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

 

[1]A picture containing text Description automatically generated

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: John Armstrong <[FOI #34233 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 25 March 2026 7:53 am
To: OIA <[email address]>
Subject: 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

 

[You don't often get email from
[2][FOI #34233 email]. Learn why this is
important at [3]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

 

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

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[4][FOI #34233 email]

 

Is [5][Crown Law Office request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Crown Law Office? If so, please contact us using this form:

[6]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[7]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

 

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.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Confidentiality Notice: This email may contain information that is
confidential or legally privileged. If you have received it by mistake,
please:
(a) reply promptly to that effect, and remove this email and the reply
from your system; (b) do not act on this email in any other way. Thank
you.

References

Visible links
2. mailto:[FOI #34233 email]
3. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
4. mailto:[FOI #34233 email]
5. mailto:[Crown Law Office request email]
6. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
7. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

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

 

[1]A picture containing text Description automatically generated

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: John Armstrong <[FOI #34233 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 25 March 2026 7:53 am
To: OIA <[email address]>
Subject: 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

 

[You don't often get email from
[2][FOI #34233 email]. Learn why this is
important at [3]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

 

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

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[4][FOI #34233 email]

 

Is [5][Crown Law Office request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Crown Law Office? If so, please contact us using this form:

[6]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[7]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

 

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.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Confidentiality Notice: This email may contain information that is
confidential or legally privileged. If you have received it by mistake,
please:
(a) reply promptly to that effect, and remove this email and the reply
from your system; (b) do not act on this email in any other way. Thank
you.

References

Visible links
2. mailto:[FOI #34233 email]
3. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
4. mailto:[FOI #34233 email]
5. mailto:[Crown Law Office request email]
6. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
7. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

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

 

[1]A picture containing text Description automatically generated

 

-----Original Message-----
From: John Armstrong <[FOI #34233 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 25 March 2026 7:53 am
To: OIA <[email address]>
Subject: 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

 

[You don't often get email from
[2][FOI #34233 email]. Learn why this is
important at [3]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

 

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

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[4][FOI #34233 email]

 

Is [5][Crown Law Office request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Crown Law Office? If so, please contact us using this form:

[6]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[7]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

 

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.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Confidentiality Notice: This email may contain information that is
confidential or legally privileged. If you have received it by mistake,
please:
(a) reply promptly to that effect, and remove this email and the reply
from your system; (b) do not act on this email in any other way. Thank
you.

References

Visible links
2. mailto:[FOI #34233 email]
3. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
4. mailto:[FOI #34233 email]
5. mailto:[Crown Law Office request email]
6. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
7. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

 

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

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
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...

hide quoted sections

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

 

[4]A picture containing text Description automatically generated

 

-----Original Message-----
From: John Armstrong
Sent: Wednesday, 25 March 2026 7:53 am
To: OIA
Subject: 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

 

[You don't often get email from
[5][FOI #34233 email]. Learn why this is
important at [6]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

 

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

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[7][FOI #34233 email]

 

Is [8][Crown Law Office request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Crown Law Office? If so, please contact us using this form:

[9]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[10]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

 

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.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

References

Visible links
1. https://treasury.govt.nz/
2. https://www.linkedin.com/company/576138/
3. https://www.youtube.com/@nztreasury/vide...
5. mailto:[FOI #34233 email]
6. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
7. mailto:[FOI #34233 email]
8. mailto:[Crown Law Office request email]
9. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
10. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

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...

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

 

[1]A picture containing text Description automatically generated

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: John Armstrong <[FOI #34233 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 1 April 2026 5:50 pm
To: OIA <[email address]>
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

 

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

 

-----Original Message-----

 

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

 

 

 

[1]A picture containing text Description automatically generated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[2][FOI #34233 email]

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[3]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

 

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.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Confidentiality Notice: This email may contain information that is
confidential or legally privileged. If you have received it by mistake,
please:
(a) reply promptly to that effect, and remove this email and the reply
from your system; (b) do not act on this email in any other way. Thank
you.

References

Visible links
2. mailto:[FOI #34233 email]
3. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Kia ora,  
 
Please find attached the response for your request for official
information.  
Ngā mihi,

OIA Services Team

Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

hide quoted sections