15 March 2024
HUD2024-003849 / HUD2024-003874
Alex Olsen
[FYI request #25803 email]
[email address]
Tēnā koe Alex
Thank you for your email of 20 February 2024 requesting the following information under the Of icial
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
1. What is the budget for all costs associated with the Sir Bil English review of Kāinga Ora?
2. How many ministry staff are working on the review and how many are working on the review
full time?
3. How much has already been spent on the review?
4. How much wil Sir Bil English and each of the other two reviewers be paid for their work and
how wil their pay be calculated, e.g. flat fee, hourly rate, expenses. If an hourly rate is being
paid, how much wil each reviewer be paid per hour?
5. On what date does the Ministry expect to proactively release all cabinet papers and advice
on the Sir Bil English review of Kāinga Ora?
6. If you decide not to release any of this information, why does the Ministry believe there is no
public interest in its release?
The Minister of Housing, Hon Chris Bishop, transferred your request to Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga –
Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (the Ministry) on 23 February 2024 to respond:
7. What was the date of each meeting Sir Bil English had with you regarding the review and for
each meeting what were the names and titles of those who attended?
8. What was the date of each meeting Sir Bil English had with Ministry of Housing and Urban
Development officials regarding the review and for each meeting what were the names and
titles of those who attended?
9. What was the date of each meeting Sir Bil English had with Treasury officials regarding the
review and for each meeting what were the names and titles of those who attended?
10. What was the date of each meeting Sir Bil English had with Kāinga Ora representatives
regarding the review and for each meeting what were the names and titles of those who
attended?
11. What was the date of each meeting Sir Bil English had with others not included above
regarding the review and for each meeting what were the names and titles of those who
attended?
I have responded to both of your requests in this letter as your requests relate to the independent
review into Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities.
In response to questions 5-6, the Ministry believes there is public interest in the information relating
to the independent review into Kāinga Ora. The review wil provide a report to the Government by
the end of March 2024. The Ministry and the Minister of Housing intend to publish all associated
information once the report has been fully considered.
Questions numbered 1, 4 and 7-11 are refused under section 18(d) of the Act, as the information will
soon be made publicly available.
In response to question 2, the review is supported by of 3.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff from the
Ministry and the Treasury.
The review is ongoing, and costs have not yet been finalised. Question 3 is refused under section
18(g)(i) of the Act, because the information is not held by the Ministry, and we have no grounds to
believe that any other agency that would hold it. Once finalised, the information wil be published on
the Parliamentary website as part of the annual Estimates process.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of my response by the Ombudsman, in
accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. The relevant details can be found on the Ombudsman’s
website at:
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
As part of our ongoing commitment to openness and transparency, the Ministry proactively releases
information and documents that may be of interest to the public. As such, this response, with your
personal details removed, may be published on our website.
Nāku noa, nā
Kate Goodman
Head of Government Services
Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
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