Policies surrounding transgender clients at MSD
Scout Barbour-Evans made this Official Information request to Ministry of Social Development
Ministry of Social Development did not have the information requested.
From: Scout Barbour-Evans
Dear Ministry of Social Development,
I reside in New Zealand and am making this Official Information Act request in accordance with s12(1) of the Official Information Act.
I would like to see a copy of the document outlining the Ministry of Social Development's policies on how transgender clients are treated and processed.
I would also like to know, if possible, how often MSD staff are informed of these policies, and whether they are a standard component of regular training sessions.
Yours faithfully,
Scout Barbour-Evans
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
Tēnā koe Scout Barber-Evans
Thank you for your email received 3 February 2016. Your request has been forwarded to the Correspondence Team at National office to respond. You may expect a response to be sent to you as soon as possible.
Nā mātou noa, nā
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to help themselves to be safe, strong and independent
Ko ta mātou he whakamana tangata kia tū haumaru, kia tū kaha, kia tū motuhake
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From: Scout Barbour-Evans
Kia ora OIA_Requests (MSD),
I would like to remind you that you now have a week from today to return to me with the requested documents. This means you have until the 3rd of March 2016.
Yours sincerely,
Scout Barbour-Evans
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
Scout Barbour-Evans
[OIA #3596 email]
Tçnâ koe Ms Barbour-Evans
Thank you for your email of 3 February 2016 requesting a copy of the document outlining the Ministry of Social Development's policies on the treatment of transgender clients.
Work and Income National Office is gathering the information you have asked for, and unfortunately, this is taking longer than expected. We would like to assure you that we are working on this matter and the Chief Executive’s office will write to you as soon as possible.
We apologise for the delay.
Nâ mâtou noa, nâ
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to help themselves to be safe, strong and independent
Ko ta mâtou he whakamana tangata kia tû haumaru, kia tû kaha, kia tû motuhake
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From: Pia Wihapi
Ministry of Social Development
Dear Ms Barbour-Evans
Attached is the reply to your email of 3 February 2016.
Yours sincerely
Pia Wihapi
Advisor
Ministerial and Executive Services (Correspondence)
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From: Scout Barbour-Evans
Kia ora Pia Wihapi,
Thank you for your response. Before I go any further, I would like to make it clear that I am not female and I use the honorific "Mx" (pronounced "mix").
I am very surprised that you say there are no documents outlining fair and reasonable treatment towards transgender people by MSD, as I have heard otherwise by an ex staff member who knows the person who wrote it.
I would like to request that you have another look for the information I have requested.
Yours sincerely,
Scout Barbour-Evans
From: Pia Wihapi
Ministry of Social Development
Dear Mx Barbour-Evans
I apologise for previously addressing you as Ms.
I re-iterate, we do not have such a document, as requested by you, that outlines the Ministry of Social Development's policies on the treatment of transgender clients. However, we will be happy to make inquiries into just what was written if you will provide the name of the person who is said to have written this document, and when this document is purported to have been written.
Yours sincerely
Pia Wihapi
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From: Scout Barbour-Evans
Kia ora Pia Wihapi,
I have decided that I am not comfortable sharing the name of the ex-employee who wrote the document, as I do not want to hinder their ability to work again at MSD if they are able to again, and I would prefer to protect their privacy.
The document was allegedly written in 2008, and should be continuing to be updated since then. From the perspective of someone who works in support and advocacy for transgender people in Aotearoa, it is incredibly disappointing that this document should become lost.
Yours sincerely,
Scout Barbour-Evans
From: Pia Wihapi
Ministry of Social Development
Dear Mx Barbour-Evans
Thank you for your email
Again, I have to tell you that the Ministry is satisfied that there is no such document.
Yours sincerely
Pia Wihapi
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Thomas Roberts left an annotation ()
But if MSD did find the document, they'd know who the author is anyway? You've already said it was the author who told you about it, so I really don't see how it will make a difference either way?
Maybe if you can at least tell them the name of the document and the month it was written?
Link to this