Item 1
From:
s9(2)(a): DPMC
To:
s9(2)(a): PM's Office
Subject:
RE: for action PMO OIA 661-2025-26- Evidence to support statement that Councils are choosing to fund
toilets over road maintenance
Date:
30 January 2026 13:32:56
Attachments:
image001.png
Understood, thanks s9(2)(a)
I’ll standby for a response on guidance if/when able.
Cheers
1982
s9(2)(a): DPMC
Act
From:s9(2)(a): PM's Office
Sent: Friday, 30 January 2026 1:25 pm
To: s9(2)(a): DPMC
s9(2)(a): PM's Office
Subject: RE: for action PMO OIA 661-2025-26- Evidence to support statement that Councils are
choosing to fund toilets over road maintenance
s9(2)(a)
it is on our list of things to do (if s9(2)(a)is able) – but we have been prioritising Severe Weather
Information
Event Recovery and Response this week
From: s9(2)(a): DPMC
Sent: Friday, 30 January 2026 1:23 PM
To:s9(2)(a): PM's Office
Official
s9(2)(a): PM's Office
Subject: RE: for action PMO OIA 661-2025-26- Evidence to support statement that Councils are
choosing to fund toilets over road maintenance
the
Importance: High
Kia ora
under
Could I please receive PMO’s guidance on approach
today so that a response can be
started?
E mihi ana
s9(2)(a)
Advisor
Released
Ministerial Services
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
P s9(2)(a)
E
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.
From: s9(2)(a): DPMC
Sent: Tuesday, 27 January 2026 10:39 am
To: s9(2)(a): PM's Office
s9(2)(a): PM's Office
Subject:
1982
RE: for action PMO OIA 661-2025-26- Evidence to support statement that Councils are
choosing to fund toilets over road maintenance
Act
Kia ora s9(2)(a) and s9(2)(a)
I am following up to see if there are any documents held regarding this request and PMO’s
thoughts on the approach set out below.
It would be ideal to please receive PMO’s views by 29 January 2026 so that a response can
be drafted.
Information
Ngā mihi
s9(2)(a)
Advisor
Ministerial Services
Official
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
P s9(2)(a)
E
the
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
under
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.
Released
From: s9(2)(a): PM's Office
Sent: Thursday, 22 January 2026 9:47 am
To: s9(2)(a): PM's Office
s9(2)(a): DPMC
s9(2)(a)
Subject: for action PMO OIA 661-2025-26- Evidence to support statement that Councils are
choosing to fund toilets over road maintenance
Importance: High
s9(2)(a)
– thoughts?
From: s9(2)(a): DPMC
Sent: Thursday, 22 January 2026 9:34 AM
To: s9(2)(a): PM's Office
Subject: RE: PMO OIA 661-2025-26- Evidence to support statement that Councils are choosing to
fund toilets over road maintenance
Kia ora s9(2)(a)
1982
I am following up to confirm whether any documents are held and PMO’s views on the
Act
approach below.
E mihi ana
s9(2)(a)
Advisor
Ministerial Services
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Ps9(2)(a)
Information
E
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
Official
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
the
immediately.
From: s9(2)(a): DPMC
under
Sent: Thursday, 15 January 2026 4:10 pm
To:s9(2)(a): PM's Office
Subject: RE: PMO OIA 661-2025-26- Evidence to support statement that Councils are choosing to
fund toilets over road maintenance
[
]
Kia ora s9(2)(a)
Released
Could PMO please provide any documents relevant to this request?
I note that we had a similar request regarding the Prime Minister’s comments on rate caps (PMO
OIA 639-2025-26). The response refused the request under s 18(e) “information does not exist”
and provided a brief narrative response from the Prime Minister’s post-Cab press conference. I
have attached the response letter for convenience.
Please let me know if you would like a similar approach to this request.
