5 March 2024
Adam M
[FYI request #25686 email]
Ref: OIA-2023/24-0523
Tēnā koe Adam M
Official Information Act request relating to Nicola Grigg’s Ministerial portfolios
during her maternity leave
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on 9 February
2024. You requested:
“1. is the Women’s portfolio in hibernation during the Minister’s leave? As
suggested by her staff taking acting roles in other portfolios during her leave
period.
2. Please provide all communications, including minutes from meetings, where
the portfolio/s of Nicola are discussed for the period during her leave.
Including suggestions it slows down during this period. This includes staff
communications about their acting positions or secondments elsewhere during
her leave, or their “workload” etc during the period.
3. how many Women’s portfolio/Nicola Grigg staff are taking acting roles in
other portfolios during the leave period?
4. is the portfolio looked after by another minister during this period? If so, are
Nicola’s staff seconded to that acting minister during this period.”
For clarity, I have numbered the parts of your request from 1 to 4 as above. I refer to the
letters dated 21 February 2024 and 4 March 2024 from the Department of the Prime
Minister and Cabinet (DPMC). Those letters advised that part 2 of your request was
transferred to the Prime Minister, and parts 3 and 4 (in part) of your request were
transferred to the Department of Internal Affairs. Parts 1 and 4 (in part) of your request
remain with DPMC, and our response is set out below.
The Cabinet Office holds one document in scope of parts 1 and 4 of your request. I have
decided to release the document in full. The document states that Hon Louise Upston
wil be Acting Minister for Women during Minister Grigg’s period of absence from 18
December 2023 to 30 April 2024 (inclusive).
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
4852435
CABINET OFFICE, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON 6011, NEW ZEALAND
Telephone: +64 (4) 830 5010. Email: [email address]
www.dpmc.govt.nz
We do not intend to publish this response on DPMC’s website.
Nāku noa, nā
Rachel Hayward
Secretary of the Cabinet
