6 August 2024
Matthew Woodfield
[FYI request #27562 email]
Ref: OIA-2024/25-0030
Dear Matthew
Official Information Act request relating to cost of promotional/marketing material
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on 10 July 2024.
You requested:
1. I am requesting information regarding both budgeted and the actual spend in
NZD of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet for promotional and
marketing material for years 2022, 2023 and 2024 (to 10/06/2024). This includes
the cost of photographers, editors, social media teams, public relations (PR)
staff, press secretaries etc and anyone else who works toward the goal of
promoting Prime Minister and Cabinet public relations. I am requesting that this
information be split into quarter yearly reports with itemised accounts of what
each general job title has cost (photographer, social media manager, editor etc).
2. I am requesting that it also be included how much has been spent to have these
staff with the PM on each trip abroad for the time periods requested with
itemised accounts of travel expenses including flights, accommodation and any
other cost incurred as a result of these teams travelling with the PM.
You have requested information relating to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
(DPMC). The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is a departmental agency
hosted by DPMC, therefore this response includes NEMA.
On 19 July 2024 you were informed that part of your request for information about press
secretaries and part [2] of your request was transferred to the Department of Internal Affairs
(DIA). DIA will respond to you directly with information they may hold.
DPMC reports on actual spend not on budgeted information. Providing the breakdown as
requested would potentially require us to review every transaction and every invoice to
determine the nature of the spend of photographers, editors, social media teams, public
relations (PR) staff and press secretaries as the information is not held in a format that
enables this to be readily reported.
Taking into account the amount of information that would need to be assessed for relevance
and the resources available to undertake that work, I believe that to answer this part of your
request as currently framed would involve substantial collation and research. Accordingly, I
am declining your request under section 18(f) of the Act, that the information requested
cannot be made available without substantial collation or research. In reaching this decision,
I first considered the factors contained in sections 18A(1) and 18B of the Act. However, I did
not consider that taking any of these steps of charging you for the information, extending the
time limits or consulting further with you, would allow the request to be answered.
4935806
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz
The links below have information that relate to advertising and public relation costs which will
be of use to you:
Questions 56 – 59 of the Vote Prime Minister and Cabinet 2024/25 Estimates Examination.
DPMC Responses to the Pre-hearing Questions 1 – 113
Questions 50 – 52 of the 2022/23 Annual Review Responses to the pre-hearing questions.
2022/23 Annual Review
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
We do not intend to publish this response on DPMC’s website.
Yours sincerely
Clare Ward
Executive Director
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
4935806
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