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What external legal costs, if any, were incurred by any department or entity for which the Minister is responsible in each financial year since 2020/21, broken down by department or entity and by the nature of the legal work (litigation, commercial advice, employment matters, Treaty matters, or other)?

Answered Question 9574 (2026)
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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • What external legal costs, if any, were incurred by any department or entity for which the Minister is responsible in each financial year since 2020/21, broken down by department or entity and by the nature of the legal work (litigation, commercial advice, employment matters, Treaty matters, or other)?

Answered by

Hon Scott Simpson

Member for Coromandel · National Party · Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Answer

I am responsible for six Crown entities: Accreditation Council, Commerce Commission, External Reporting Board, Financial Markets Authority, Retirement Commission and Takeovers Panel. Providing the level of information sought by the member within a written parliamentary question timeframe would involve substantial collation and review and require entities to divert personnel from their core duties. I do not consider that the time and expense of answering this question to this level of detail within this timeframe is in the public interest.