ban him - when we banned WSJ, we sent them a letter explaining the ban so they knew not to
apply to future lock-ups:
Wal  Street Journal Budget Breach review letter 29 June 2022.pdf (111.7 KB)

With a paper to ELT:
ELT paper noting Wal  Street Journal response.docx (28.2 KB)

With regards to these changes, what are the next steps for discussion & approval from BGG + the BPS mgmt team –
Emily, Stephen, Jayne, Stacey?  I’m looping in @Jayne Winfield [TSY] as the BPS Director for now.

Ngā mihi
2

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
Page 3 of 20
Julie

From: Bryan McDaniel [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 9:29 AM
To: Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>
Cc: Andrew Rutledge [TSY] <[email address]>; Julie Scobie [TSY]
<[email address]>; Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: RE: LockUp attendance

Forgot to mention that a picture from the lock-up (even showing the password for accessing the Budget info) was
once posted by the National Party on its Facebook account while the lock-up was still in progress. We raised this
directly with the party president at the time (Peter Goodfellow), received a big apology, and no further action was
taken.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Bryan McDaniel

Bryan McDaniel (he/him) | Principal Advisor – Communications and Engagement | Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury
s9(2)(k)
| Email/IM: [email address]
Visit us online at https://treasury.govt.nz/ and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram

From: Bryan McDaniel [TSY]
Sent: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 9:14 AM
To: Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>
Cc: Andrew Rutledge [TSY] <[email address]>; Julie Scobie [TSY]
<[email address]>; Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: RE: LockUp attendance

Thanks Paul,

For context on the length of time people or organisations have been declined attendance due to breaches of
embargo conditions, this has ranged from a complete ban of a Chinese language news organisation for being on
their phone in the bathroom at a Budget lock-up, the 3 years for the NY Times/Wall Street Journal for publicly
releasing Budget information before the embargo lifted, and 3 lock-ups for an AAP journalist who insisted on leaving
a Financial Statements of the Govt lock-up 10 minutes early (and was warned about the consequences). The
question for me is where Craig Rennie’s conduct fits within this spectrum (while acknowledging CTU can send
someone else).

Ngā manaakitanga,

Bryan McDaniel

Bryan McDaniel (he/him) | Principal Advisor – Communications and Engagement | Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury
s9(2)(k)
mail/IM: [email address]
3

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
Page 4 of 20
Visit us online at https://treasury.govt.nz/ and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram

From: Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 8:51 AM
To: Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>; Julie Scobie [TSY] <[email address]>;
Bryan McDaniel [TSY] <[email address]>
Cc: Andrew Rutledge [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: FW: LockUp attendance

Kia ora tatou

I’ve completed discussions with the Mins Press Secretary. See below and attached.

For us I am suggesting only 2 minor changes to invite and attendance.

I agree with the Mins Office regarding the exclusion of one participant, on the basis of their previous conduct.

I am also pleased that they have accepted our recommendation to keep our invitation criteria as broad as possible.
On that basis I do not think we need to use our priority category approach explicitly. It may come in handy internally
where we are making decisions as to who to prioritise where capacity is limited.

Invitation:

I suggest we add the following paragraph at the top of the existing invite to make explicit the basis for advance
access to lockup information – something we have only done implicitly previously.

The purpose of Ministerial and Treasury lockups is to provide advance access to consider material under embargo before it
becomes public. This is to provide sufficient time to media, and economic and financial organisations, so that the complex
information presented can be analysed and reported accurately when embargo is lifted, assisting in transparency and
accountability to the public.

And add the following to the Restricted Briefing rules – again to reinforce the point that the purpose of attendance
is advance access to the information.

8.  Recorded interviews of other a endees shall only take place a er embargo has been li ed.

Attendance:

On that basis, we are good to accept applications from all previous attendees. With one exception.

The Mins office has informed us in writing that at the most recent FSG, Craig Rennie from NZCTU fabricated a quote.
I understand this has been acknowledged by Mr Rennie and the NZCTU. On that basis we have decided that any
application from Mr Rennie to attend Lockups will be declined. I suggest this is for a 3 year period, as we did with
the Wall Street Journal when they breached embargo. Should NZCTU wish to send someone else other than Mr
Rennie to attend, they are welcome to do so.

