8 May 2026
File Ref: OIAPR-1274023063-49714
Miss M Quicken
By email:
[FYI request #34446 email]
Tēnā koe Miss Quicken
Request for information 2026-162
I refer to your request for information dated 9 April 2026, which was received by Greater
Wellington Regional Council (Greater Wellington) on 9 April 2026. You have requested the
following:
“Dear Wellington Regional Council,
https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gomedia.co.nz
%2Fnews%2Fmetlink-continues-go-medias-advertising-
contract&data=05%7C02%7Cinfo%40gw.govt.nz%7C51cfae2591f94223589f08de95e88ec9
%7Ccdb5885ea63644b994da82930c096dd6%7C0%7C0%7C639113023256343246%7CUnk
nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4
zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=K72MlZ29G8PPZ9S%
2Fibh8MR37E4Hou0mnAm1rZrZpHc4%3D&reserved=0
https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gets.govt.nz%2
FGWRC%2FExternalTenderDetails.htm%3Fid%3D27429219&data=05%7C02%7Cinfo%40gw
.govt.nz%7C51cfae2591f94223589f08de95e88ec9%7Ccdb5885ea63644b994da82930c096d
d6%7C0%7C0%7C639113023256377334%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hc
GkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D
%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=a77%2FTviaLpKoPASJUSDn0hv6DU%2FFAacuGHqmk38Alls%3
D&reserved=0
Reading the latest tender around advertising services, it says:
If all rights of renewal exercised (3+2+2), the contract award will generate a minimum $14m
revenue for Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Meanwhile the FY2425 revenue was 2.5M for the GRWC aligning to this figure.
Wellington office
Upper Hutt
Masterton office
0800 496 734
PO Box 11646
PO Box 40847
PO Box 41
www.gw.govt.nz
Manners St, Wel ington
1056 Fergusson Drive
Masterton 5840
[Wellington Regional Council request email]
6142
However I'm left wondering whether the council outsourced in a way that didn't take into
account what central government is doing with private share where the council needs to
increase the revenue.
I would like to understand this contractual arrangement which effectively has provided a
monopoly to a single provider with tiny amount of revenue to the council with no room for any
competition to do it better.
I am also left wondering why business functions are making such decisions monopolizing
functions to raise revenues to commercial providers without councilor / democracy oversight.
Please provide:
A) Current contract with Go Media
B) KPIs with Go Media
C) Performance report from last FY
And relating to democracy engagement, granting an effective monopoly to outside
commercial entity
D) Public consultancy process that was followed
E) Selection criteria for the advertising provider that was followed
F) The document that was provided to councilors to make a decision on this outsourcing
scheme
G) Objections raised by the councilors against the outsourcing scheme
H) Objections raised by the public against the outsourcing scheme
Additionally around:
> Go Media’s support for the community helped it win the contract, Gain added.
Please provide the I) Benchmark document on Go Media how they won the contract.
Quoting:
“What appeals to us is how Go Media contributes to sports, arts, and charities; they
understand what it means to be part of the community. Together, we will also use our media
assets to inspire, promote, and build awareness of what makes the Wellington region a great
place to live.”
I would like to understand the process you undertook to analyze & decide on that.”
Page 2 of 6
Greater Wellington’s response follows:
Your request has been assessed under the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 (the Act).
Context
Metlink’s approach to advertising is guided by the Metlink Advertising Policy, which was last
reviewed and amended by the Transport Committee on 30 November 2023. The policy sets
out the principles, criteria, and exclusions that govern all advertising on Metlink-controlled
assets, including buses, trains, and digital kiosks. The review was prompted by the
re-tendering of the Metlink media contract and by a Council request to ensure the policy did
not unduly constrain opportunities for non-fare revenue growth. As noted in the policy report
(found on our Greater Wellington website here- see report 23.567 in the order paper:
https://www.gw.govt.nz/your-region/events-and-meetings/transport-committee-29/),
advertising revenue has grown from $818,000 in 2020/21 to $2 million in 2023/24, reflecting
the effectiveness of the policy framework in supporting responsible commercial activity.
