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