4

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
Page 5 of 20
I suggest that Mr Rennie’s name is NOT included in any proactive emailing of previous HYEFU/BPS attendees. If Mr
Rennie applies, we will respond with the following.

Treasury is declining your application to attend. This is due to your acknowledged fabrication of a quote from the
Minister at the recent FSG.
Treasury take breaches of our Restricted Briefing rules and of reporting integrity very seriously. As with the Wall
Street Journal who breached terms of a briefing embargo in 20XX, we will not be accepting applications from yourself
for a period of three years from 10 October 2024.
Should NZCTU wish to send another suitably qualified analyst they are welcome to apply.

Do let me know if you have any thoughts on practicalities that I may not have worked through.

Paul

From: Nick Venter <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, November 4, 2024 4:41 PM
To: Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>; Shannon Stewart <[email address]>
Cc: Andrew Rutledge [TSY] <[email address]>; ^Parliament: Simon McLoughlin
<[email address]>
Subject: RE: LockUp attendance

Hi Paul

Thanks for the updated table. Very helpful. As discussed, space and conduct permitting we don’t
have any issues with organisations that have previously attended lock-ups attending the HYEFU/BPS
with the exception of Craig Renney who fabricated a quote at the FSG lock-up.

It would be helpful if the invitation specified that the purpose of the lock-up is to assist organisations
to consider material under embargo before it becomes public. It is not intended to provide them with
the opportunity to advocate for their point of view with other attendees. (I’m sure you can think of a
more sophisticated way of putting that.)

Regards
Nick

From: Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 4 November 2024 4:07 PM
To: Nick Venter <[email address]>; Shannon Stewart <[email address]>
Cc: Andrew Rutledge [TSY] <[email address]>; Simon McLoughlin
<[email address]>
Subject: RE: LockUp attendance

Hi Nick

Updated as requested with attendance at last 7 events, by event

Green means their application to attend was accepted – (whether they in fact turned up or not)
Yellow means their application to attend was received, but were declined
Blank (white) means they did not apply to attend

From: Paul Comer [TSY]
Sent: Monday, November 4, 2024 1:39 PM
To: Nick Venter <[email address]>; Shannon Stewart <[email address]>
5

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
Page 6 of 20
Cc: Andrew Rutledge [TSY] <[email address]>; ^Parliament: Simon McLoughlin
<[email address]>
Subject: LockUp attendance
*
Kia ora Nick et al

Thanks for the useful conversa on this morning around a endees at LockUps. As requested I a ach some
informa on.

I have reviewed previous a endance using the ra onale as expressed by you and your predecessor – why any
organisa on might require ‘advance awareness’ of the content ahead of embargo li ing. This seems to me to be a
sound ra onale to explore against the status quo.

I have used actual a endance/invitee lists from the last 7 lockups run or facilitated by Treasury back to Budget 2023.

I have then categorised organisa ons using formal external registers (eg Banks must be registered with RBNZ, Media
with the Press Gallery or NZ Media Council etc) or where that is not available, used an organisa on’s ‘registered
purpose’ (eg. as expressed consistently BOTH publicly on their website AND as stated on their company or
incorporated society records).

Using these categories, I have limited inclusion to Journalists and Analysts only, who represent organisa ons within
Media, and Economic and Financial categories (and I agree these categories are the ones which most clearly appear
to meet an ‘advance awareness’ ra onale)

To give you a sense of what the impact of a more narrowly deﬁned inclusion criteria for lockups might be, please see
the a ached.

Treasury currently have no formal internal guidance or externally published criteria other than is expressed in the
current invite wording used on our website which uses the rather loose phrasing ‘journalist and analyst’ – with no
current further deﬁni on. I would welcome us being able to describe that more formally were we to change from
our current informal arrangements.

Custom and prac ce by Treasury in previous years has tended to favour broad rather than narrow inclusion at
lockups.