E mihi ana
s9(2)(a)
-----Original Message-----
From: s9(2)(a): PM's Office
Sent: Tuesday, 13 January 2026 12:57 pm
To: Information [DPMC] <[email address]>;s9(2)(a): PM's Office
1982
Subject: PMO OIA 661-2025-26- Evidence to support statement that Councils are choosing to
fund toilets over road maintenance
Act
-----Original Message-----
From: Charlotte Horner <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 13 January 2026 10:30 AM
To: Aaron W <[email address]>
Cc: Sarah Boyle <[email address]>
Information
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Evidence to support statement that Councils are
choosing to fund toilets over road maintenance
Kia ora Aaron,
Official
Thank you for your email of (date) in which you submitted an Official Information Act request as
follows:
the
"Please provide all evidence you hold that Councils are choosing to build toilets instead of fixing
pipes, or installing speed bumps instead of road maintainance. I would assume given your
statement that you hold specific information showing deliberate Council to decisions to prioritize
certain things, or take funding away from other things in order to fund toilets and speed bumps."
under
Your request is being considered in accordance with the Act, and you can expect a response by
13/02/2026 (date determined by the OIA calculator).
Charlotte Horner
Roving Private Secretary - Executive Support | Office of Rt Hon Christopher Luxon Prime Minister
Minister for National Security and Intelligence Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services
Released
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
-----Original Message-----
From: Aaron W <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 13 January 2026 9:52 am
To: Christopher Luxon (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Evidence to support statement that Councils are choosing
to fund toilets over road maintenance
Dear Christopher Luxon,
In your 1 December press conference you noted (as it relates to Councils):
"[ratepayers are] sick of seeing their rates being spent on nice-to-haves rather than must-haves,1982
building fancy public toilets rather than fixing the pipes, or installing endless speed bumps rather
than maintaining the roads."
Act
Please provide all evidence you hold that Councils are choosing to build toilets instead of fixing
pipes, or installing speed bumps instead of road maintainance. I would assume given your
statement that you hold specific information showing deliberate Council to decisions to prioritize
certain things, or take funding away from other things in order to fund toilets and speed bumps.
Yours faithfully,
Aaron W
Information
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Official
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[email address]
the
Is [Christopher Luxon request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Christopher
Luxon? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?
body=christopher_luxon__;!!Asq5-8xVch3Reg!vb15L5QbPmo3Qpz3aUf3BjK2XI5pEAczojs48-
FWA5YKQZtyxQX66QJB5n84nm2gV2LuB-7o7JHDu0uItAZoz0bglO_mcykCxPl7MJyOXQ0-$
under
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our
privacy and copyright policies:
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Released
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to
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-------------------------------------------------------------------
17 December 2025
Aaron W
[email address]
Ref: PMO OIA 639-2025-26
Dear Aaron,
1982
Official Information Act request: [W] Prime Minister's comments regarding rates caps
Act
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request, received on 2 December
2025. You requested:
“You recently said that Councils should “stop doing dumb stuff" during an
announcement on rates caps.
Can I please have a list of all of the "dumb stuff" you are referring to?”
There is no specific list of “dumb stuff” that the Prime Minister has said councils should stop
doing. Your request is therefore refused under section 18(e) as the information requested
Information
does not exist.
In his 1 December 2025 post-Cabinet press conference, the Prime Minister gave examples
of rates being spent on nice-to-haves rather than must-haves. This included councils building
fancy public toilets rather than fixing the pipes or installing endless speed bumps rather than
maintaining the roads. You can read the transcript of this, and other post-Cabinet press
conferences, on the Beehive website https://www.beehive.govt.nz/feature/post-cab-press-
Official
conference.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
the
section 28(3) of the Act.
Yours sincerely,
under
Cameron Burrows
Chief of Staff
Released
Item 2
s9(2)(a): PM's Office
From:
To:
Information [DPMC]
Subject:
RE: MOIA Reply PMO OIA 661-2025-26:[W] Evidence that councils prioritize toilet funding over road
maintenance
Date:
17 February 2026 12:43:09
Attachments:
image002.png
image003.png
s9(2)(a): PM's Officemay be amending this
From: Information [DPMC] <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, 12 February 2026 2:19 PM
To: s9(2)(a): PM's Office
1982
Subject: RE: MOIA Reply PMO OIA 661-2025-26:[W] Evidence that councils prioritize toilet
funding over road maintenance
Act
Kia oras9(2)(a)
Just confirming if you need anything else from us regarding this request? Noting it is due to
the requestor tomorrow (13 February 2026).
