1 August 2025
Tēnā koe Stephen Wilson
Official Information Act request
Thank you for your email of 21 July 2025, requesting information about benefit
data for the previous 12 months.
I have considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
Please find my decision on your request set out below.
1. For the previous 12 months, you requested information for the highest
weekly total benefit payment made by MSD to a household. You asked us
to provide the figure broken down by benefit type. For example, but not
limited to, the breakdown could include a Supported Living Payment, an
Accommodation Supplement, Temporary Additional Support, and Childcare
Assistance. For the purposes of this request, please disregard one-off
payments such as loans and emergency grants.
2. You requested the number of households which received total MSD
payments of more than $52,000 for the last 12 months.
Your requests for the highest weekly total benefit payment made by MSD to a
household and the number of households which received total MSD payments of
$52,000 for the last 12 months are refused under section 18(f) of the Act, as
substantial manual collation would be required to collate this information. If held,
this information would only be contained within individual client files, which would
each require manual review to respond to your request. The greater public interest
is in the effective and efficient administration of the public service.
I have considered whether the Ministry would be able to respond to your request
given extra time, or the ability to charge for the information requested. I have
concluded that, in either case, the Ministry’s ability to undertake its work would
still be prejudiced.
If you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact
[MSD request email].
The Aurora Centre, 56 The Terrace, PO Box 1556, Wellington
– Telephone 04-916 3300 – Facsimile 04-918 0099
If you are not satisfied with my decision on your request, you have the right to
seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman. Information about how to
make a complaint is available a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi nui
pp.
Anna Graham
General Manager Ministerial and Executive Services