As a result, a not insigniﬁcant number of organisa ons would not meet a more narrow inclusion criteria, and would
likely be excluded in future. These organisa ons have been in the habit of a ending past lockups and so this would
likely create complaints. You can see these expressed in the ‘excluded’ column in the a ached.

As you know, capacity itself is not usually an issue outside of Budget lockups, and even there we have tended to
ra on numbers from any one organisa on in order to facilitate a broad a endance.

I’d welcome a more formal steer from you on what further work your oﬃce would like us to undertake, especially
ahead of invita ons for HYEFU being sent out later this week to previous a endees.

To note, no proposals to formalise a endance arrangements at HYEFU or future lockup events has yet been through
any Treasury governance bodies.

Paul

6

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
Page 7 of 20

Paul Comer
Head of Communica ons & Engagement
Kaitohutohu Whakawhi  Kōrero - Communica ons & Engagement
Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury
s9(2)(k)
Email: [email address]
Visit us online at h ps://treasury.govt.nz/ and follow us on Twi er, LinkedIn and Instagram

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE

The information in this email is confidential to the Treasury, intended only for the addressee(s), and may also be legally privileged. If you
are not an intended addressee:
a. please immediately delete this email and notify the Treasury by return email or telephone (64 4 472 2733);
b. any use, dissemination or copying of this email is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.

7

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
Page 8 of 20
From:
Julie Scobie [TSY]
Sent:
Friday, 29 November 2024 2:08 pm
To:
^Parliament: Nick Venter; Felix Desmarais
Cc:
Paul Comer [TSY]; Bryan McDaniel [TSY]; Myrah Walters [TSY]; ^Parliament: Simon
McLoughlin
Subject:
HYEFU & BPS 2024: ROI RSVPs - update for MoF's office 29 Nov
Attachments:
HYEFU _ BPS 2024_ ROI RSVPs - update for MoF's office 29 Nov(5050691.1).xlsx.nrl;
HYEFU & BPS 2024_ ROI RSVPs - update for MoF's office 29 Nov(5050691.1).xlsx
*
Hi Nick and Felix

Attached is the updated list – a few more names have come in.

HYEFU & BPS 2024: ROI RSVPs - update for MoF's office 29 Nov.xlsx (18 KB)

I’ll check the inbox again on Monday morning ahead of our meeting at 10am to discuss.

Hope everyone has nice weekends

Ngā mihi
Julie

From: Nick Venter <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 2:20 PM
To: Julie Scobie [TSY] <[email address]>
Cc: Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>; Bryan McDaniel [TSY] <[email address]>;
Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>; ^Parliament: Simon McLoughlin
<[email address]>; Felix Desmarais <[email address]>
Subject: RE: HYEFU & BPS 2024: ROI RSVPs - update for MoF's office 26 Nov

Hi Julie

Thanks for the heads-up. Please don’t progress till we’ve had a chance to discuss with Paul on
Monday.

Regards
Nick

From: Julie Scobie [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 26 November 2024 1:59 PM
To: Nick Venter <[email address]>
Cc: Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>; Bryan McDaniel [TSY] <[email address]>;
Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: HYEFU & BPS 2024: ROI RSVPs - update for MoF's office 26 Nov

[IN-CONFIDENCE]
Hi Nick

1

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
Page 9 of 20
A ached are the HYEFU & BPS lock-up ROIs so far.  Please note that there are a few main media missing which
Bryan will follow up with. The oﬃcial ROI period closed at 5pm last Friday 22 November, and I’m due to respond to
all the ROIs next Tuesday, 3 December accep ng, par ally accep ng or declining.

I’ll email you again this Friday with any updates.

Ngā mihi
Julie

Julie Scobie
Programme co-ordinator (events), Budget Management
Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury
Tel:  s9(2)(g)(ii)
| Email/IM: [email address]
Visit us online at h ps://treasury.govt.nz/ and follow us on Twi er, LinkedIn and Instagram

Please note I ﬁnish at 2pm each day

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE

The information in this email is confidential to the Treasury, intended only for the addressee(s), and may also be legally privileged. If you
are not an intended addressee:
a. please immediately delete this email and notify the Treasury by return email or telephone (64 4 472 2733);
b. any use, dissemination or copying of this email is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.

