Tēnā koe Peter Ituma,

Thank you for your email received 28 May 2025, under the Official Information Act 1982. Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate officials at National Office to respond.

The information you have requested may contain the names and contact details of our staff. Please let us know by 30 May 2025 whether you require these names and contact details. We will need to consult our staff before deciding whether we can release this information, and this will take a bit more time. If we do not hear from you, we will assume that you do not require staff names and contact details.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Official Information Team | Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to help themselves to be safe, strong and independent
Ko ta mātou he whakamana tangata kia tū haumaru, kia tū kaha, kia tū motuhake

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Ituma <[FOI #31130 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 6:21 PM
To: OIA_Requests (MSD) <[MSD request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Algorithims

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

Do you use algorithmic tools or automated decision-making in benefit processing, fraud detection, or case prioritisation, if so, to what extent?
Has the Ministry undertaken a privacy impact assessment or fairness audit of these systems?
What rights do clients have to be informed of, or to challenge, decisions made (wholly or partly) by algorithm?

Yours faithfully,

Peter

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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 #31130 email]

Is [MSD request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Ministry of Social Development? 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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This email and any attachments may contain information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after transmission from the Ministry.

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Kia ora Peter,

Thank you for your below request.

I am reaching out to clarify what you are searching for when you ask about algorithmic tools. Your request is very broad and will likely result in a refusal under section 18(f) of the Act as it would require substantial manual collation to provide you with details of all algorithmic tools.

In order for us to provide you with what you are seeking, could you please specific which type of algorithmic tool you are asking about?

Could you please respond by Friday 6 June 2025? If I do not hear from you buy then, I will proceed with your original request.

Ngā mihi

Official Information team | Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whānau.

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Ituma <[FOI #31130 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 6:21 PM
To: OIA_Requests (MSD) <[MSD request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Algorithims

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

Do you use algorithmic tools or automated decision-making in benefit processing, fraud detection, or case prioritisation, if so, to what extent?
Has the Ministry undertaken a privacy impact assessment or fairness audit of these systems?
What rights do clients have to be informed of, or to challenge, decisions made (wholly or partly) by algorithm?

Yours faithfully,

Peter

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #31130 email]

Is [MSD request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Ministry of Social Development? 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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This email and any attachments may contain information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after transmission from the Ministry.

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Kia ora Peter Ituma,

 

I am writing to you regarding your request for information below. This
letter is to advise you that the Ministry has received your request,
however requires more time to respond to this request. In accordance with
section 15(1) and 15A of the Official Information Act, the Ministry’s
decision will be with you no later than 7 August 2025.

 

The reason for the extension is that 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

 

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
[1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.

 

If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this
decision, please feel free to contact [2][MSD request email]

 

I will respond to you sooner if I am able to.

 

Ngâ mihi,

 

Official Information Team | Ministerial and Executive Services

Ministry of Social Development

 

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whânau

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Peter Ituma <[3][FOI #31130 email]>

Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 6:21 PM

To: OIA_Requests (MSD) <[4][MSD request email]>

Subject: Official Information request - Algorithims

 

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

 

Do you use algorithmic tools or automated decision-making in benefit
processing, fraud detection, or case prioritisation, if so, to what
extent?

Has the Ministry undertaken a privacy impact assessment or fairness audit
of these systems?

What rights do clients have to be informed of, or to challenge, decisions
made (wholly or partly) by algorithm?

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Peter

 

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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:

[5][FOI #31130 email]

 

Is [6][MSD request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Ministry of Social Development? If so, please contact us using
this form:

[7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[8]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

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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This email and any attachments may contain information that is
confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this
email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in
error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the
email and attachments. The Ministry of Social Development accepts no
responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after
transmission from the Ministry.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. mailto:[MSD request email]
3. mailto:[FOI #31130 email]
4. mailto:[MSD request email]
5. mailto:[FOI #31130 email]
6. mailto:[MSD request email]
7. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
8. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

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