45 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wel ington 6011
PO Box 805, Wel ington 6140
Phone +64 4 495 7200
Email
: [email address]
16 June 2026
Website
www.dia.govt.nz
Alan Riley
[FYI request #34606 email]
Tēnā koe Alan,
Your Official Information Act 1982 request OIA2526-1155
Thank you for your email of 4 May 2026 to the Department of Internal Affairs, requesting
the following information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
•
Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following information relating
to recent decisions by Brooke van Velden regarding the structure of Lottery
Distribution Committees:
•
A copy of the Minister’s final decision approving changes to the Lottery Distribution
Committees, including any decision papers, briefings, or reports provided to the
Minister.
•
All advice, analysis, or recommendations provided by officials that informed this
decision, including options considered.
•
Any Cabinet papers, Cabinet minutes, or briefings relating to this matter.
•
Any implementation plans, transition documents, or communications plans relating to
the move to fewer Committees.
•
Any correspondence (including emails, letters, and aide-mémoires) between the
Minister and officials relating to this decision, from 1 January 2026 to the date of this
request.
Extension of time
You were notified on 27 May 2026 that under section 15A(1)(b) of the Act, the timeframe to
respond to your request had been extended by 10 working days from 2 June 2026 to 16 June
2026. This is because the consultations necessary to make a decision on your request were
such that a proper response to the request could not reasonably be made within the original
time limit.
Background Information
The Gambling Act 2003 provides for profits from Lotto NZ games to be al ocated to benefit
communities.
The New Zealand Lottery Grants Board Te Puna Tahua (the Board) determines the strategic
direction, policies and outcomes of the lottery grants system. The Board al ocates profits to
its lottery distribution committees. Distribution committees distribute grants for community
purposes.
In April 2026, DIA announced changes to the structure of lottery distribution committees
effective from 1 July 2026.
These changes fol ow on from the
Kia Tipu, He Tipua programme. Kia Tipu, He Tipua
reviewed the system and the Board approved the evolution of the system to one that learns
and is more strategic and data driven. Some changes began being phased in 2023. This next
phase wil continue to update the system with a new structure of lottery distribution
committees.
You can find more information about the recent changes here
: Changes to Lottery Grants
Board committee structure » Community Matters
Response to your request
I have attached al documents in scope of your request as Appendix One. Please note, some
information has been withheld under relevant sections of the Act, and some information has
been withheld as it is out of scope of your request. This detail is included in Table One.
As is required by section 9(1) of the Act, I have considered whether the grounds for
withholding information under section 9(2) are outweighed by other considerations. In this
instance, I do not consider that to be the case.
We may publish this OIA response o
n www.dia.govt.nz (with your personal details having
been removed). Publishing responses to OIA requests increases the availability of
information to the public and is consistent with the purpose of the Act to enable effective
participation in the making and administration of laws and policies, and to promote the
accountability of Ministers and officials.
If you have any concerns with the information in this response, you have a right to request
an investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the Act. Information
on how to do this is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.
Nāku noa, nā
Aiolupotea Sina Aiono
General Manager Community Operations
Partnerships and Commissions - Te Aukaha
Department of Internal Affairs - Te Tari Taiwhenua
Table One
Item Title
Code
Type
Date
Information
Withheld
1
Te Puna Tahua
Meeting
10 April 2025
Section
Lottery Grants Board
papers
9(2)(a)
meeting pack 10 April
2025, item 5
Some
information
out of scope
2
Te Puna Tahua
Meeting
2 May 2024
Section
Lottery Grants Board
papers
9(2)(a)
2 May 2024 papers
Some
information
out of scope
3
Te Puna Tahua
Meeting
2 May 2024
Section
Lottery Grants Board
minutes
9(2)(a)
GB 2 May 2024
meeting minutes
Some
final, item 6
information
out of scope
4
Te Puna Tahua
IA20245049
Aide
21 November
Section
Lottery Grants Board
Memoire
2024
9(2)(a)
distribution
committee model
5
Lottery Grants Boards IA20259393
Briefing
9 October 2025 Sections
distribution
9(2)(a),
committee structure
9(2)(g)(i)
6
Email from Margot
Email
25 November
Section
Dow MO to Gina
2025
9(2)(a)
Smith DIA
Some
information
out of scope
Item Title
Code
Type
Date
Information
Withheld
7
Proposed new
IA202510063
Briefing
27 November
Section
Lottery Grants Board
2025
9(2)(a)
distribution
committee structure
8
Next steps for
IA202611481
Briefing
30 March 2026 Sections 9 (2)
changes to the
(a)
lottery grants system
9(2)(f)(iv)
9(2)(g)(i)
9 Meeting to discuss
IA202610864,
Briefing
12 February
Sections
community funding
CVS202611058
2026
with a focus on the
9(2)(a)
Lottery
9(2(ba)(i)
Grants Board and the
Community
9(2)(ba)(ii)
Organisation Grants
Scheme
9(2)(f)(iv)
9(2)(g)(i)
9(2)(j)
Some
information
out of scope
10 Email from Jayne
Email
18 February
Section
Beggs DIA to Margot
2026
9(2)(a)
Dow MO
11 Additional papers for IA202611934
Briefing
22 April 2026
Section
the Lottery
9(2)(a)
Distribution
Committees changes
12 Lottery Distribution
IA202611891
Briefing
22 April 2026
Section
Committees: 2026
9(2)(a)
Appointment Round
– Commencement
Briefing
Item Title
Code
Type
Date
Information
Withheld
13 Preparation for the
IA202611644
Aide
24 March 2026 Sections
Lottery Grants Board
Memoire
9(2)(a),
Meeting 29 April
9(2)(f)(iv)
2026
Some
information
out of scope
14 Lottery Grants Board
Meeting
28 January
Some
Te Puna Tahua
papers
2026
information
meeting pack 28
out of scope
January 2026 – item 3
only
15 Presiding Member
Supporting
28 January
Some
talking points -
information
2026
information
Lottery Grants Board
for meeting
out of scope
January 28 2026
16 Lottery Grants Board
Meeting
29 April 2026
Some
Te Puna Tahua
papers
information
meeting pack 29 April
out of scope
2026 – item 3 only
