Ref: OIA 080
James Webb
[FYI request #27354 email]
Dear James,
Thank you for your request received by my office on 24 June 2024 requesting under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
a copy of all correspondence the Minister have received from Government Ministries
and agencies on minimum wage settings. This should include all formal advice, and
briefings/updates that do not require the minister to take action, or where no action is
recommended by the drafter.
Ten documents have been identified as in scope of your request. Two of the documents in
scope are publicly available and are therefore withheld under section 18(d) of the Act. They
can be accessed at the following links:
•
Cabinet paper – Minimum Wage Review: Setting the 2024 Rates:
https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/28018-minimum-wage-review-setting-the-
2024-rates-proactiverelease-pdf
•
Minimum Wage Review 2023: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/28014-
minimum-wage-review-2023-proactiverelease-pdf
I am releasing the remaining eight documents to you, subject to some redactions. These
documents, and the decisions as to their release, are outlined in the attached table.
Please note that some information has been withheld from these documents under the
following sections of the Act:
• 9(2)(a) to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural
persons;
• 9(2)(g)(i) to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank
expression of opinions; and
• 9(2)(h) to maintain legal professional privilege.
I am satisfied that the withholding of this information is not outweighed by other
considerations that render it desirable to make the information available in the public
interest.
Some items have not been provided because they substantially duplicate a publicly available
document or another document released to you as part of this request. This is noted in the
table. Draft versions of the publicly available documents have been excluded, based on our
interpretation of your request.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
or freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely,
Hon Brooke van Velden
Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety
#
Date
Description/Title
Withholding grounds
1
30/11/2023 Email: “Briefing 2324-0956 titled Minimum Wage
Released in full
Review 2023 – Setting the 2024 rates”
Email attachment: Briefing 2324-0956, “Minimum
Some information
Wage Review 2023 – Setting the 2024 rates”
withheld under s 9(2)(a)
Email attachment: Draft Minimum Wage Review 2023 Not provided. This draft
document substantially
duplicates the version of
the Review that is
already publicly
available (see link
above). Minor changes
were made to wording,
but no substantive
changes were made to
the advice on the
recommended rates
between this draft and
the final version.
2
15/12/2023 Email: “Talking points on MWR Dec 2023”
Released in full
Email attachment: “Talking points on MWR Dec
Released in full
2023”
3
18/12/2023 Email: “MW Chart.”
Released in full
4
12/01/2024 Email: “Minimum Wage – Timing"
Some information
withheld under s
9(2)(g)(i)
5
17/01/2024 Email: “Briefing 2324-1131 titled ‘Draft Cabinet Paper Released in full
– Minimum Wage Review – Setting the 2024 rates’”
Email attachment: “Briefing 2324-113: Draft Cabinet
Some information
Paper – Minimum Wage Review – Setting the 2024
withheld under s 9(2)(a)
rates”
Email attachment: “Draft Cabinet Paper – Minimum
Released in full
Wage Review – Setting the 2024 rates”
6
18/01/2024 Email: “RE: Info request: MW rates based on 5/10
Released in full
year rolling CPI”
7
23/01/2024 Email: “Talking points for CBC – Minimum Wage”
Released in full
Email attachment: “Talking points for 25 January
Some information
2024 CBC meeting for Hon van Velden: Minimum
withheld under:
Wage Review – Setting the 2024 rates”
• s 9(2)(g)(i)
• s 9(2)(h)
8
01/02/2024 Email: “Tax brackets & min wage”
Released in full
