Official Information Act Request – Budgets and Expenditure of Ministerial Advisory Groups
Julian Jackson made this Official Information request to Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
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From: Julian Jackson
Dear Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet,
I am writing under the Official Information Act 1982 to request the following information regarding ministerial advisory groups established since the formation of the current coalition government (National, ACT, and New Zealand First) following the 2023 general election:
1. A complete list of all ministerial advisory groups formed since 27 November 2023, including their official titles, responsible ministers, and terms of reference.
2. For each such group, please provide:
- The total allocated budget (including any revisions) for the group’s operations for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years;
- A breakdown and the totals of actual expenditures to date, including but not limited to: payments or honoraria to members, catering and venue costs, administrative or secretariat support, travel and accommodation, and any other operational expenses;
- Copies of any Cabinet papers, funding approvals, or internal budgeting documents authorizing the group’s financial resourcing.
This request follows recent public reports indicating significant spending by some advisory groups—for example, nearly $24,000 on catering for meetings of the Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime—and growing public interest in transparency around such expenditures.
I request that this information be provided within the statutory 20 working days under the OIA. If any part of this request is declined, please specify the relevant withholding grounds under the Act and provide a public interest test where applicable.
Thank you for your assistance.
Ngā mihi nui,
Julian Jackson
Ōtaki Electorate
From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Tēnā koe,
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From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
[IN-CONFIDENCE]
Kia ora,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982
received on 20 December 2025, copied below. We will respond to your
request within the statutory timeframes set out in the Act. If we are
unable to meet these timeframes we will notify you.
Please note that 25 December 2025 through to 15 January 2026 are not
considered working days under the Act.
Your request will be managed by the Ministerial Services team within DPMC.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact us at
[1][DPMC request email].
DPMC may publish the response to your OIA request. If we publish the
response your personal information, including your name and contact
details, will be removed.
Nga mihi
Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial Services
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E [2][DPMC request email]
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
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From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Kia ora,
Please see the attached letter regarding your recent OIA request.
Ngā mihi,
Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial Services
Corporate
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E [1][DPMC request email]
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
Link: [2]File-List
Link: [3]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [4]themeData
Link: [5]colorSchemeMapping
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The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[DPMC request email]
2. file:///tmp/Signature_files/filelist.xml
3. file:///tmp/Signature_files/editdata.mso
4. file:///tmp/Signature_files/themedata.thmx
5. file:///tmp/Signature_files/colorschememapping.xml
6. file:///tmp/Signature_files/filelist.xml
7. file:///tmp/Signature_files/editdata.mso
8. file:///tmp/Signature_files/themedata.thmx
9. file:///tmp/Signature_files/colorschememapping.xml
From: Shane Reti (MIN)
Kia ora Julian,
Thank you for your request for official information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act) that has been partially transferred to the
Office of Hon Dr Shane Reti. You requested:
“I am writing under the Official Information Act 1982 to request the
following information regarding ministerial advisory groups established
since the formation of the current coalition government (National, ACT,
and New Zealand First) following the 2023 general election:
1. A complete list of all ministerial advisory groups formed since 27
November 2023, including their official titles, responsible ministers, and
terms of reference.
2. For each such group, please provide:
- The total allocated budget (including any revisions) for the group’s
operations for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years;
- A breakdown and the totals of actual expenditures to date, including but
not limited to: payments or honoraria to members, catering and venue
costs, administrative or secretariat support, travel and accommodation,
and any other operational expenses;
- Copies of any Cabinet papers, funding approvals, or internal budgeting
documents authorizing the group’s financial resourcing.
This request follows recent public reports indicating significant spending
by some advisory groups—for example, nearly $24,000 on catering for
meetings of the Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime—and
growing public interest in transparency around such expenditures.”
I have highlighted the parts that have been partially transferred. As
outlined in the DPMC’s response, the Ministerial Advisory Groups Minister
Reti is responsible for include the Prime Minister’s Science, Innovation
and Technology Advisory Council, the University Strategy Group, the
Science System Advisory Group, and the University Advisory Group.
The reference number for your request is: SROIA-161
As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Office will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
the day your request was received. You can expect a response by 3 March
2026.
Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [1][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngā mihi
Office of Hon Dr Shane Reti
Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology
Minister for Universities
Minister of Statistics
Minister for Pacific Peoples
Email: [2][email address]
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
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From: Simeon Brown (MIN)
Dear Julian,
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request,
received on 2^nd February, in which you requested the following
information:
For each such group, please provide:
- The total allocated budget (including any revisions) for the group’s
operations for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years;
- A breakdown and the totals of actual expenditures to date, including
but not limited to: payments or honoraria to members, catering and venue
costs, administrative or secretariat support, travel and accommodation,
and any other operational expenses;
- Copies of any Cabinet papers, funding approvals, or internal
budgeting documents authorizing the group’s financial resourcing.
Your request will be answered within the provisions of the Official
Information Act.
Kind regards,
[1]Image Office of Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Health, Minister for State Owned Enterprises,
Minister for Auckland
Email: [2][email address]
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New
Zealand
From: Information [DPMC] <[3][DPMC request email]>
Sent: Monday, 2 February 2026 5:04 PM
To: '[FOI #33338 email]'
<[4][FOI #33338 email]>
Subject: Your OIA request - Response
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Kia ora,
Please see the attached letter regarding your recent OIA request.
Ngâ mihi,
Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial Services
Corporate
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E [5][DPMC request email]
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
References
Visible links
2. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[DPMC request email]
4. mailto:[FOI #33338 email]
5. mailto:[DPMC request email]
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