The total legal costs incurred by Crown Law in relation to proceedings: CIV-2024-404-845 – Whittome v Director-General of Health: common bundle
John Armstrong made this Official Information request to Crown Law Office
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From: John Armstrong
Dear Crown Law Office,
I request the following information under the Official Information Act 1982:
1. Total Legal Costs to Date
The total legal costs incurred by Crown Law in relation to proceedings:
CIV-2024-404-845 – Whittome v Director-General of Health: common bundle
This should include, but not be limited to:
- External counsel fees (if applicable)
- Internal Crown Law time/costings
- Disbursements (including expert reports, court filing fees, document management, and preparation of the common bundle)
2. Breakdown of Costs
A breakdown of the above costs, to the extent held, including:
- Costs attributable to preparation of the common bundle
- Counsel vs solicitor time
- Any third-party/vendor costs
3. Budgeting / Estimates
Any internal budgets, estimates, or cost projections prepared for this proceeding.
4. Funding Source
Confirmation of the appropriation or funding source used to meet these legal costs.
5. Ongoing / Forecast Costs
Any current estimates of anticipated future legal costs for this proceeding.
Public Interest
There is a strong public interest in transparency regarding the use of public funds in litigation involving significant public health decisions and associated legal challenges such as this particular case.
Format & Timing
I request that the information be provided in electronic format.
Yours faithfully,
John Armstrong
From: OIA
Crown Law Office
Kia ora John
We acknowledge receipt of your email of 25 March 2026 requesting
information under the Official Information Act 1982.
In accordance with section 15 of the Official Information Act, a response
to your request will be provided as soon as is reasonably practicable, and
in any case within 20 working days of receipt of your request, i.e. by 24
April 2026.
Ngā mihi nui | Kind regards
Te Tari Ture o te Karauna Crown Law Office
19 Aitken Street | PO Box 2858 | Wellington 6011
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From: OIA
Crown Law Office
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OIA 2526165 Clarification letter to John Armstrong 10154282.2.pdf
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Kia ora John
Please see the attached letter regarding your Official Information Act
request of 25 March 2026.
Kind regards | Ngā mihi nui
Te Tari Ture o te Karauna Crown Law Office
19 Aitken Street | PO Box 2858 | Wellington 6011
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From: John Armstrong
Dear OIA,
Thank you for your correspondence.
For clarity:
By “counsel vs solicitor time”, I am seeking a breakdown between:
Internal Crown Law legal staff time; and
Any external legal providers (including barristers or contracted legal counsel), if applicable
By “third-party/vendor costs”, I am referring to any non-Crown Law costs incurred in relation to the proceeding, including but not limited to:
Expert witnesses or reports
Document management
Court filing or administrative costs
Any external consultants or service providers
This clarification is intended to assist your response. I confirm that the original request remains unchanged.
Given the public interest in transparency of litigation expenditure, I would appreciate your response as soon as reasonably practicable.
Yours sincerely,
John Armstrong
From: OIA
Crown Law Office
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OIA 2526165 Transfer letter to John Armstrong 10160132.3.pdf
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Kia ora John
Please see the attached letter regarding your Official Information Act
request of 25 March 2026.
Kind regards | Ngā mihi nui
Te Tari Ture o te Karauna Crown Law Office
19 Aitken Street | PO Box 2858 | Wellington 6011
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From: OIA Requests
Kia ora John,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), received by the Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora on 10 April 2026.
You requested:
"4. Funding Source
Confirmation of the appropriation or funding source used to meet these
legal costs."
The reference number for your request is H2026081326. We will endeavour to
respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than
11 May 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.
If you have any queries regarding your request, please feel free to
contact the OIA Services Team on [1][email address]. If any
additional factors come to light which are relevant to your request,
please do not hesitate to contact us so that these can be taken into
account.
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: [2][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngā mihi,
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora
M[3]inistry of Health information releases
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References
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mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
From: Ministerial Services Inbox [TSY]
Dear John,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982, which
was transferred from Crown Law on 10 April 2026. A response will be
provided in accordance with the Act.
The Treasury may publish the response to your Official Information Act
(OIA) request. When you are provided with a response to this request, you
will be informed about whether the response to your OIA request will be
published. If the Treasury does publish the response to your OIA request,
personal information, including your name and contact details, will be
removed. This publication process does not apply to extension letters or
transfers.
Ngā mihi
Sophie
Ministerial Advisory Service | Te Tai Ōhanga The Treasury
[1]treasury.govt.nz | [2]LinkedIn | [3]Youtube
[IN-CONFIDENCE]
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
The information in this email is confidential to the Treasury, intended
only for the addressee(s), and may also be legally privileged. If you are
not an intended addressee:
a. please immediately delete this email and notify the Treasury by return
email or telephone (64 4 472 2733);
b. any use, dissemination or copying of this email is strictly prohibited
and may be unlawful.
From: OIA <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 10 April 2026 2:41 pm
To: John Armstrong <[FOI #34233 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - The total legal costs incurred
by Crown Law in relation to proceedings: CIV-2024-404-845 – Whittome v
Director-General of Health: common bundle
Kia ora John
Please see the attached letter regarding your Official Information Act
request of 25 March 2026.
Kind regards | Ngā mihi nui
Te Tari Ture o te Karauna Crown Law Office
19 Aitken Street | PO Box 2858 | Wellington 6011
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From: Ministerial Services Inbox [TSY]
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Response to your OIA to Treasury OIA 20260264.pdf
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Kia ora John,
Please find attached a reply to your OIA request. Please note that this
response has been signed out via an electronic process, rather than a
physical signature.
Ngā mihi
Sophie
Ministerial Advisory Service | Te Tai Ōhanga The Treasury
[1]treasury.govt.nz | [2]LinkedIn | [3]Youtube
[IN-CONFIDENCE]
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
The information in this email is confidential to the Treasury, intended
only for the addressee(s), and may also be legally privileged. If you are
not an intended addressee:
a. please immediately delete this email and notify the Treasury by return
email or telephone (64 4 472 2733);
b. any use, dissemination or copying of this email is strictly prohibited
and may be unlawful.
References
Visible links
1. https://treasury.govt.nz/
2. https://www.linkedin.com/company/576138/
3. https://www.youtube.com/@nztreasury/vide...
From: OIA
Crown Law Office
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OIA 2526165 Response to John Armstrong DOCS 10146435.3.pdf
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Kia ora John
Please see attached for the response to your Official Information Act
request of 25 March 2026.
Ngā mihi nui | Kind regards
Te Tari Ture o te Karauna Crown Law Office
19 Aitken Street | PO Box 2858 | Wellington 6011
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From: OIA Requests
Kia ora,
Please find attached the response for your request for official
information.
Ngā mihi,
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora
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