15 October 2024
45 Pipitea St
PO Box 805
Wel ington 6140
Ben Preston
Phone +64 4 495 7200
[FYI request #28289 email]
Fax +64 4 495 7222
Website dia.govt.nz
Tēnā koe Ben
Your Official Information Act 1982 request, reference OIA2425-0264
I am responding to your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) which was
transferred on 17 September 2024 from the Office of Hon Judith Col ins KC to the
Department of Internal Affairs (the Department). You asked for the fol owing information:
1. Al documents and communication from 2017 to today related to the process of
digitizing government in general, and the Government Online Engagement Service
(GOES) system in particular.
2. A list of all those interviewed as part of the 2017 GOES review and any
information/documentation resulting from or summarising those interviews.
Part one
On 30 September 2024, the Department sent a letter to you advising that part one of your
request is likely to be refused under section 18(f) of the Act unless amended because the
information cannot be made available without substantial collation or research.
We did not receive a response to this letter and are therefore refusing part one of your
request under section 18(f) of the Act.
Part two
There are two documents within the scope of part two of your request. These documents
are attached as
Appendix A.
I am partially releasing both of these documents, with some information withheld under
section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect the privacy of natural persons.
Information resulting from the interviews is publicly available in the information published
on www.digital.govt.nz. For the review of the Government Online Engagement Service pilot,
which is referenced in your request, was provided to you in the Department’s letter of
30 September 2024.
Public Interest Considerations
As is required by section 9(1) of the Act, I have considered whether the withholding of
information is outweighed by other public interest considerations which would make it
desirable to make this information available. In this instance I do not consider this to be the
case.
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Access to the Ombudsman
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.
Nāku noa, nā
Anita Balakrishnan
Director Ministerial and Monitoring
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