Skip to main content

Did the Cabinet Office consider that a prohibition on future advocacy on projects associated with the Melling Interchange would not necessarily mitigate a reasonable perception that the Hon Chris Bishop’s constituency interest and prior advocacy might have influenced his decision about the City Link Bridge funding, when they advised Hon Chris Bishop that he could make ministerial decisions on associated with the Melling Interchange and if not, why not?

Answered Question 32141 (2026)
Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • Did the Cabinet Office consider that a prohibition on future advocacy on projects associated with the Melling Interchange would not necessarily mitigate a reasonable perception that the Hon Chris Bishop’s constituency interest and prior advocacy might have influenced his decision about the City Link Bridge funding, when they advised Hon Chris Bishop that he could make ministerial decisions on associated with the Melling Interchange and if not, why not?

Answered by

Rt Hon Christopher Luxon

Member for Botany · National Party · Prime Minister

Answer

In my capacity as the Prime Minister, I am the responsible minister for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC). Advice on appropriate mitigations of conflicts of interest is a matter of judgement. The Cabinet Office’s judgement in this case was that the mitigation plan proposed was appropriate. The Audit Office considers that mitigation plan was an available option, although it had some observations about its limitations. The Cabinet Office welcomes the Audit Office’s views and is considering its observations.