24 July 2025
45 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wel ington 6011
PO Box 805, Wel ington
John Luke
Phone: 04 495 7200
[FYI request #31437 email]
Email
: [email address]
Website: dia.govt.nz
Tēnā koe John,
Your Official Information Act 1982 request, reference OIA 2425-1273
I am responding to your email of 29 June 2025 to the Department of Internal Affairs (the
Department) requesting the following under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
I noted, you have call for nomination for Local Government Commission….
May I ask how you called for public nomination and on what platform you have call for public
nominations e.g. govt.jobs website for this particular appointment round. 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 you to
view the appointment letter if there is one sent to the previous appointee. I am happy you to
remove all the personal information.
Responses to your questions are set out below.
How did the Department call for nominations, and what platforms did you use to call for public
nominations, e.g. govt.jobs website?
The Department advertised applications for the Local Government Commission on:
• the Department’s statutory appointment page at www.dia.govt.nz/Appointments-to-
Statutory Bodies;
• on the public platform – SEEK; and
• Appoint Better Boards.
Nominations were also sought from the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the Ministry for Women,
the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Te Puni Kōkiri and the Treasury.
A copy of the advertisement.
A copy is attached as document one in
Appendix A.
How many applications did you receive from the public and nominating agencies?
The Department received 44 applications in total. Of these, two applications are endorsed by the
Ministry for Ethnic Communities.
How many shortlisted and how many have you interviewed?
Shortlisting has not yet been completed as the applications are under the assessment stage and
consequently no interviews have been conducted. Therefore, this part of your request is refused
under 18(e) of the Act, as the information does not exist.
A copy of the appointment letter if there is one sent to the previous appointee.
I have also attached two copies of the letter of appointment to two previous appointees (document
two and three) also in
Appendix A. Please note, some information has been withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect the privacy of natural persons.
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, will 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
Appendix A: Documents within scope
No. Title
Date
Decision (Release, partial
Withholding grounds
release or withhold)
under the Act
1 Advertisement – Local Government Commission
Undated
Released
N/A
2 Appointment Letter
14 July 2022
Partially released
9(2)(a)
3 Appointment Letter
23 October 2024
Partially released
9(2)(a)