E mihi ana
Information
s9(2)(a)
Advisor
Ministerial Services
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
P s9(2)(a)
E
Official
the
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
under
immediately.
From: Information [DPMC] <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 2 February 2026 4:01 pm
To: s9(2)(a): PM's Office
Subject: MOIA Reply PMO OIA 661-2025-26:[W] Evidence that councils prioritize toilet funding
Released
over road maintenance
Kia ora,
Please see attached for review:
Signed briefing from Alan Cassidy
Draft response letter – in Word
Copy of original request documents.
This is due to the requester on
13 February 2026.
Ngā mihi,
s9(2)(a)
Advisor, Ministerial Services
Corporate
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
P s9(2)(a)
E
1982
Act
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.
Information
Official
the
under
Released
Briefing for Draft Reply to PMO OIA Request
To
PMO Chief of Staff
Cameron Burrows
s9(2)(a)
PMO Advisor
From
DPMC Ministerial Services Contact
s9(2)(a)
Advisor, Ministerial Services
s9(2)(a)
PMO OIA number
PMO OIA 661-2025-26
OIA title
[W] Evidence that councils prioritize toilet funding over road
1982
maintenance
Requestor
Name
Aaron W
Act
Organisation / Business
None
Due to requestor
13 February 2026
Due to PMO
5 February 2026
Attachments:
•
Request.
•
Draft reply letter (for signature).
Information
Consulted with: •
PMO s9(2)(a)
Comments on draft reply:
Official
•
The requestor made a similar request regarding the Prime Minister’s comments on
Council expenditure (PMO 639-2025-26). The approach advised by PMO was to note
that no specific documents are held and to provide a link the transcript of the Prime
the
Minister’s post-Cabinet press conference. The same approach has been taken for this
request.
•
The approach for this specific request has not been confirmed by PMO.
PMO OIA 661-2025-26 cleared for submission to PMO by:
under
Released
ELT Member ………………………………..
Alan Cassidy
Deputy Chief Executive, Corporate and Chief People Officer
Corporate
2/02/2026
s9(2)(g)(i)
1982
Act
Information
Official
the
under
Released
s9(2)(a): PM's Office
From:
To:
Information [DPMC];s9(2)(a): PM's Office
Subject:
PMO OIA 661-2025-26- Evidence to support statement that Councils are choosing to fund toilets over road
maintenance
Date:
13 January 2026 12:57:09
-----Original Message-----
From: Charlotte Horner <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 13 January 2026 10:30 AM
To: Aaron W <[email address]>
Cc: Sarah Boyle <[email address]>
1982
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Evidence to support statement that Councils are choosing to fund
toilets over road maintenance
Act
Kia ora Aaron,
Thank you for your email of (date) in which you submitted an Official Information Act request as follows:
"Please provide all evidence you hold that Councils are choosing to build toilets instead of fixing pipes, or
installing speed bumps instead of road maintainance. I would assume given your statement that you hold
specific information showing deliberate Council to decisions to prioritize certain things, or take funding away
from other things in order to fund toilets and speed bumps."
Your request is being considered in accordance with the Act, and you can expect a response by 13/02/2026
Information
(date determined by the OIA calculator).
Charlotte Horner
Roving Private Secretary - Executive Support | Office of Rt Hon Christopher Luxon Prime Minister Minister for
National Security and Intelligence Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services
Official
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
the
-----Original Message-----
From: Aaron W <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 13 January 2026 9:52 am
To: Christopher Luxon (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Evidence to support statement that Councils are choosing to fund toilets
under
over road maintenance
Dear Christopher Luxon,
In your 1 December press conference you noted (as it relates to Councils):
"[ratepayers are] sick of seeing their rates being spent on nice-to-haves rather than must-haves, building fancy
public toilets rather than fixing the pipes, or installing endless speed bumps rather than maintaining the roads."
Released
Please provide all evidence you hold that Councils are choosing to build toilets instead of fixing pipes, or
installing speed bumps instead of road maintainance. I would assume given your statement that you hold
specific information showing deliberate Council to decisions to prioritize certain things, or take funding away
from other things in order to fund toilets and speed bumps.
