11 June 2025
45 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wel ington 6011
PO Box 805, Wel ington
Phone: 04 495 7200
John Luke
Email: [email address]
[FYI request #31038 email]
Website: dia.govt.nz
Tēnā koe John,
Your Official Information Act 1982 request, reference OIA 2425-1116
I am responding to your email of 20 May 2025 to the Department of Internal Affairs (the
Department) requesting the fol owing under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) in
relation to nominations for the Board of Fire and Emergency New Zealand (the Board):
I noted, you have recently cal for nomination for Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Board.
May I ask how you cal ed for public nomination and on what platform you have cal for
public nominations e.g. govt.jobs website. A copy of your ad as wel . Also, how many
applications you have received from the public and how many you have received from
other nominating agencies such as TPK or Ministry of women etc for your role. How
many you have shortlisted and how many you have interviewed. Also, can I request to
view the appointment letter if there is one sent to the appointee. I am happy for you to
remove al the personal information.
Also, may I request the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Board Member job
description for the appointed role. What's pay rate?
Response to your request
There was no recent cal for nominations for the Board of Fire and Emergency New Zealand,
(the Board). It was decided that Mr Amit Prasad would be reappointed to the Board. There
was no cal for public applications or nominations from agencies such as Te Puni Kōkiri and
Ministry for Women. The position was not publicly advertised, and a formal job application
process was not fol owed, including shortlisting of candidates and interviews.
A copy of the job advertisement is refused under 18(e) of the Act as the document al eged to
contain the information requested does not exist.
In relation to your request for the job description, the Department provides a Candidate
Information Sheet when it publicly advertises for a position on a board or other body. As
expressions of interest were not publicly sought in 2025 for the Board member, there was
no Candidate Information Sheet. The Candidate Information Sheet is refused under 18(e) of
the Act.
The letter from the Minister of Internal Affairs, notifying Mr Prasad of his reappointment to
the Board is attached as Appendix A. Some information has been withheld from this
document under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect the privacy of natural persons.
Board members, such as Mr Prasad, receive an annual fee of $25,410 which covers al Board
duties, including meeting preparation. These fees are paid in accordance with the Cabinet
Fees Framework CO (22) 2 and more information can be found at:
www.publicservice.govt.nz/guidance/interpreting-and-implementing-the-cabinet-fees-
framework.
I am refusing your request for Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s Board Member job
description under section 18(g) of the Act as the information you have requested is not held
by the Department.
Public interest considerations
As is required by section 9(1) of the Act, consideration has been given as to whether the
withholding of information is outweighed by other public interest considerations which
would make it desirable to make this information available. In this instance, it is not
considered to be the case.
Accessing the Ombudsman
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of my decision by the Office of the
Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Proactive release
We intend to publish our response to your request on our website at:
www.dia.govt.nz/Official-Information-Act-Requests-2. This letter, with your personal details
removed, wil be published in its entirety. Publishing responses increases the availability of
information to the public and is consistent with the Act’s purpose of enabling more effective
participation in the making and administration of laws and policies and promoting the
accountability of Ministers and officials.
Nāku noa, nā
Jeremy Cauchi
Director, Ministerial and Monitoring
