16 July 2025
Andrew Riddel
[FYI request #30991 email]
Dear Andrew
Thank you for your Official Information Act request, received on 16 May 2025. You
requested:
al 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 cal s, and texts in
addition to emails, briefings, and the like.
The time to respond was extended for 20 working days.
Information being released
Please find enclosed the fol owing 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 finalised Release in full
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 responses
Release in full
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 fol owing sections of the OIA, as applicable:
contact details under section 9(2)(g)(i ) 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
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
cal ing 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Hon Nicola Wil is
Minister of Finance
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 - Fol ow 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
Page 1 of 20
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Page 2 of 20
s9(2)(k)
Page 3 of 20
s9(2)(k)
s9(2)(k)
Page 4 of 20
Page 5 of 20
Hi Paul
Thanks for the updated table. Very helpful. As discussed, space and conduct permitting we dont
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. (Im sure you can think of a
more sophisticated way of putting that.)
Regards
Nick
Page 6 of 20
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Page 7 of 20
s9(2)(k)
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.
Page 8 of 20
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Hi Julie
Thanks for the heads-up. Please dont progress til weve had a chance to discuss with Paul on
Monday.
Regards
Nick
Page 9 of 20
s9(2)(g)(i )
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.
Page 11 of 20
I have 15 mins with Stacey at 11.45 - prob good if al in that room so wil forward invite
Kia ora Paul,
Thanks for the update wil discuss with Julie when shes 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!
Ng mihi, n
Myrah Walters (she/her) | Senior Communications Advisor Budget team | Te Tai hanga The Treasury
Tel: s9(2)(k)
| Mobile: s9(2)(g)(i )
| Email: [email address]
Kia ora team
Nick has just rung.
Page 12 of 20
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
Kia ora Paul,
Our meeting was specifical y 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 stil a live question for Nick.
I expect we wil hear more from him this week or at the next meeting on Monday.
Ng mihi, n
Myrah Walters (she/her) | Senior Communications Advisor Budget team | Te Tai hanga The Treasury
Tel:s9(2)(k)
| Mobile: s9(2)(g)(i )
| Email: [email address]
Hi Myrah
Thanks for the update.
To confirm, was the decision at that meeting that we wont be using the categories approach in any
way for Budget?
Cheers
Paul
Page 13 of 20
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 youl 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 initial y 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 offices 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 wil share these with you for your awareness.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Ng mihi, n
Myrah Walters (she/her) | Senior Communications Advisor Budget team | Te Tai hanga The Treasury
Tel: s9(2)(k)
| Mobile: s9(2)(g)(i )
| Email: [email address]
Page 14 of 20
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Thanks Julie
Look forward to discussing.
Cheers
Nick
*
s9(2)(g)(i )
Page 15 of 20
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Thanks Paul!
Ng mihi
Julie
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 internal y on 3 December
P
Page 16 of 20
s9(2)(g)(i )
Page 17 of 20
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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, fol owed by our standard
conrmation wording and rules (not included below). Please note, some registrations wil be notied
tomorrow, pending a direct conversation.
Kia ora [name]
I want to acknowledge your registration of interest for the Budget 2025 embargoed restricted brieng.
The Treasury has received a signicant amount of feedback on the approach to attendance at the
restricted brieng. In acknowledgement of that feedback and in consultation with the Minister of
Finances o ice, we have decided to accept a broader range of stakeholders.
We can conrm that you have now been accepted to attend under lock-up conditions.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Ng mihi, n
Myrah Walters (she/her) | Senior Communications Advisor Budget team | Te Tai hanga The Treasury
Tel: s9(2)(k)
| Mobile: s9(2)(g)(i )
| Email: [email address]
Page 18 of 20
Kia ora Nick,
Here is the information you requested on lock-up attendees. The nal accepted/ declined list is
attached. We have now accepted 153 registrations the hal 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 Finances 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, al Budget information
wil 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.
Ng mihi,
Sharnahea Wilson (she/her) | Senior Communications Advisor | Te Tai hanga The Treasury
Email/IM: [email address]
Visit us online at https://treasury.govt.nz/ and fol ow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram
Page 19 of 20
FYI Nick is fol owing up with the minister on the highlighted and economic news person as below.
Ng mihi, n
Myrah Walters (she/her) | Senior Communications Advisor Budget team | Te Tai hanga The Treasury
Tel: s9(2)(k)
| Mobile: +s9(2)(g)(i )
| Email: [email address]
Kia ora Nick and Felix,
We have some last-minute lock-up questions we are seeking your conrmation 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 wil decline.
Page 20 of 20
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 al ocated 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.
Ng mihi, n
Myrah Walters (she/her) | Senior Communications Advisor Budget team | Te Tai hanga The Treasury
Tel: s9(2)(k)
| Mobile: s9(2)(g)(i )
| Email: [email address]
