28 January 2026
Sam Malik
[FYI request #32919 email]
Dear Sam
Official Information Request
Our Ref: OIA 2025-0171
I refer to your official information request received on 26 November 205 for:
•
Any current Cabinet papers, policy documents, briefings, or advice provided to
you (or your office) from the Public Service Commission regarding:
o
Flexible working arrangements;
o
Remote or hybrid working.
o
Proposed changes to flexible working guidelines.
o
Expectations for public sector agencies regarding staff working from home.
•
Any communications (including emails, memos, or meeting notes) between
your office and the Public Service Commission, that relate to flexible working
expectations or policies since 1 January 2024.
Information publicly available
The following information is covered by your request and is publicly available on the Public
Service Commission’s (the Commission’s) website at the links provided in the table below.
Item
Date
Document Description
Website Address
1
August 2024
2024 Government Workforce Policy
Government-Workforce-
Statement
Policy-Statement-
2024.pdf
1
21 August 2024
REPORT - Hybrid working in the New
https://www.publicservi
Zealand Public Service
ce.govt.nz/assets/Direct
oryFile/Report-Hybrid-
Working-in-the-New-
Zealand-Public-
Service.pdf
2
17 September 2024
REPORT – Hybrid Working – Next
https://www.publicservi
Steps
ce.govt.nz/assets/Direct
Level 10, Te Iho | 1 Lambton Quay | PO Box329
Wellington 6140 | New Zealand
Phone +64 4 495 6600
oryFile/Report-Hybrid-
Working-Next-Steps.pdf
3
23 September 2024
Minister for the Public Service Media
New work-from-home
Statement – Governments
guidance for public
Expectations for Working from Home
service | Beehive.govt.nz
4
23 September 2024
Acting Public Service Commissioner’s
https://www.publicservi
letter to Chief Executives - Working
ce.govt.nz/assets/Direct
from Home Arrangements
oryFile/Commissioners-
Letter-to-Chief-
Executives-Working-
from-Home-
Arrangements.pdf
5
10 October 2024
Working from Home – Implementing
2024-0315 - REPORT –
Government’s Expectations
Working from home –
Implementing
Government’s
Expectations
6
31 October 2024
Flexible Working Guidance for
2024-0346 - REPORT –
Consultation
Flexible Working
Guidance for
Consultation
7
6 December 2024
Flexible Working (Work from Home)
2024-0311 - REPORT –
Consultation feedback and Guidance
Flexible Working (Work
finalisation
from Home) –
Consultation feedback
and guidance
finalisation
8
December 2024
GUIDANCE - Flexible Working (Work
https://www.publicservi
from Home)
ce.govt.nz/guidance/gui
dance-flexible-working-
work-from-home
9
22 January 2025
2025-0013 – REPORT – Results from
https://www.publicservi
the Public Service Working from
ce.govt.nz/assets/Direct
Home Data Col ection – November
oryFile/MOSR-2025-
2024 22 January 2025
0013-REPORT-Results-
from-the-Public-
Service-Working-From-
Home-Data-Collection-
November-2024.pdf
Accordingly, I have refused your request for the documents listed in the above table under
section 18(d) of the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) on the grounds the information
requested is or will soon be publicly available. Some relevant information has been
Level 10, Te Iho | 1 Lambton Quay | PO Box 329
Wellington 6140 | New Zealand
Phone +64 4 495 6600
removed from documents listed in the above table and should continue to be withheld
under the OIA, on the grounds described in the documents.
Information not released
There is one additional document within scope of your request that I have decided to
withhold in full under section 9(2)(g)(i) of the OIA to maintain the effective conduct of public
affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions by or between or to Ministers of
the Crown or members of an organisation.
In making my decision, I have considered the public interest considerations in section 9(1)
of the OIA.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
[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.
Please note that we intend to publish this letter (with your personal details removed) on
the Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission’s website.
Yours sincerely
Nicky Dirks
Manager – Ministerial and Executive Services
Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
Level 10, Te Iho | 1 Lambton Quay | PO Box 329
Wellington 6140 | New Zealand
Phone +64 4 495 6600
