Please note this is an automatically generated email. 

  
Thank you for taking the time to contact Hon Brooke van Velden, MP for
Tâmaki, Minister of Internal Affairs, and Minister for Workplace Relations
and Safety.  
 
While the Minister considers all correspondence to be important, and all
messages are carefully read and considered, she receives a large volume of
emails and it is not always possible to provide a personal response.  
 
The following guidelines apply:  

* Where the Minister has portfolio responsibility for the issues that
you have raised, your correspondence will be considered and responded
to where appropriate.  This email serves as an acknowledgement that
your message has been received and will be dealt with in line with
these guidelines. Please note that if your correspondence requires a
response, we endeavour to reply within 20 working days.  
* If you are a Tâmaki resident, your email will be passed to the
Minister’s electorate office. You can get in touch with them directly
by emailing: [1][email address]  
* If your message expresses a personal view or is for advice, or if you
have copied your email to another Minister and/or Member of Parliament
with more appropriate portfolio responsibilities, then your message
will be noted.  
* If your message falls within the portfolio responsibilities of another
Minister not copied into your email, it will be transferred as
appropriate.  
* If your message is better responded to by an agency or department, it
may be transferred as necessary, in which case you will hear from a
staff member at the responsible agency or department directly in due
course.  
* If you have invited the Minister to an event or meeting, it will be
processed as such and go to the Minister for consideration. This email
serves as an acknowledgement that we have received your invitation and
will get back to you as soon as there is an outcome.  
* If you have made a request for official information, then this will be
managed in accordance with the provisions of the Official Information
Act 1982 
* If you have made a media request, it will be passed to our Press
Secretary. 

Please note that correspondence a Minister receives is subject to the
Official Information Act (the Act). If you have written to the Minister
about her Ministerial portfolio, it is possible the contents of your
message may be captured by an Official Information Act request and
publicly released according to the provisions of the Act.
 
 

Office of Hon Brooke van Velden  
Minister of Internal Affairs 
Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety  
  MP for Tâmaki  
Website: [2]www.Beehive,govt.nz  
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand 
 
Authorised by Hon Brooke van Velden, Parliament Buildings, Wellington  

 
 
Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by
replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful. 
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at
[3]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.beehive,govt.nz/
3. https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

Dear Sarah,

Thank you for your email in which you submitted an Official Information Act request for the following:

“I request all communication between any members of the Royal Commission of Inquiry - COVID Phase 2 and yourself and/or members of your office. This includes , but is not limited to, any emails, briefings, text of phone calls, text messages (on any platform) or any other information."

Minister van Velden is considering your request in accordance with the Act.

Kind regards,

Office of Hon Brooke van Velden
Minister of Internal Affairs
Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety
MP for Tâmaki
Website: www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

Authorised by Hon Brooke van Velden, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is prohibited and may be unlawful.
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’ portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list: date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

-----Original Message-----
From: Sarah Samson <[FOI #32071 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 20 August 2025 8:30 PM
To: Brooke van Velden (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: OIA289 Official Information request - All communication between RCOI COVID 2 and Van Velden Office

Dear Brooke van Velden,

I request all communication between any members of the Royal Commission of Inquiry - COVID Phase 2 and yourself and/or members of your office. This includes , but is not limited to, any emails, briefings, text of phone calls, text messages (on any platform) or any other information.

Yours faithfully,

Sarah Samson

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

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #32071 email]

Is [Brooke van Velden request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Brooke van Velden? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

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.

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

hide quoted sections

Hi Sarah,

 

Thank you for you OIA request, we are working on it. Sarah as your request
is for all information across the entirety of Phase 2 we will likely need
an extension as it covers a decent amount of information. If there is a
particular topic you are interested in, we are happy to refine the scope
of your request?

 

If you are after information related to the public hearings? Or on the
Commissions progress? This will help to reduce the number of
administrative emails you receive which may or may not be of use to you.

 

Thanks

 

 

 

Nick Williamson

Internal Affairs Private Secretary | Office of Hon Brooke van Velden

Minister of Internal Affairs

Minister for Workplace Relations

MP for Tāmaki
 

Email: [1][email address]    Website:
[2]www.Beehive,govt.nz

Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

Authorised by Hon Brooke van Velden, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

 

Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by
replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.

Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at
[3]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

 

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

From: Brooke van Velden (MIN) <[4][email address]>

Sent: Thursday, 21 August 2025 6:10 pm

To: Sarah Samson <[5][FOI #32071 email]>

Subject: RE: OIA289 Official Information request - All communication
between RCOI COVID 2 and Van Velden Office

 

Dear Sarah,

 

Thank you for your email in which you submitted an Official Information
Act request for the following:

 

“I request all communication between any members of the Royal Commission
of Inquiry - COVID Phase 2 and yourself and/or members of your office.
This includes , but is not limited to, any emails, briefings, text of
phone calls, text messages (on any platform) or any other information."

 

Minister van Velden is considering your request in accordance with the
Act.

 

Kind regards,

 

Office of Hon Brooke van Velden

Minister of Internal Affairs

Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety MP for Tāmaki

Website: [6]http://www.beehive/

Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

Authorised by Hon Brooke van Velden, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

 

 

Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by
replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.

Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at
[7]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

 

 

 

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

From: Sarah Samson <[8][FOI #32071 email]>

Sent: Wednesday, 20 August 2025 8:30 PM

To: Brooke van Velden (MIN) <[9][email address]>

Subject: OIA289 Official Information request - All communication between
RCOI COVID 2 and Van Velden Office

 

Dear Brooke van Velden,

 

I request all communication between any members of the Royal Commission of
Inquiry - COVID Phase 2 and yourself and/or members of your office. This
includes , but is not limited to, any emails, briefings, text of phone
calls, text messages (on any platform) or any other information.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Sarah Samson

 

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

 

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

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[10][FOI #32071 email]

 

Is [11][Brooke van Velden request email] the wrong address for Official
Information requests to Brooke van Velden? If so, please contact us using
this form:

[12]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

 

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

[13]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

 

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.

 

 

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

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.beehive,govt.nz/
3. https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
4. mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[FOI #32071 email]
6. http://www.beehive/
7. https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
8. mailto:[FOI #32071 email]
9. mailto:[email address]
10. mailto:[FOI #32071 email]
11. mailto:[Brooke van Velden request email]
12. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/fyi.o...
13. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/fyi.o...

hide quoted sections

Brilliant, thank you Sarah much appreciated.

Nick

Nick Williamson
Internal Affairs Private Secretary | Office of Hon Brooke van Velden
Minister of Internal Affairs
Minister for Workplace Relations
MP for Tāmaki

M: 027 308 3939
Email: [email address]    Website: www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

Authorised by Hon Brooke van Velden, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is prohibited and may be unlawful.
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’ portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list: date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

-----Original Message-----
From: Sarah Samson <[FOI #32071 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 10 September 2025 8:32 PM
To: Nick Williamson <[email address]>
Subject: RE: OIA289 Official Information request - All communication between RCOI COVID 2 and Van Velden Office

Dear Nick Williamson,

Many thanks for the opportunity to refine my request. I would like all communication between the RCOI (commissioners and staff) and the Minister + her office from the beginning of Phase 2 relating specifically to all interviews sought from former ministers and public officials.

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Samson

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

Hi Sarah,

 

Thank you for you OIA request, we are working on it. Sarah as your request is for all information across the entirety of Phase 2 we will likely need an extension as it covers a decent amount of information. If there is a particular topic you are interested in, we are happy to refine the scope of your request?

 

If you are after information related to the public hearings? Or on the Commissions progress? This will help to reduce the number of administrative emails you receive which may or may not be of use to you.

 

Thanks

 

 

 

Nick Williamson

Internal Affairs Private Secretary | Office of Hon Brooke van Velden

Minister of Internal Affairs

Minister for Workplace Relations

MP for Tāmaki
 

Email: [1][email address]    Website:
[2]www.Beehive,govt.nz

Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

Authorised by Hon Brooke van Velden, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

 

Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is prohibited and may be unlawful.

Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at [3]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www....

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #32071 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

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.

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

hide quoted sections

Evening Sarah,

 

Please find attached on behalf of the Hon Brooke van Velden a response to
your OIA request.

 

Nick

 

Nick Williamson

Internal Affairs Private Secretary | Office of Hon Brooke van Velden

Minister of Internal Affairs

Minister for Workplace Relations

MP for Tāmaki
 

Email: [1][email address]    Website:
[2]www.Beehive,govt.nz

Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

Authorised by Hon Brooke van Velden, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

 

Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by
replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.

Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at
[3]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Sarah Samson <[FOI #32071 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 10 September 2025 8:32 PM
To: Nick Williamson <[email address]>
Subject: RE: OIA289 Official Information request - All communication
between RCOI COVID 2 and Van Velden Office

 

Dear Nick Williamson,

 

Many thanks for the opportunity to refine my request. I would like all
communication between the RCOI (commissioners and staff)  and the Minister
+ her office from the beginning of Phase 2 relating specifically to all
interviews sought from former ministers and public officials.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Sarah Samson

 

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

 

Hi Sarah,

 

 

 

Thank you for you OIA request, we are working on it. Sarah as your
request  is for all information across the entirety of Phase 2 we will
likely need  an extension as it covers a decent amount of information. If
there is a  particular topic you are interested in, we are happy to refine
the scope  of your request?

 

 

 

If you are after information related to the public hearings? Or on the 
Commissions progress? This will help to reduce the number of 
administrative emails you receive which may or may not be of use to you.

 

 

 

Thanks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nick Williamson

 

Internal Affairs Private Secretary | Office of Hon Brooke van Velden

 

Minister of Internal Affairs

 

Minister for Workplace Relations

 

MP for Tāmaki

 

 

Email: [1][email address]    Website:

[2][4]www.Beehive,govt.nz

 

Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

 

 

Authorised by Hon Brooke van Velden, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

 

 

 

Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is 
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or 
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author
by  replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the 
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is 
prohibited and may be unlawful.

 

Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’

portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal
or  constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would
list:

date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the 
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the 
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will 
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet 
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be 
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a 
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the 
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy 
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for
a  copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it
to  be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy
of  your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the 
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the 
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at 
[3][5]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www....

 

 

 

 

 

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[6][FOI #32071 email]

 

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

[7]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

 

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.

 

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

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.beehive,govt.nz/
3. https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
4. http://www.beehive,govt.nz/
5. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.d...
6. mailto:[FOI #32071 email]
7. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/fyi.o...

hide quoted sections