2

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
Page 10 of 20
HYEFU & BPS lock-up, 17 December 2024: ROI RSVPs
FYI People who attended the HYEFU & Mini Budget 2023
but haven't sent in an ROI yet
Seat no:
Name
Organisation
Media/analyst
Accept/decline
No.
Name
Organisation
1
Tracy Withers
Bloomberg News
Media
Media
2
Matt Brockett
Bloomberg News
Media
1
Ben McKay
Australian Associated Press
3
Rebecca Howard
BusinessDesk
Media
2
Jo Moir
Newsroom (Jo now at RNZ)
4
Pattrick Smel ie
BusinessDesk
Media
3
Marc Daalder
Newsroom
5
Jem Traylen
BusinessDesk
Media
4
Emma Hatton
Newsroom
6
Richard Harman
Front Page Ltd (politik.co.nz)
Media
7
Anna Whyte
Stuff (noting we do have 2 from The Post)
7
Dan Brunskil
interest.co.nz
Media
8
Kel y Dennett
Stuff
8
Brent Edwards
NBR
Media
9
Glenn McConnel
Stuff
9
Jono Mitchel
NBR
Media
10
Luke Malpass
Stuff
10
Jason Wal s
Newstalk ZB
Media
11
Tom Pul ar-Strecker
Stuff (wil  be on leave)
11
Sophie Trigger
Newstalk ZB
Media
Camera Rob Kitchin
Stuff (coming with The Post)
12
Jenee Tibshraeny
NZ Herald
Media
12
Joel MacManus
The Spinoff
13
Audrey Young
NZ Herald
Media
13
Stewart Sowman-Lund
The Spinoff
14
Thomas Coughlan
NZ Herald
Media
14
Jamie Ensor
Newshub (now Stuff)
15
Mark Mitchell
NZ Herald
Media
15
Amelia Wade
Newshub (now Stuff)
16
Gyles Beckford
RNZ
Media
16
Lloyd Burr
Newshub (now Stuff)
17
Jo Moir
RNZ
Media
Camera Richard Cooper
Newshub (now Stuff)
18
Anneke Smith
RNZ
Media
Camera Tony Meinen
Newshub (now Stuff)
Camera Sam Ril stone (or Reece)
RNZ
Media
Financial Analysts / Other
Camera Reece Baker (or Sam)
RNZ
Media
18
Terry Baucher
Baucher Consulting
19
Bridie Witton
Stuff
Media
19
Nick Robertson
BERL
20
Anna Whyte
The Post
Media
20
John Pask
BusinessNZ
21
Luke Malpass
The Post
Media
21
Steve Summers
BusinessNZ
Camera Robert Kitchin
The Post
Media
22
Matt Greer
British High Commission
22
Lucy Craymer
Thomson Reuters
Media
23
Lydia Tsen
CA ANZ
23
Alastair Pal
Thomson Reuters
Media
24
Diane Lacoste
Delegation of the EU to NZ
24
Maiki Sherman
TVNZ
Media
25
Ekaterina Toptanova
Delegation of the EU to NZ
25
Benedict Col ins
TVNZ
Media
26
Nick Clark
Federated Farmers of NZ
26
Thomas Day
TVNZ
Media
27
Jennifer Lei
Medicines NZ
27
Katie Bradford
TVNZ
Media
28
Andrew McCauley
Public Service Association
Camera Jess Hamilton
TVNZ
Media
29
Karan Dasgupta
RBNZ
Camera Second camera name TBC
TVNZ
Media
30
Nele McHattie
RBNZ
28
Miles Workman
ANZ
Analyst
29
Henry Russel
ANZ
Analyst
30
Cameron Bagrie
Bagrie Economics
Analyst
31
Stephen Toplis
BNZ
Analyst
32
Patricia Herbert
Chapman Tripp
Analyst
33
Alan McDonald
EMA - Employers & Manufacturers Association
Analyst
34
Zoe Wal is
Forsyth Barr
Analyst
35
Brian Easton
Independent economist
Analyst
36
Brad Olsen
Infometrics
Analyst
37
Matthew Al man
Infometrics
Analyst
38
Mary Jo Vergara
Kiwibank
Analyst
39
Craig Renney
NZ Council of Trade Unions
Analyst
40
Jordan Wil iams
NZ Taxpayers' Union
Analyst
41
James Ross
NZ Taxpayers' Union
Analyst
42
Ray Deacon
NZ Taxpayers' Union
Analyst
43
Annelise Bunce
PwC
Analyst
44
Nicola Mah
PwC
Analyst
The Tsy venue can seat 50 maximum + camera crew

