11 September 2024
Ref: DOIA 2425‐0490
Robert Burns
fyi‐request‐28077‐[email address]
Tēnā koe Robert
Thank you for your request of 16 August 2024 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
I understand that MBIE has made "rongoa Maori" healing system services available to staff as well as
their whanau via EAP. This includes mirimiri, romiromi and karakia.
1. I request a list of all rongoa Maori providers engaged/authorised by MBIE (or by EAP for MBIE) to
provide the services.
2. I request details of the budget allocated to funding these services or the financial projections for
the cost of funding these services.
The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a professional and confidential service funded by MBIE and
provided by EAP Services Ltd to provide short term, solution‐focused support to deal with personal
difficulties that we all face from time to time.
MBIE staff can access a wide range of EAP services, including Rongoā Māori, traditional counselling and
career guidance which are listed on their website at www.eapservices.co.nz/eap‐for‐me/services. Access
to EAP services are confidential, and it’s up to individuals which services they choose to engage.
We encourage staff members dealing with personal matters, including depression, anxiety, stressful life
changes, bullying or grief, to get the support they require from EAP or one of the other support services
available
.
My answers to your questions begin below.
Question 1
List of Rongoā providers
While we do hold a list of providers engaged by EAP, it’s important to note they haven’t been engaged by
MBIE directly, and we weren’t involved in their selection.
The list of providers we hold is the outcome of EAP Services Ltd’s work to develop a specialist list of
providers for its own specialist service offering, through a process of connection, authentication and
trust.
Accordingly, I am withholding the list of Rongoā providers held by MBIE in full under section 9(2)(b)(ii) of
the Act, to protect the interests of the source or subject of commercial information.
I do not consider that the withholding of this information is outweighed by public interest considerations
in making the information available.
Question 2
Budget for provision of Rongoā services
I am refusing this question under section 18(e) of the Act, as the requested information does not exist.
The payments for any Rongoā sessions undertaken by MBIE staff are paid for from the existing EAP
budget, and no additional money has been set aside for Rongoā Māori. This is because it isn’t necessary
for us to do so, as it doesn’t change the quantity of services purchased: a person who chooses to engage
a Rongoā provider takes this option up in lieu of one of the other services available from EAP. So far no
expenditure has been made.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of our decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.
Nāku noa, nā
Adrian Regnault
General Manager, Workplace, Safety and Security
Corporate Services, Finance and Enablement
