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How many financial settlements, if any, have been entered into with employees, former employees, contractors, or office holders by any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible since 27 November 2023, broken down by organisation, total cost, and year, as at 5 June 2026? and 1 other question

Answered 26142, 26143 (2026)
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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Questions

  • 26142

    How many financial settlements, if any, have been entered into with employees, former employees, contractors, or office holders by any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible since 27 November 2023, broken down by organisation, total cost, and year, as at 5 June 2026?

  • 26143

    How many confidential settlement agreements, non-disclosure agreements or confidentiality clauses, if any, have been entered into with employees, former employees, contractors, or office holders by any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible since 27 November 2023, broken down by organisation, total cost, and year, as at 5 June 2026?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

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

Answer

The Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) has advised that they have entered into 147 records of Settlement, which includes non-disclosure agreements, under section 149 of the Employment Relations Act 2000 between 27 November 2023 and 5 June 2026. These are broken down by year in the attached Table. The Ministry has further advised that to determine the total cost of the 147 settlements would require a manual review of each individual agreement. Providing this information to the Member would require substantial manual collation, 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 this part of the Member’s question is not in the public interest However, the Ministry can confirm that three settlements included payments made under section 123(1)(c)(i) of the Act, totalling $65,000. I am also advised that due to the size and low turnover, Crown Entities are unable to provide the information requested as the release of this information would compromise privacy and confidentiality obligations. This is my response to WPQ 26143 (2026)

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