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
Page 11 of 20
From:
Julie Scobie [TSY]
Sent:
Thursday, 3 April 2025 9:15 am
To:
Paul Comer [TSY]; Myrah Walters [TSY]
Cc:
Sharnahea Wilson [TSY]
Subject:
RE: Budget lock-up ROI: Update on finalised wording
Thanks Paul, Stacey added us to the 11.45am

Ngā mihi
Julie

From: Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, 2 April 2025 5:27 pm
To: Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>; Julie Scobie [TSY] <[email address]>
Cc: Sharnahea Wilson [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Budget lock-up ROI: Update on finalised wording

I have 15 mins with Stacey at 11.45 - prob good if all in that room so will forward invite

From: Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 1:28:42 PM
To: Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>; Julie Scobie [TSY] <[email address]>
Cc: Sharnahea Wilson [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Budget lock-up ROI: Update on finalised wording

Kia ora Paul,

Thanks for the update – will discuss with Julie when she’s back on deck tomorrow and then with Emily/Stephen
as needed.

Also noting Julie has been asked to come to the Monday meeting, could you please forward on the invite to her
and myself? Cheers!

Ngā mihi, nā

Myrah Walters (she/her) | Senior Communications Advisor – Budget team | Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury
Tel: s9(2)(k)
| Mobile: s9(2)(g)(ii)
| Email: [email address]

From: Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, 2 April 2025 11:01 am
To: Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>; Struan Little [TSY] <[email address]>
Cc: Stacey Wymer [TSY] <[email address]>; Stephen Bond [TSY] <[email address]>;
Julie Scobie [TSY] <[email address]>; Sharnahea Wilson [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Budget lock-up ROI: Update on finalised wording

Kia ora team

Nick has just rung.

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20250341 TOIA Binder 2
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He has had the opportunity to test ROI approach for Budget with Minister – who has expressed her preference
that we take exactly the same approach as we did at HYEFU.

P

From: Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 1 April 2025 8:58 am
To: Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>; Struan Little [TSY] <[email address]>
Cc: Stacey Wymer [TSY] <[email address]>; Stephen Bond [TSY] <[email address]>;
Julie Scobie [TSY] <[email address]>; Sharnahea Wilson [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Budget lock-up ROI: Update on finalised wording

Kia ora Paul,

Our meeting was specifically focused on the wording of the ROI. I did mention that criteria was discussed with
MoF office but how they choose to apply criteria was still a live question for Nick.

I expect we will hear more from him this week or at the next meeting on Monday.

Ngā mihi, nā

Myrah Walters (she/her) | Senior Communications Advisor – Budget team | Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury
Tel:s9(2)(k)
| Mobile: s9(2)(g)(ii)
| Email: [email address]

From: Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 1 April 2025 6:42 am
To: Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>; Struan Little [TSY] <[email address]>
Cc: Stacey Wymer [TSY] <[email address]>; Stephen Bond [TSY] <[email address]>;
Julie Scobie [TSY] <[email address]>; Sharnahea Wilson [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Budget lock-up ROI: Update on finalised wording

Hi Myrah

Thanks for the update.

To confirm, was the decision at that meeting that we won’t be using the categories approach in any
way for Budget?

