3 July 2023
45 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wellington 6011
PO Box: 805, Wellington
Phone: +64 04 495 7200
Mark MacDonald
Email: [email address]
fyi-request-23010-
dia.govt.nz
[email address]>
Tēnā koe Mark
Your Official Information Act 1982, request reference OIA 2223-0915
I am responding to your email of 5 June 2023, requesting the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
Recommendation 14 of the Belinda Clark review, Independent Review of FENZ’s
Workplace Culture and Complaint Handling Practices (Nov 2022) is titled: "Conduct
complaints are investigated and determined by an independent body".
The review Report states: "DIA should provide advice to the Minister by 28 February
2023 on options for how best to implement this recommendation."
Please provide all information around DIA's response to this Recommendation,
including all information post-28 Feb 2023.
I can confirm that Te Tari Taiwhenua | the Department of Internal Affairs provided advice to
the Minister of Internal Affairs regarding recommendation 14 of the Independent Review of
FENZ’s Workplace Culture and Complaint Handling Practices (November 2022). This advice is
still under active consideration. Therefore, I am refusing your request under sections
9(2)(f)(iv) of the Act, to protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the
Crown and officials.
As is required by section 9(1) of the Act, I have considered whether the grounds for
withholding information are outweighed by other considerations which would make it
desirable, in the public interest, to make that information available. In this instance, I do not
consider that to be the case.
You have the right, under section 28(3) of the Act, to seek a review of my decision by the
Office of the Ombudsman. The postal address of the Office of the Ombudsman is PO Box
10152, Wellington. Alternatively, you can phone 0800 802 602 or email
[email address].
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We intend to publish our response to your request on www.dia.govt.nz. This letter, with
your personal details removed, will be published in its entirety. Publishing responses
increases the availability of information to the public and is consistent with the Act’s
purpose of enabling effective participation in the making and administration of laws and
policies and promoting the accountability of Ministers and officials.
Nāku noa, nā
Jeremy Cauchi
Director Ministerial, Monitoring, and Capability (acting)
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