45 Pipitea St
16 April 2025
PO Box 805
Wel ington 6140
Phone +64 4 495 7200
Andrew Riddel
Fax +64 4 495 7222
[FYI request #30465 email]
Websit
e dia.govt.nz
Tēnā koe Andrew,
Official Information Act 1982 request OIA2425-0896
Thank you for your fyi.org.nz request of 19 March 2025 to the Department of Internal Affairs
(the Department), requesting the fol owing information under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act):
…Please provide copies of all research, assessments, reports, and advice to the Minister
of Local Government on the potential link between the four wel beings being in the
purpose for local government and rate increases. This includes reviewing other factors
that may have contributed to any rate increase.
At paragraph 48 of the document reference is made to two regulatory impact
statements - one on refocusing the purpose of local government and the other on
discrete interventions. Please provide copies of both these regulatory impact
statements.
Response to your request
In relation to the first part of your request, I am releasing one document in full and partially
releasing two documents in the form of excerpts, with some information withheld as out of
scope of your request. You can find these documents attached as
Appendix A.
I am refusing the second part of your request for two regulatory impact statements under
section 18(d) of the Act, as the information requested is publicly available. Both regulatory
impact statements (
Refocusing the purpose of local government and
Discrete interventions
intended to provide regulatory relief to councils) have been proactively released and are
available on the Department’s website at the fol owing link: www.dia.govt.nz/resource-
material-regulatory-impact-statements-index#five.
Access to the Ombudsman
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of my decision by the Office of the
Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Proactive release
We intend to publish our response to your request on our website at:
www.dia.govt.nz/Official-Information-Act-Requests-2. This letter, with your personal details
removed, will be published in its entirety. Publishing responses increases the availability of
information to the public and is consistent with the Act’s purpose of enabling more effective
participation in the making and administration of laws and policies and promoting the
accountability of Ministers and officials.
Nāku noa, nā
Jeremy Cauchi
Director, Ministerial and Monitoring
Page 2 of 3
Appendix A
# Document name
Date
Decision
Reason for
withholding
1. Briefing: Local Government Act 2002
27 March 2024
Released
N/A
Amendments
2. Excerpt from Draft cabinet paper –
19 April 2024
Partially
N/A
Refocusing the purpose of Local
released
Government
3. Briefing - Purpose changes in first
26 September 2024 Partially
N/A
system improvements bil
released
Page 3 of 3
