Te Tari Taiwhenua
Internal Affairs
26 March 2024
Ministerial Services
45 Pipitea St, Thorndon
PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Phone +64 4 495 7200
Website: www.dia.govt.nz
Adam M
fyi-reg uest-2568658a254 7 S@reg ue sts. fyi .org. nz
Dear Adam
Request for information (OIA2324-0692)
Thank you for your request for information on 9 February 2024 made to the Department of the Prime
Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) made under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). You requested
the following information:
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."
On 4 March 2024 you were informed that part of your request had been transferred to the Department
of Internal Affairs (the Department) for response. Specifically, parts 3 and 4 have been accepted by the
Department for response. However, DPMC will also respond to part 4 in respect to the information
they hold.
Response to your request
For context there are three types of staff who work in Minister's offices:
• Department-employed staff assigned to work in a Minister's office;
• Roving staff, also employed by the Department, although not assigned to a Minister's office.
These staff are deployed across Ministerial offices in a range of roles to provide cover for
offices in situations of planned and unplanned leave and surge support; and
• Portfolio Private Secretaries who are seconded to Ministers' offices by government agencies
(also known as home agencies) to assist with the management of Ministers' portfolio
responsibilities. Portfolio Private Secretaries are employed by the respective government
agency.
The Department's Ministerial Services Group is responsible for employing all Ministerial office staff
(except Portfolio Private Secretaries). I have interpreted staff to refer to Department-employed staff
who are assigned to work in a Minister's office and roving staff.
3. how many Women's portfolio/Nicola Grigg staff are taking acting roles in other portfolios during
the leave period?
No staff that are employed to work in the Office of Hon Nicola Griggs have been appointed acting
roles in other portfolios during Hon Griggs period of parental leave.
One staff member was temporarily placed in Hon Simon Watt's office from 15 February 2024 to 8
March 2024 to provide support until a permanent employee was appointed. During this time, they
continued to look after correspondence relating to Hon Griggs office.
4. is the portfolio looked after by another minister during this period? /[so, are Nicola's staff seconded
to that acting minister during this period.''
Hon Louise Upston is the caretaker Minister for the Women's portfolio during the period of Hon
Griggs parental leave. I can confirm no staff from Hon Griggs office have been seconded to Hon
Upston's office. However, the Portfolio Private Secretary assigned to the Women's portfolio
continues to support Hon Upston during the caretaker period.
We may publish this OIA response on www.dia.govt.nz (with your personal details having been
removed). Publishing responses to OIA requests increases the availability of information to the public
and is consistent with the purpose of the Act to enable effective participation in the making and
administration of laws and policies, and to promote the accountability of Ministers and officials.
If you have any concerns with the information in this response, you have a right to request an
investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the Act. Information on how to do
this is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or free phone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Briget Ridden
General Manager- Ministerial Services
Te Haumi - Enterprise Partnerships
Te Tari Taiwhenua - The Department of Internal Affairs
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