18 November 2025
TD Price
[FYI request #32609 email]
Dear TD
Official Information Act Request
Our ref: OIA 2025-0130
I refer to your official information request dated 20 October 2025 for:
“I am writing to request information under the Official Information Act 1982 regarding the
Public Service Commission's social media and digital advertising campaigns concerning
strike action scheduled for 23 October 2025, and any other industrial or employment
relations activities in 2025.
The scope of this is related to social media campaigns and/or advertisements run by Te
Kawa Mataaho // Public Service Commission on Facebook/Instagram (Meta platforms) and
any other social media sites - with specific reference to campaigns and/or advertisements
with reference to industrial or employment relations activities in 2025.
Campaign Authorisation and Awareness:
1) Al documents, briefings, emails, and communications relating to the decision to
undertake social media and digital advertising campaigns regarding the 23 October 2025
strike action and any other industrial or employment relations activities in 2025, including
who authorised them and when.
2) Al documents showing which Ministers were informed about these campaigns, when
they were informed, and any responses or direction provided.
3)Al documents showing which Public Service Commission executives and senior managers
were aware of or involved in approving these campaigns.
4) Any legal advice sought or received regarding the appropriateness of using public funds
to advertise against lawful strike action or regarding other industrial or employment
relations matters.
Financial Information:
5) The total budget allocated to social media and digital advertising campaigns regarding
the 23 October 2025 strike action and any other industrial or employment relations
activities in 2025, across all platforms.
6) The actual expenditure to date, broken down by:
o
Each specific campaign or industrial/employment relations issue
Level 10, Te Iho | 1 Lambton Quay | PO Box 329
Wellington 6140 | New Zealand
Phone +64 4 495 6600
o
Platform (including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, other Meta platforms,
X/Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Google Display Network, Google Search ads,
and any other social or internet advertising platforms)
7) Al invoices, quotes, and payment records related to these campaigns across al
platforms.
8) Details of any contracted agencies or consultants involved in these campaigns, including
their fees.
Campaign Scope and Strategy:
9) Al documents outlining the objectives, target audiences, and key messages of these
campaigns across all platforms.
10) The planned duration of each campaign and geographic/demographic targeting
parameters for each platform used.
11) Al creative briefs, draft content, and approved final content for the advertisements
across all platforms for all industrial or employment relations campaigns in 2025. Please
include any screenshots or proofs that were released of any campaigns including dates
publicly shown.
12) Any analytics, reach statistics, or performance reports for these advertisements across
all platforms.
13) Al communications with Meta/Facebook, Google, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube,
and any other platform providers regarding the placement and management of these
advertisements.
14) A complete list of all social media and internet platforms where paid advertising was
placed regarding the 23 October 2025 strike action or any other industrial or employment
relations activities in 2025.
15) A complete list of all industrial or employment relations matters for which PSC
undertook paid social media or digital advertising in 2025, including dates and brief
descriptions of each campaign.
Policy and Precedent:
16) Any policies or guidelines governing PSC's use of paid social media and digital
advertising for industrial relations matters.
17) Details of any previous occasions (prior to 2025) where PSC has used paid social media
or digital advertising regarding industrial action, strikes, or employment negotiations.
18) Any assessment of whether this activity is consistent with the principle of public service
political neutrality.”
The Official Information Act 1982 requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no
later than 20 working days after the day that we received your request. Unfortunately, it wil not
be possible to meet that time limit and we are, therefore, writing to notify you of an extension of
the time to make our decision, to
17 December 2025.
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This extension is necessary because your request necessitates a search through a large quantity
of information and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with our
operations, and consultations needed to make a decision on your request are such that a proper
response cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this decision, please feel free
to contact Ministerial and Executive Services team at
: [email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Nicky Dirks
Manager – Ministerial and Executive Services
Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
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Document Outline