Cheers

Paul

From: Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2025 5:04 PM
To: Struan Little [TSY] <[email address]>
Cc: Stacey Wymer [TSY] <[email address]>; Stephen Bond [TSY]
<[email address]>; Julie Scobie [TSY] <[email address]>; Sharnahea Wilson
[TSY] <[email address]>; Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: Budget lock-up ROI: Update on finalised wording

[IN-CONFIDENCE]
2

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
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Kia ora Struan,

This morning, Paul and I spoke to MoF office about their proposed content changes for the Budget 2025
registration of interest (ROI).

As you’ll remember, feedback from the office was largely to revert to what we used last year (removing any
hosting references to the office/minister). They also initially wished to use the word ‘invited’ in the body of the
ROI but have since shared that they are fine with removing it.

Julie and I have also discussed these changes today with Stephen and Stacey who have ultimately landed on
accepting the office’s preferred wording. You can find the finalised version here: 20250331 Draft Budget
2025 - Registration of Interest - Final.docx

Next steps
We are working on reactive media lines and responses if needed later down the track (e.g. in response to
declined ROIs), and we will share these with you for your awareness.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Ngā mihi, nā

Myrah Walters (she/her) | Senior Communications Advisor – Budget team | Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury
Tel: s9(2)(k)
| Mobile: s9(2)(g)(ii)
| Email: [email address]

3

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
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*
From:
Nick Venter <[email address]>
Sent:
Thursday, 24 April 2025 12:54 pm
To:
Julie Scobie [TSY]; Felix Desmarais; ^Parliament: Simon McLoughlin; ^Parliament:
Hamish Dick
Cc:
Myrah Walters [TSY]; Stephen Bond [TSY]; Emily Fulford [TSY]; Sharnahea Wilson
[TSY]
Subject:
RE: B25 ROIs as at 24 April
Thanks Julie

Look forward to discussing.

Cheers
Nick

From: Julie Scobie [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, 24 April 2025 12:42 PM
To: Nick Venter <[email address]>; Felix Desmarais <[email address]>; Simon
McLoughlin <[email address]>; Hamish Dick <[email address]>
Cc: Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>; Stephen Bond [TSY]
<[email address]>; Emily Fulford [TSY] <[email address]>; Sharnahea Wilson [TSY]
<[email address]>
Subject: B25 ROIs as at 24 April

[IN-CONFIDENCE]
*
Kia ora Nick and team

The oﬃcial ROI period closed at 5pm on Tuesday 22 April. We have taken the same categorisa on approach as the
HYEFU 2024/BPS 2025 lock-up. Our understanding is that your oﬃce wants to take a similar approach to a endees
as HYEFU/BPS, therefore we have advised who would be accepted or declined on that basis. If you want to accept
more categories / a endees, we can discuss in our next catch up. I’ll bring hard copies over to our mee ng to
discuss next week.

Ngā mihi
Julie

Julie Scobie
Programme co-ordinator (events), Budget Management
Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury
Tel:  s9(2)(g)(ii)
| Email/IM: [email address]
Visit us online at h ps://treasury.govt.nz/ and follow us on Twi er, LinkedIn and Instagram

Please note I ﬁnish at 2.30pm each day

1

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
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*
From:
Julie Scobie [TSY]
Sent:
Tuesday, 29 April 2025 8:13 am
To:
Paul Comer [TSY]
Cc:
Myrah Walters [TSY]; Sharnahea Wilson [TSY]
Subject:
RE: Emails/notes from agreed HYEFU/BPS category approach with MoF's office?
Thanks Paul!

Ngā mihi
Julie

From: Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 28 April 2025 2:42 pm
To: Julie Scobie [TSY] <[email address]>
Cc: Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>; Sharnahea Wilson [TSY]
<[email address]>
Subject: RE: Emails/notes from agreed HYEFU/BPS category approach with MoF's office?

Hiya

The confirmation from Moffice was verbal after this email

See second email – which outlines timelines and discussion with Stacey and Struan where categorisation was
agreed internally on 3 December

P

From: Julie Scobie [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 28 April 2025 2:14 pm
To: Paul Comer [TSY] <[email address]>
Cc: Myrah Walters [TSY] <[email address]>; Sharnahea Wilson [TSY]
<[email address]>
Subject: Emails/notes from agreed HYEFU/BPS category approach with MoF's office?

