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Since 01 January 2023, how many decisions on someone’s relationship status, if any, have been challenged, broken down by stage of a benefit application process and outcome?

Answered Question 24884 (2026)
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Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • Since 01 January 2023, how many decisions on someone’s relationship status, if any, have been challenged, broken down by stage of a benefit application process and outcome?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I refer the member to the attached table, which provides the number of reviews of decision cases relating to marriage-type relationships/married lodged between the period 1 January 2023 to 30 April 2026, by benefit review committee outcome. I am advised that the Ministry is unable to break the members' information down by stage of benefit application. To obtain this information, Ministry staff would be required to check each individual client file and manually collate this information, diverting Ministry staff from their core duties. In accordance with Speaker’s Ruling 210/6, I consider that the time, and hence the expense, of answering the Member’s question is not in the public interest.

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