
23 March 2026
Kate Linzey
[FYI request #33812 email]
Dear Kate
Official Information Act Request
Our Refs: OIA 2026-0032 and OIA 2026-0055
I refer to your two requests made under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). Your first
request, OIA 2026-0032, was received on 23 February 2026:
“Point 11 in the Executive Summary of the Cabinet Paper “Planning and
infrastructure arrangements” produced by Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service
Commission / RMA Reform, 30 January 2026 states:
“This reform is ambitious but necessary. It reflects lessons from past structural
changes and international best practice. MCRE wil be smal er and more focused than
previous “mega-ministries," with clear delegations and accountability. It represents a
strategic shift toward a more agile, integrated, and future-ready Public Service.”
Please provide details of the “international best practice” cases explored, with an
indication how they have informed the proposed new ministry.
Please note this request wil also be made to the RMA Reform body. Best practice
examples need only be relevant to the Public Service Commission.”
The Public Service Commission (the Commission) then received your second request, OIA
2026-0055, which was transferred to the Commission for response from the office of the Hon
Chris Bishop on 11 March 2026. This request was substantively the same as the request
received by the Commission on 23 February 2026, except that it specified that
“…this
request wil also be made to the Public Service Commission. Best practice examples need only
be relevant to RMA [i.e.,
Resource Management Act 1991]
Reform.”
This letter responds to both of your requests.
Level 10, Te Iho | 1 Lambton Quay | PO Box 329
Wellington 6140 | New Zealand
Phone +64 4 495 6600
Information publicly available
The information you have requested is publicly available on the Commission’s website at
the link provided in the table below.
Item Date
Document Description
Website Address
1
16 May 2025
REPORT – MoSR 2025-0350 –
OIA-2025-0213-Information-
Planning and infrastructure
request-regarding-the-Ministry-
arrangements (released with a
for-Cities.pdf
previous OIA response)
Relevant text at paras 19-21 at
page 6 of PDF, titled ‘
Some
international jurisdictions
consolidate relevant functions’
and Annex 1: International
comparisons at page 10-11.
There are also several related reports included within the above OIA response that may be
of interest to you.
Accordingly, I have refused your request for the documents listed in the above table under
section 18(d) of the OIA on the grounds the information requested is or will soon be publicly
available.
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 Commission’s website.
Yours sincerely
Nicky Dirks
Manager – Ministerial and Executive Services
Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission