Dear Ministry of Social Development,

I refer to a response to a PIR requested by myself dated 19.11.21 regarding a hardship payment, in which MSD responded:

"On 25 May 2021, the Ministry approved a hardship grant of $XXX to pay a telephone account bill. However, when processing the payment, the case manager used the wrong supplier code. Rather than sending the payment to Spark's main processing centre, the payment went to the Spark's main processing centre, the payment went to to the Spark store in Ponsonby instead. The error is likely why Spark did not process the payment until 15th June 2021".

On the 21 August 2023, MSD advised the below response to a PIR:

"We have received your request for information about the advance that was approved
and issued to Spark. Payment of $XXX was issued overnight on 25/05/21 to Spark Ponsonby - Top Up /Bill Pay Quote reference (account number).
This payment has not been returned to the Ministry".

Under section 23 of the OIA act please release all notes, correspondence and documentation relating to these conflicting responses.

Yours faithfully,

Amanda Murtagh

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

Can you please acknowledge my OIA request.

Yours faithfully,

Amanda Murtagh

Dear PrivacyOfficer (MSD),

[email address]

Yours sincerely,

Amanda Murtagh

Dear PrivacyOfficer (MSD),

The MSD sent a reply to my request dated 07.09.23 under the Privacy Act 2020 . The response does not answer my question to the below conflicting explanations.

"On 25 May 2021, the Ministry approved a hardship grant of $XXX to pay a telephone account bill. However, when processing the payment, the case manager used the wrong supplier code. Rather than sending the payment to Spark's main processing centre, the payment went to the Spark's main processing centre, the payment went to to the Spark store in Ponsonby instead. The error is likely why Spark did not process the payment until 15th June 2021".

On the 21 August 2023 and 7th September 2023, MSD advised the below response to a PIR:

"We have received your request for information about the advance that was approved
and issued to Spark. Payment of $XXX was issued overnight on 25/05/21 to Spark Ponsonby - Top Up /Bill Pay Quote reference (account number).
This payment has not been returned to the Ministry".

As my question has not been answered under the Privacy Act 2020, can the MSD please provide a response under the Official Information Act.

Under section 23 of the OIA act please release all notes, correspondence and documentation relating to these conflicting responses.

Yours sincerely,

Amanda Murtagh

Dear Privacy Officer (MSD),

By law, the authority should normally have responded promptly and by 18 September 2023.

Yours sincerely,

Amanda Murtagh