14 July 2025
E Parks
[FYI request #31193 email]
Kia ora E Parks
Your Official Information Act request, reference: GOV-040545
Thank you for your request of 3 June 2025, asking for the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
•
This request is a follow-up to the earlier response titled “Senior Leader Travel” submitted by
Sarah Jones, which outlined hotel and flight expenses for a number of ACC kaimahi at the
executive level. Upon reviewing that kōrero, there appear to be inconsistencies between
some executives' reported travel and accommodation costs — in particular, fluctuations in
the ratio of accommodation to flight spend over time. This raises questions about whether
some noho (accommodation) was provided outside of standard hotel arrangements.
•
Under the Official Information Act, I am requesting the fol owing information, for the same
rōpū of executives and the same reporting period as the original request:
1.
Details of any non-hotel accommodation paid in ful or in part by ACC for these executives.
This includes, but is not limited to: o
Rented apartments or houses (e.g. Airbnb, serviced apartments)
o
Long-term leased accommodation
o
Allowances, subsidies, or reimbursements used for private noho
o
Any other accommodation not classified under hotels.
2.
For each instance, please provide:
o
The name of the executive
o
The type and location of the noho
o
The period it was used (including start and end dates)
o
The reason this noho was used instead of hotel accommodation (e.g. nature of mahi or
expected frequency of hui)
o
The total cost to ACC, broken down by financial quarter and Executive member (as per
the original response).
3.
Please also provide any associated documentation, including:
o
Internal approvals, business cases, or memos that justified or approved the use of non-
hotel noho
o
The approval pathway (who approved and when)
o
ACC’s current policy or guidance on executive accommodation, including any specific
provisions relating to long-term or non-standard noho.
Non-hotel accommodation bookings You note there are inconsistencies between the number of flights and hotel bookings. This is largely
explained by the fact that travel does not always require an overnight stay as staff wil often fly back on
the same day. However, we have searched our records and found only one instance where ACC booked
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non-hotel accommodation for an executive during the last three years. The details for this are provided
below:
Executive: Rēnata Blair
Type and location: Air BnB in Paihia
Period it was used: 3 to 7 Feb 2025
Reason: This Air BnB was booked as there was no other suitable hotel accommodation nearby due to
lack of availability, and there were health and safety risks with driving long distances.
Purpose: Waitangi – Iwi Meetings, panels, Waitangi celebrations, meetings, powhiri government,
dignitaries, and VIPs, representing ACC
Cost: The cost was $442 per night. $1768 total.
Approval: Hilary Sharp, Head of Enterprise Procurement, approved on 6 November 2024, noting that
given the lack of availability during that time, this seemed like the most reasonable option available.
Long term accommodation arrangements
Some non-Wellington based Executives have had contractual arrangements in which ACC contributed
to their accommodation costs in Wellington. This enabled them to arrange their own accommodation,
rather than ACC. These arrangements have enabled ACC to: avoid lease obligations; reduce its and the
Executive’s administrative requirements, and to help contain costs. The cost contribution would be
expected to be equal to or less than paying for hotels.
Sensitive Expenditure Policy
ACCs policy on staff travel and accommodation is our Sensitive Expenditure Policy. Please find a copy
of this attached. As staff names were not requested, they have been deemed out of the scope of your
request and removed.
If you have any questions about this response, please get in touch
You can email me a
t [email address]. Ngā mihi
Christopher Johnston
Manager Official Information Act Services Government Engagement
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