IN-CONFIDENCE

Tēnā koe

On 3 April 2024 you emailed the Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982, the following information:

- can you please tell me who signed off for Jacinda Ardern's maternity leave.
- Specifically I'd like to know who authorized the magnitude of the payment. I'm given that it was more than any person in New Zealand was legally entitled to receive, can you confirm what the normal entitlement is and what limits there are and what ardern received.
- If she received more than the usual legal entitlement can you please tell me why.
- if she received the entitlement too soon after taking up her job can you please tell me why.
- Can you please confirm the normal limits and requirements for receiving maternit y pay in New Zealand

We have transferred your request to the Department of Internal Affairs as the information to which your request relates is not held by the Ministry but is believed to be held by the Department of Internal Affairs. In these circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the OIA to transfer your request.

Please note that according to sections 14 and 15(1) of the Official Information Act, the 20-working day response period is reset by the transfer and starts again on the day the Department of Internal Affairs receives the transfer notification. The Ministry notified the Department of Internal Affairs of the transfer today.

You will hear further from the Department of Internal Affairs concerning your request in due course.

Nā mātou noa, nā

Official Information Team | Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whānau

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Kia ora

 

Please find attached a response from the Department of Internal Affairs to
your Official Information Act request (our reference 2324-0781).

 

Ngā mihi

 

Ministerial Services

Te Haumi | Enterprise Partnerships

Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs

45 Pipitea Street | PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

[1]www.dia.govt.nz

 

[2]Logo-test

 

 

References

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1. http://www.dia.govt.nz/

Kia ora
Thank you for your follow-up question regarding approval of maternity leave payments for Rt Hon Dame Jacinda Ardern.

As advised previously, Ministers and Members of Parliament are not classified as employees of the Department or of any other government agency. Prime Ministers, Ministers and MPs are not employed by contract; they are appointed by statute and are not subject to the Employment Relations Act 2000 (or standard employment law). Therefore, the Department has not approved nor made any arrangements in relation to maternity leave or payments for the Rt Hon Dame Jacinda Ardern.

As advised previously, the Rt Hon Dame Jacinda Ardern continued to hold the office of Prime Minister during her six-week leave of absence in 2018. She did not receive maternity pay during this time as she was not entitled to it, rather she continued to receive remuneration for the role of Prime Minister in accordance with legislation.

The Department is unable to provide further comment.

Ministerial Services
Te Haumi | Enterprise Partnerships
Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs
45 Pipitea Street | PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
http://www.dia.govt.nz/

show quoted sections