Yours faithfully,
Aaron W
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[email address]
Is [Christopher Luxon request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Christopher Luxon? If so,
please contact us using this form:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?body=christopher_luxon__;!!Asq5-
8xVch3Reg!vb15L5QbPmo3Qpz3aUf3BjK2XI5pEAczojs48-FWA5YKQZtyxQX66QJB5n84nm2gV2LuB-
7o7JHDu0uItAZoz0bglO_mcykCxPl7MJyOXQ0-$
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and
1982
copyright policies:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers__;!!Asq5-
8xVch3Reg!vb15L5QbPmo3Qpz3aUf3BjK2XI5pEAczojs48-FWA5YKQZtyxQX66QJB5n84nm2gV2LuB-
Act
7o7JHDu0uItAZoz0bglO_mcykCxPl7MHfFnZYX$
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from
your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Information
Official
the
under
Released
Item 3
From:s9(2)(a): PM's Office
Sent: Friday, 13 February 2026 2:18 PM
To: s9(2)(a): PM's Office
Subject: OIA - toilets
1982
Poor management and prioritisation of local government capital expenditure has
received extensive coverage in recent years. That includes (but is not limited to):
Act
·
coverage in the New Zealand Herald of the decision by Wellington
Council to spend $2.3 million on public toilets with a light-up exterior,
·
coverage in The Post of the decision to by Wellington City Council to
install cycleways at a cost of $42 million over two years, and,
·
a report from the Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee on the
$490,000 cost of a single pedestrian crossing in Grey Lynn, Auckland in 2022.
As noted in my letter to you dated 17 December 2025 (reference: PMO OIA 639-2025-
26), the Prime Minister, in his 1 December 2025 post-Cabinet press conference,
Information
discussed examples like these, including the decision to install multi-million-dollar toilets
in the Wellington CBD. You can read the transcript of this, and other post-Cabinet press
conferences, on the Beehive website https://www.beehive.govt.nz/feature/post-cab-
press-conference.
Official
the
under
Released
Item 4
From:
Sarah Boyle
To:
[email address]
Subject:
2026-02-13 MOIA Reply (PMO OIA 661-2025-26) (OIA-2025_26-0441)_ W Evidence that councils prioritize
toilet funding over road maintenance (Aaron W)(5136889.1)
Date:
17 February 2026 12:43:10
Attachments:
MOIA Reply (PMO OIA 661-2025-26) (OIA-2025 26-0441) W Evidence that councils prioritize toilet funding
over road maintenance (Aaron W)(5136889.1).pdf
1982
Act
Information
Official
the
under
Released
13 February 2026
Aaron W
[email address]
Ref: PMO OIA 661-2025-26
Dear Aaron,
1982
Official Information Act request: Evidence that councils prioritize toilet funding over
road maintenance
Act
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request, received on 13 January
2026. You requested:
Please provide all evidence you hold that Councils are choosing to build toilets instead
of fixing pipes, or installing speed bumps instead of road maintainance. I would assume
given your statement that you hold specific information showing deliberate Council to
decisions to prioritize certain things, or take funding away from other things in order to
fund toilets and speed bumps.
Information
Poor management and prioritisation of local government capital expenditure has received
extensive coverage in recent years. That includes (but is not limited to):
•
coverage in the New Zealand Herald of the decision by Wellington Council to spend
$2.3 mil ion on public toilets with a light-up exterior,
•
coverage in The Post of the decision to by Wellington City Council to install cycleways
at a cost of $42 mil ion over two years, and,
•
a report from the Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee on the $490,000 cost
Official
of a single pedestrian crossing in Grey Lynn, Auckland in 2022.
As noted in my letter to you dated 17 December 2025 (reference: PMO OIA 639-2025-26),
the
the Prime Minister, in his 1 December 2025 post-Cabinet press conference, discussed
examples like these, including the decision to install multi-mil ion-dol ar toilets in the
Wellington CBD. You can read the transcript of this, and other post-Cabinet press
conferences, on the Beehive website https://www.beehive.govt.nz/feature/post-cab-press-
conference. under
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
Yours sincerely,
Released
Cameron Burrows
Chief of Staff
