20 November 2025
Tēnā koe John Luke
Official Information Act request
Thank you for your email of 24 September 2025, requesting information about the
Ministry of Youth Development’s (MYD’s) Executive Committee and Andrew Fale
Lesā.
I have considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
•
I am writing in relation to information obtained through an Official
Information Act request to the Real Estate Authority (Our Ref: C64569),
regarding Mr. Fale Andrew Lesā.
•
According to his application, Mr. Lesā claims that he served on the "Ministry
of Social Development — MYD Executive Committee."
•
"Ministry of Social Development — MYD Executive Committee. APRIL 2007
- JANUARY 2014 This included reviewing policy, distributing grants from the
MYD fund, and supporting youth organisations across the country."
•
I would appreciate it if you could please confirm whether this statement is
accurate.
•
Additionally, I would like to request the following information:
•
The Terms of Reference for the MYD Executive Committee.
•
Details of the public call for expressions of interest for this role — how was
the recruitment process conducted?
•
A copy of Mr. Lesā’s appointment letter.
•
An outline of the recruitment process for committee members, including:
•
What documentation or qualifications applicants were required to submit.
•
The assessment or selection criteria used.
MYD does not have an Executive Committee, and did not have one in the period
2007 to 2014. Therefore, your request is refused in full under section 18(e) of the
Act as the information does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts to locate it,
cannot be found.
MYD’s records within the period of your request indicate Mr Lesā was a member of
the Youth Advisory Group – Northern Region. The group’s role included providing
a youth perspective to both governmental and non-governmental organisations on
topics of interest.
The Aurora Centre, 56 The Terrace, PO Box 1556, Wellington
– Telephone 04-916 3300 – Facsimile 04-918 0099
MYD also sought young people’s involvement in regional Youth Funding Panels, a
role which included assessing applications to MYD’s Youth Fund and making
funding recommendations to MYD. The Ministry searched available records and
could not verify whether Mr Lesā was a member of a Youth Funding Panel for the
Northern Region.
If you would like further information regarding Mr Lesā’s involvement with MYD,
you are welcome to make another request.
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
