13 February 2023
John Luke
[FYI request #21640 email]
Kia orana John
RESPONSE TO AN OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT REQUEST
On 26 January 2023, you contacted the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (the Ministry) requesting
under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), information relating to nominations for New Zealand
Royal Honours. I have outlined your specific requests and my responses to each below.
1. How do you select the candidate to nominate or endorse for Royal Honours?
The Ministry’s Nominations and Governance unit requests candidates from our Regional
Partnerships unit. This process involves the compilation of potential profiles on individuals who
have made a significant impact in their communities (local, regional, national, international) for at
least 10 to 20 years. Al nominations including short profiles are provided to the Minister for Pacific
Peoples (the Minister) for consideration.
2. What is the process behind the selection?
The process for both New Zealand Honours lists commences a year before successful nominees
are announced. The Ministry’s process for the New Year’s Honours commences in January to be
completed by June. The King’s Birthday Honours process commences in June to be completed
by December. The Ministry’s process has two phases as outlined below. Also attached for your
information is an Honours Nominations Process Workflow. The
New Zealand Honours lists are
issued on the occasion of the New Year (30/31 December) and the New Zealand observance of
the King’s Birthday (first Monday in June).
Phase 1
• Call for nominations
• Profiles prepared of all potential nominees
• Profiles briefing to the Minister’s office
• Names confirmed by the Minister
Wel ington (National Office)
Auckland
Christchurch
Level 1, ASB House
9 Ronwood Ave, Manukau
Level 1, BNZ Centre
101-103 The Terrace
PO Box 97005
120 Hereford St
PO Box 833, Wel ington 6140
South Auckland Mail Centre 2240
Private Bag 4741
Ph: 04 473 4493
Ph: 09 265 3200
Christchurch 8011
Fax: 04 473 4301
Fax: 09 265 3202
Fax: 03 353 9499
Phase 2
• Commencement of the preparation and completion of the Nomination Forms and sourcing
support letters
• Briefing with Nominations Forms and support letters to the Minister’s office
3. Do you have a nomination panel?
No.
4. Provide any internal policy, memo regarding this matter.
The Minister for Pacific Peoples is the lead nominator.
5. When you have made nominations, what sort of things do you do, a support letter or are you
the lead nominator?
On behalf of the Minister, the Ministry prepares and completes a nomination form for each
nominee, and sources the support letters from key contacts of communities and organisations of
which the nominee is part of.
A minimum of two support letters are required.
In line with standard OIA practice, the Ministry proactively publishes some of its responses to OIA
requests. As such, this letter may be published on the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ website. Your
personal details wil be removed, and the Ministry wil not publish any information that would
identify you or your organisation.
Should you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact the Ministry at:
[email address].
If you are dissatisfied with this response, you have the right, under section 28(3) of the OIA, to
seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint
is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Meitaki ma’ata
Mauailegalu Mathew So’otaga
Director
Ministerial Services
