9 September 2025
Tēnā koe Luke John
Official Information Act request
Thank you for your email of 13 August 2025, requesting an update on member
appointments for the Social Security Appeals Authority. In this request, you
referred to information released to you on 13 August 2025 about the Public Sector
Boards and Committees within the Social Development and Employment
Ministerial Portfolio. For ease of reference, we have provided a link to that response
here:
www.fyi.org.nz/request/32008-social-security-appeals-authority. In our response dated 13 August 2025, we noted that the terms of five members
of the Social Security Appeals Authority (the Authority) expired between 1 January
and 20 July 2025. We also advised that an appointment process was underway
and that, under Schedule 8, clause 2(2) of the Social Security Act 2018 (the Act),
these members will continue in their positions until they are reappointed,
successors are appointed, or they are advised a replacement will not be appointed.
I have now considered your recent request for the additional information you have
sought regarding that process under the Official Information Act 1982. Please find
my decision on each part of your request set out separately below.
•
Can you please provide update on this appointment process, how many
applications you have received, how many you have shortlisted, how many
you have interviewed.
Fifty-two applications were received for this appointment process. Seven
candidates were shortlisted and interviewed.
•
What stage is currently at.
The interviews for the Authority were being completed at the time of your request.
The completion of the appointment process will take approximately 2–3 months.
The timing depends on the subsequent steps, which include consideration of
candidates by the Minister for Social Development and Employment, statutory
consultation (under Schedule 8, clause 1(2) of the Act) with the Minster of Justice,
consideration by the Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee, and
submitting appointment advice to the Governor-General, who makes the
appointments under Schedule 8, clause 1(2) of the Act.
•
Copy of your ad for this round, where you have advertised the positions at
We have attached a copy of the advertisement as an
Appendix.
The Aurora Centre, 56 The Terrace, PO Box 1556, Wellington
– Telephone 04-916 3300 – Facsimile 04-918 0099
We advertised the position via the Seek website and the Council of Australasian
Tribunals (COAT) website. Although the application period has now ended, the
COAT advertisement is still publicly available on their website, here:
www.coat.asn.au/job-vacancies/. In addition, the advertisement was forwarded to members of Benefits Review
Committees. More information on Benefits Review Committees is available here:
www.govt.nz/organisations/benefits-review-committee/. I will be publishing this decision letter, with your personal details deleted, on the
Ministry’s website in due course.
If you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact
[MSD request email]. 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