The policy also recognises the broader social and community outcomes delivered through
Metlink’s media partner. For example, the “Good Impressions” programme enables
advertisers to donate advertising impressions to community organisations, including
environmental and kaupapa Māori groups. The policy report notes that these initiatives “give
advertisers the opportunity to build up free advertising slots… for one of their ‘Good
Impressions Partner Organisations’,” supporting wellbeing, environmental, and social
outcomes across the region.
The amended policy also clarifies the treatment of specific advertising categories, including
occasional food and beverage products and products considered harmful to the environment.
These changes ensure alignment with Advertising Standards Authority requirements and
Metlink’s brand values, while enabling modest revenue growth—estimated at $20,000 per
annum initially, increasing to $70,000 per annum over the 7-year contract term.
Overall, the Advertising Policy provides the framework within which Metlink’s advertising
contract operates, ensuring that commercial arrangements such as the contract with Go
Media are consistent with Council values, regulatory requirements, and the objective of
supporting the affordability of public transport.
A.
Current contract with Go Media
Please refer to
attachment 1 which contains a copy of the executed agreement with Go
Media.
Page 3 of 6
You will note that we have elected to withhold certain information in the contract in
accordance with the Section 7 of the Act on the following grounds:
- 7(2)(a) in order to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased
natural persons.
- 7(2)(b)(i ) in that the release of the information would be likely unreasonably to
prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of
the information.
We have withheld commercial information that we believe would unreasonably prejudice the
commercial position of Go Media. This is because the contract contains commercially
sensitive information relating to Go Media and its business operations.
When we withhold information under these sections, we are required to consider the public
interest in this information. We have considered this and do not believe that the interest in the
information outweighs our decision to withhold the information.
Where redactions are made on the document, the grounds for the redaction is included on the
attachment.
B.
KPIs with Go Media
KPIs are contained within the executed agreement with Go Media (
attachment 1).
These are sitting at the Appendix from pages 68-70. For the revenue figures related to KPIs,
these are mentioned in the Schedule 1 business plan and budget, however, are redacted as
noted above.
C.
Performance report from last FY
The reports contain commercially sensitive information supplied by, or relating to, Go Media
and its business operations. This includes information such as client-related material,
industry data, competitor-related information, and other material concerning Go Media’s
commercial position. We are therefore also withholding this information under Section
7(2)(b)(ii) of the Act. Again, we have considered the public interest in the release of this
information, and we do not believe the public interest outweighs our decision to withhold.
Page 4 of 6
D.
Public consultation process that was followed
No public consultation process was undertaken in relation to the procurement of this
contract. The appointment of an advertising services provider was an operational
procurement process, rather than a matter that required public consultation.
E.
Selection criteria for the advertising provider that was followed
The Request for Proposal (RFP) was openly advertised on the New Zealand Government
Electronic Tenders Service (GETS). Refer to
attachment 2 for a copy of the GETS tender notice
which includes the evaluation criteria.
F.
The document that was provided to councillors to make a decision on this
outsourcing scheme
This matter did not go to Council for their decision. Refer to
attachment 3 which contains a
memo that was provided to the Chief Executive for approval.
G.
Objections raised by councillors against the outsourcing scheme
This matter did not go to Council for their decision. No objections were raised by councillors
that we are aware of.
H.
Objections raised by the public against the outsourcing scheme
No public consultation was undertaken on the matter. We are not aware of any objections
raised by the public. Therefore, this part of your request is refused under section 17(e) of the
Act in that the document alleged to contain the information requested does not exist or,
despite reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found. When refusing under this section we
are required to consider consulting the requester. We have considered this and do not believe
that consulting with you would change our response to this part of your request.
I.
“Benchmark document” on how Go Media won the contract
The evaluation of proposals formed part of the procurement process, and the relevant
procurement and evaluation material we hold is attached (
attachment 2 as noted above).
If you have any concerns with the decision(s) referred to in this letter, you have the right to
request an investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 27(3) of the Act.
Page 5 of 6
Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official information
requests where appropriate. Our response to your request will be published shortly on Greater
Wellington’s website with your personal information removed.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Samantha Gain
Kaiwhakahaere Matua Waka-ā-atea | Group Manager Metlink
Page 6 of 6
