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Has any staff member in the Minister’s office used a private email account to send or receive official information since the Government took office; if so, on how many occasions since 27 November 2023? and 1 other question

Answered 25172, 25816 (2026)
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Questions

  • Asked by

    Camilla Belich

    List MP · Labour Party

    25172

    Recorded target Nicola Willis, Minister of Finance

    Question published

    Has any staff member in the Minister’s office used a private email account to send or receive official information since the Government took office; if so, on how many occasions since 27 November 2023?

  • Asked by

    Chris Hipkins

    Member for Remutaka · Labour Party

    25816

    Recorded target Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister

    Question published

    On how many occasions, if any, has any member of his office used a personal email address to conduct official business?

    Original response/referral lodged:

Answered by

Hon Nicola Willis

List MP · National Party · Minister of Finance

Answer

The deliberate use of a personal email account to conduct work activities as an alternate to using the work email provided to staff is not permitted. However, from time to time there are justifiable reasons for a private email to be used – for example an inability to print from their parliamentary email address while travelling or sending a copy of a press release to their private email to copy and paste to media via messaging because they are unable to copy and paste from Outlook. All ministerial staff have been reminded that they If they have used a personal email account to complete work related activities, the material created or received may constitute a public record. The material must be reviewed and securely saved.