Comparing state house construction
Andrew Riddell made this Official Information request to Nicola Willis
Currently waiting for a response from Nicola Willis, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).
From: Andrew Riddell
Dear Nicola Willis,
A Radio New Zealand report of your comments on the recently released report on pay equity by the unoffical select committee includes the following attributed to you:
Willis said the coalition had built more new state homes this term than the last government had in a "previously comparable period".
What are the start and finish dates of this "previously comparable period"
How many state houses were built in this period, and how many have been built in this term of government?
When giving the numbers of state houses constructed, please categorise the state house numbers as houses that add to the state housing stock and houses that replace older state houses.
Thanks,
Andrew Riddell
From: Hon Nicola Willis
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Ngā mihi,
Office of Hon Nicola Willis
Minister of Finance | Minister for Economic Growth | Minister for Social
Investment
Freepost: Private Bag 18 888 |Parliament Buildings |Wellington 6011
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From: Hon Nicola Willis
Dear Andrew
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your official information request.
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and in
any event no later than 20 working days after the day your request was
received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
notify you of an extension of that timeframe.
Kind regrds
Office of Hon Nicola Willis
Minister of Finance
Minister for Economic Growth
Minister for Social Investment
Email: [1][email address] Phone: 04 817 6801 Website:
[2]www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
show quoted sections
From: Hon Nicola Willis
Dear Andrew
Letter from Hon Nicola Willis, Minister of Finance, attached.
Kind regards
Office of Hon Nicola Willis
Minister of Finance
Minister for Economic Growth
Minister for Social Investment
Email: [1][email address] Phone: 04 817 6801 Website:
[2]www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
show quoted sections
From: Christopher Bishop (MIN)
Nicola Willis
OIA26-CB032
Dear Andrew,
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your transferred Official
Information Act request dated the 25^th of February 2026. You have
requested the following information:
" A Radio New Zealand report of your comments on the recently released
report on pay equity by the unoffical select committee includes the
following attributed to you:
Willis said the coalition had built more new state homes this term than
the last government had in a "previously comparable period".
What are the start and finish dates of this "previously comparable period"
How many state houses were built in this period, and how many have been
built in this term of government?
When giving the numbers of state houses constructed, please categorise the
state house numbers as houses that add to the state housing stock and
houses that replace older state houses."
We received your transferred request on 09/03/2026. We will endeavour to
respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than
08/04/2026, being 20 working days after the day your request was
received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
notify you of an extension of that timeframe.
Kind regards,
Office of Hon Chris Bishop
Minister of Housing | Minister for Infrastructure | Minister Responsible
for RMA Reform | Minister of Transport |
Associate Minister of Finance | Associate Minister for Sport & Recreation
| Leader of the House | MP for Hutt South
Office: 04 817 6802 | EW 6.3
Email: [1][email address] Website: [2]www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
Email disclaimer:
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Please notify the sender immediately and erase all copies of the message
and all attachments. Thank you.
From: Hon Nicola Willis
Sent: Monday, 9 March 2026 1:55 pm
To: '[FOI #33853 email]'
<[3][FOI #33853 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Comparing state house
construction
Dear Andrew
Letter from Hon Nicola Willis, Minister of Finance, attached.
Kind regards
Office of Hon Nicola Willis
Minister of Finance
Minister for Economic Growth
Minister for Social Investment
Email: [4][email address] Phone: 04 817 6801 Website:
[5]www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
show quoted sections
From: Andrew Riddell
Dear Hon Nicola Willis,
You have informed me that you have transferred my request to the Minster of Housing to answer.
I strongly disagree with this course of action.
My request is for the data you have to back up a claim you made on Radio New Zealand.
Clearly you are 'best placed" to answer that question as it is you who made the claim.
There are two basic answers that you could give on this information request - you did not have the information to back up your claim, or you could provide the information you had to back up your claim.
Transferring the request to the Minister of Housing is an attempt to avoid answering the request.
Clearly, it is you who should be answering my request.
Please reverse this transfer and provide the information requested.
Ngā mihi
Andrew Riddell
From: Hon Nicola Willis
Dear Andrew
On behalf of Hon Nicola Willis, Minister of Finance, thank you for your
further email.
Yes, you are correct that was the Minister's speech. Ministers often seek
input from responsible Ministers and in this case information was sourced
from Minister Bishop as the Minister responsible for Housing. This is why
it was deemed necessary to transfer your request through to him as it
falls within his portfolio responsibility and he holds the underlying
information.
Transferring a request under the Official Information Act (OIA) is the
mechanism for shifting responsibility for decision making on an OIA
request to another agency, in this context, the Minister of Housing. The
purpose of this mechanism is to ensure that the decision on release or
withholding is made by the person or agency best placed to make that call.
Section 14 of the OIA says an agency must transfer (all or part of) a
request if the information to which it relates: is believed by the person
dealing with the request to be more closely connected with the functions
of another agency.
Kind regards
Office of Hon Nicola Willis
Minister of Finance
Minister for Economic Growth
Minister for Social Investment
Email: [1][email address] Phone: 04 817 6801 Website:
[2]www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
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