[IN-CONFIDENCE]
Hi Paul

Can you look back over your emails and notes to see when we received conﬁrma on from MoF’s oﬃce to use the
agreed categories for HYEFU/BPS?

I’m dra ing the below email and have been asked to include the speciﬁc details around the category list. We will
also be pulling together a note for Struan to raise this further with Iain.

Ngā mihi
Julie

DRAFT email:
Subject: B25 lock-up ROIs - update a er 28 April mee ng with MoF's oﬃce

Hi Struan and Stacey
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20250341 TOIA Binder 2
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Myrah, Sharnahea, Paul and myself met with Nick, Felix and Simon from the MOF’s oﬃce yesterday (aiming to send
this Tuesday), where one of the topics discussed was the Budget lock-up ROIs.
Nick said he is comfortable with the categories used, and it is a Treasury decision based on the categories.
Simon expressed concern about not accepted Eric Crampton from the Advocacy Group category, and also the
Lawyers category.

Please ﬁnd an a ached note for you to raise with Iain as well as the ROI list as it currently stands.

Budget 2025: ROIs sorted by category.xlsx (27.8 KB)

As advised from the oﬃce, we took the same approach to the categories as was agreed with the oﬃce last year
before the HYEFU 2024 / BPS 2025 lock-up in December.

Please note there are currently 120 ROIs on the suggested accept list, and The Banquet Hall seats 160 (maximum,
this is a  ght squeeze), so there will be a no ceable number of people missing.
There are 46 people on the suggested decline list.

We are due to respond to the ROIs next Wednesday, 7 May.

Ngā mihi
Julie

Julie Scobie
Programme co-ordinator (events), Budget Management
Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury
Tel:  s9(2)(g)(ii)
| Email/IM: [email address]
Visit us online at h ps://treasury.govt.nz/ and follow us on Twi er, LinkedIn and Instagram

Please note I ﬁnish at 2.30pm each day

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*
From:
Myrah Walters [TSY]
Sent:
Wednesday, 14 May 2025 8:06 pm
To:
'^Parliament: Hamish Dick'; '^Parliament: Simon McLoughlin'
Cc:
Stacey Wymer [TSY]; Stephen Bond [TSY]; Emily Fulford [TSY]; Sharnahea Wilson
[TSY]
Subject:
FYI: Budget 2025: ROIs - Fol ow up responses
[IN-CONFIDENCE]
Kia ora Simon and Hamish,

As discussed at the production meeting today, Treasury are notifying the updated list of Budget 2025 lock-up
registrations.

We are currently sending the below response to those who are now accepted, followed by our standard
confirmation wording and rules (not included below). Please note, some registrations will be notified
tomorrow, pending a direct conversation.

Kia ora [name]

I want to acknowledge your registration of interest for the Budget 2025 embargoed restricted briefing.

The Treasury has received a significant amount of feedback on the approach to attendance at the
restricted briefing. In acknowledgement of that feedback and in consultation with the Minister of
Finance’s oƯice, we have decided to accept a broader range of stakeholders.

We can confirm that you have now been accepted to attend under lock-up conditions.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Ngā mihi, nā

Myrah Walters (she/her) | Senior Communications Advisor – Budget team | Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury
Tel: s9(2)(k)
| Mobile: s9(2)(g)(ii)
| Email: [email address]

1

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
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From:
Sharnahea Wilson [TSY]
Sent:
Thursday, 15 May 2025 10:19 am
To:
^Parliament: Nick Venter
Cc:
Stephen Bond [TSY]; ^Parliament: Simon McLoughlin; Paul Comer [TSY]; Myrah
Walters [TSY]
Subject:
Update on acceptances to restricted briefing
Attachments:
Budget 2025_ ROIs sorted by category.xlsx
[IN-CONFIDENCE]
Kia ora Nick,

Here is the information you requested on lock-up attendees. The final accepted/ declined list is
attached. We have now accepted 153 registrations – the hall seats a tight 160 so we have tried to
leave a little room for late ROIs and waitlists. Remaining declines were based on prior lockup
attendance (both organisations and categories).

Acceptance email to those previously declined:   Acceptance email to previously declined.docx

Response to queries on the lock-up from Newstalk ZB and RNZ:

The Treasury received a significant amount of feedback on the initial approach taken to attendance at
the Budget 2025 restricted briefing, which was the same as we took with the HYEFU restricted briefing
in December 2024.
In acknowledgement of that feedback and in consultation with the Minister of Finance’s Office, we
have decided to accept a broader range of stakeholders. We are notifying stakeholders of our
decisions.
While we are not able to accommodate everyone who registered their interest, all Budget information
will be publicly available from 2.00pm on Thursday 22 May on the Budget website (budget.govt.nz).

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

Ngā mihi,

Sharnahea Wilson (she/her) | Senior Communications Advisor | Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury
Email/IM: [email address]
Visit us online at https://treasury.govt.nz/ and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram

1

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
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From: Myrah Walters [TSY]
Sent: Tuesday, 20 May 2025 2:38 pm
To: Sharnahea Wilson [TSY] <[email address]>; Emily Fulford [TSY]
<[email address]>; Stephen Bond [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Budget 2025 lock-up - Last minute requests on attendance

FYI – Nick is following up with the minister on the highlighted and economic news person as below.

Ngā mihi, nā

Myrah Walters (she/her) | Senior Communications Advisor – Budget team | Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury
Tel: s9(2)(k)
| Mobile: +s9(2)(g)(ii)
| Email: [email address]

From: Myrah Walters [TSY]
Sent: Monday, 19 May 2025 8:40 pm
To: ^Parliament: Nick Venter <[email address]>; Felix Desmarais
<[email address]>
Cc: Sharnahea Wilson [TSY] <[email address]>; Emily Fulford [TSY]
<[email address]>; ^Parliament: Hamish Dick <[email address]>; ^Parliament:
Simon McLoughlin <[email address]>
Subject: Budget 2025 lock-up - Last minute requests on attendance

[IN-CONFIDENCE]
Kia ora Nick and Felix,

We have some last-minute lock-up questions we are seeking your confirmation of comfort with.

1.  Social sector registrations - please advise by midday tomorrow if we should not decline

We have had 3 late ROIs from social sector / charities. One went directly to the Minister. They are as
below.

In line with the approach to similar organisations at Budget 2024 and other similar organisations in this
lock-up, our current intention is to decline. However, based on the highlighted, we are unsure if the
Minister encouraged one of the applicants to apply.

Could you please provide any further context, otherwise we will decline.

Name
Organisa on
Message
Belinda
Social Service Providers
Tēnā koe Nicola, Great to be at the social investment
Himiona
Aotearoa - Via MoF's
announcement this morning. We are looking forward to
Oﬃce
working with you on this mahi going forward. I understand

there will be community providers at the Budget lockup
1

20250341 TOIA Binder 2
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this year. This is good news and great to be able to hear
directly on plans for future years. Any chance we can join
this? Many thanks, Belinda Himiona
Ka e Bruce
Hui E! Community

Aoteaora
Ros Rice
Community Networks
It has come to my a en on that some people from our
Aotearoa
sector may be accepted at the Budget 2025 brieﬁng. May I
apply to a end please.

2.  Economics News would like Stuart Nash to attend

Economic news is a media council accredited outlet who have been accepted to attend the Budget
2025 lock-up. They have contacted Treasury to inform us that Stuart Nash is writing a piece for
Economics News and they have requested he attend for one of their allocated seats.

Our usual approach is that if an individual is contracted to write for accepted media we would accept,
but we appreciate this is a unique circumstance. Economics News have said they would understand if
it is not possible given his former political career.

Our intention is to accept, please advise by midday otherwise.

Other than these two questions, the remaining declines are consistent with declines of organisations or
categories at Budget 2024.

Ngā mihi, nā

Myrah Walters (she/her) | Senior Communications Advisor – Budget team | Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury
Tel: s9(2)(k)
| Mobile: s9(2)(g)(ii)
| Email: [email address]

2

Document Outline