Hello Alex

The Minister for Social Development, Hon Paula Bennett, has asked me to thank you for your email of 20 June.

Unfortunately, we do not have any record of your email of 13 May 2013 requesting information under the Official Information Act.

Could you please resend your original email?

Kind regards,

Fau Logo

Private Secretary, Office of Hon Paula Bennett
Minister for Social Development | Associate Minister of Housing
Executive Wing 5.5, Parliament Buildings| Private Bag 18041 | Wellington 6160
Telephone: +64 4 817 6815 | Fax: +64 4 817 6515 | Email: [email address]

-----Original Message-----
From: Alex Harris [mailto:[OIA #868 email]]
Sent: Thursday, 20 June 2013 12:57 p.m.
To: P Bennett (MIN)
Subject: Re: Official Information Act request - Communications on Christine Rankin and Conservative Party Activity

Dear Minister of Social Development,

On May 13 2013 I submitted an OIA request for information about
communications around then-Families Commissioner Christine Rankin's
membership of the Conservative Party. The statutory 20 day period
has expired, and I have not received an acknowledgement, let alone
a response. Will you be replying soon, or do I need to go to the
Ombudsman?

Yours faithfully,

Alex Harris

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________________________________

hide quoted sections

Hello Alex

 

The Minister for Social Development, Hon Paula Bennett, has asked me to
thank you for your email of 21 June 2013 requesting, under the Official
Information Act 1982, the following:

 

" any communications or advice on the compatibility of Rankin's political
activities with her role as a state servant. In particular I am interested
in whether Rankin informed the Minister of her intention to take up these
positions, and any advice the Minister gave her or SSC about managing the
conflict of interest."

 

Consideration is currently being given to your request and you can expect
a reply at the Minister's earliest opportunity.

 

Kind regards

 

Fau Logo

 

Private Secretary, Office of Hon Paula Bennett

Minister for Social Development | Associate Minister of Housing

Executive Wing 5.5, Parliament Buildings| Private Bag 18041 | Wellington
6160

Telephone: +64 4 817 6815 | Fax: +64 4 817 6515 | Email:
[1][email address]

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Alex Harris [mailto:[OIA #868 email]]
Sent: Friday, 21 June 2013 10:06 a.m.
To: P Bennett (MIN)
Subject: Official Information Act request - Communications on Christine
Rankin and Conservative Party Activity

 

     Dear Minister of Social Development,

    

     On 10 May 2013 it was reported that Families Commissioner Christine

     Rankin had been appointed CEO of the Conservative Party

     ("Conservative Party's New CEO Christine Rankin", 10

     May 2013). The press release also revealed that Rankin has been a

     member of the Conservative party board since July 2012. Such a

     position seems to pose a conflict of interest between Rankin's

     political activities and her role as a state servant. I would like

     to request the following information under the OIA:

    

     * any communications or advice on the compatibility of Rankin's

     political activities with her role as a state servant. In

     particular I am interested in whether Rankin informed the Minister

     of her intention to take up these positions, and any advice the

     Minister gave her or SSC about managing the conflict of interest.

    

     A parallel request has been filed with the State Services

     Commission to get their end of the story.

    

     I would prefer to receive an electronic response. Queries about

     this request will be automatically forwarded to me by the

     fyi.org.nz website.

    

     With regards to s12 of the OIA, I am an NZ citizen and in NZ.

    

     Yours faithfully,

    

     Alex Harris

    

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

    

     This is an OIA request done via the FYI website.

    

     Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be

     published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

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

    

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     web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA page.

    

     

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hide quoted sections

Dear Alex,

We apologise for the delay in responding to your Official Information Act request for information relating to communications about Christine Rankin's relationship with the Conservative Party while a member of Families Commission.

Your request for information is still being processed and will be sent to you as soon as it is approved for release.

Again, we apologise for any inconvenience to you.

Kind Regards,
Fau

-----Original Message-----
From: Alex Harris [mailto:[OIA #868 email]]
Sent: Tuesday, 23 July 2013 11:26 a.m.
To: Fau Logo
Subject: RE: Official Information Act request - Communications on Christine Rankin and Conservative Party Activity

Dear Fau Logo,

According to the Ombudsman's online calculator, a response to my
OIA request for communications about Christine Rankin's
relationship with the conservative party while she was a member of
the Families Commission was due on 19 July. No response has been
received yet. Will I be receiving one soon, or do I need to contact
the Ombudsman?

Yours sincerely,

Alex Harris

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

Hello Alex

The Minister for Social Development, Hon Paula Bennett, has asked
me to
thank you for your email of 21 June 2013 requesting, under the
Official
Information Act 1982, the following:

" any communications or advice on the compatibility of Rankin's
political
activities with her role as a state servant. In particular I am
interested
in whether Rankin informed the Minister of her intention to take
up these
positions, and any advice the Minister gave her or SSC about
managing the
conflict of interest."

Consideration is currently being given to your request and you can
expect
a reply at the Minister's earliest opportunity.

Kind regards

Fau Logo

Private Secretary, Office of Hon Paula Bennett

Minister for Social Development | Associate Minister of Housing

Executive Wing 5.5, Parliament Buildings| Private Bag 18041 |
Wellington
6160

Telephone: +64 4 817 6815 | Fax: +64 4 817 6515 | Email:
[1][email address]

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[OIA #868 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an OIA officer, please ask your
web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA page.

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

________________________________

hide quoted sections

Hello Alex

 

Please find attached a response to your OIA request of 21 June 2013 from
the Hon Paula Bennett.

 

Kind regards

 

Fau Logo

 

Private Secretary, Office of Hon Paula Bennett

Minister for Social Development | Associate Minister of Housing

Executive Wing 5.5, Parliament Buildings| Private Bag 18041 | Wellington
6160

Telephone: +64 4 817 6815 | Fax: +64 4 817 6515 | Email:
[1][email address]

 

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