Search written questions to Ministers and the replies they have received.
Showing 12001 to 12050 of 32204 written question sets.
Asked by
Jan Tinetti
List MP · Labour Party
What advice, if any, has he received about Early Childhood Education during the week of May 25th 2026?
Answered by
Hon David Seymour
Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Associate Minister of Education
None.
Asked by
Phil Twyford
Member for Te Atatū · Labour Party
What Department of Conservation Initiatives are eligible for philanthropic gifts as part of the changes to the Active Investor Plus visa; expressed as a list?
Answered by
Hon Erica Stanford
Member for East Coast Bays · National Party · Minister of Immigration
Eligible initiatives are specified on the Department of Conservation’s website (https://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/donate-to-nature/eligible-donations-for-an-active-investor-plus-visa/): o Kiwi pukupuku o Tūturuatu o Kākāpō o Takahē o…
Asked by
Phil Twyford
Member for Te Atatū · Labour Party
What charities are eligible for philanthropic gifts as part of the changes to the Active Investor Plus Visa; expressed as a list?
Answered by
Hon Erica Stanford
Member for East Coast Bays · National Party · Minister of Immigration
For the purposes of the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa, philanthropic investments can be made to New Zealand charities that are registered, have at least five years of compliant annual returns, have current Inland Revenue donee status,…
Asked by
Phil Twyford
Member for Te Atatū · Labour Party
Has Artificial Intelligence been used as part of the Biometric Capability Upgrade; if so, has the use of Artificial Intelligence directly lead to any delays, if there have been any, to the Biometric Capability Upgrade?
Answered by
Hon Erica Stanford
Member for East Coast Bays · National Party · Minister of Immigration
INZ has used Artificial Intelligence in the form of biometric matching algorithms since 2016. One of the goals of the Biometric Capability Update (BCU) was to update the biometric algorithms responsible for facial and fingerprint matching.…
Asked by
Phil Twyford
Member for Te Atatū · Labour Party
Has Artificial Intelligence been used as part of the Biometric Capability Upgrade; if so, how much has been spent on Artificial Intelligence software?
Answered by
Hon Erica Stanford
Member for East Coast Bays · National Party · Minister of Immigration
INZ has used Artificial Intelligence in the form of biometric matching algorithms since 2016. One of the goals of the Biometric Capability Update (BCU) was to update the biometric algorithms responsible for facial and fingerprint matching.…
Asked by
Phil Twyford
Member for Te Atatū · Labour Party
Has Artificial Intelligence been used as part of the Biometric Capability Upgrade; if so, has the use of Artificial Intelligence directly caused a reduction in FTEs working on the Biometric Capability Upgrade?
Answered by
Hon Erica Stanford
Member for East Coast Bays · National Party · Minister of Immigration
INZ has used Artificial Intelligence in the form of biometric matching algorithms since 2016. One of the goals of the Biometric Capability Update (BCU) was to update the biometric algorithms responsible for facial and fingerprint matching.…
Asked by
Phil Twyford
Member for Te Atatū · Labour Party
Has Artificial Intelligence been used as part of the Biometric Capability Upgrade; if so, which artificial intelligence software has been used?
Answered by
Hon Erica Stanford
Member for East Coast Bays · National Party · Minister of Immigration
I am advised that INZ has used Artificial Intelligence in the form of biometric matching algorithms since 2016. One of the goals of the Biometric Capability Update (BCU) was to update the biometric algorithms responsible for facial and…
Asked by
Phil Twyford
Member for Te Atatū · Labour Party
How many Full-Time Equivalents, if any, are working, or have worked, on the Biometric Capability Upgrade?
Answered by
Hon Erica Stanford
Member for East Coast Bays · National Party · Minister of Immigration
The BCU project has now been discontinued. I am advised that while the BCU project was running, MBIE FTE levels varied from 6 FTE to 28 FTE at any one time across the various phases of the BCU project.
Asked by
Phil Twyford
Member for Te Atatū · Labour Party
Has Artificial Intelligence been used as part of the Biometric Capability Upgrade; if so, how?
Answered by
Hon Erica Stanford
Member for East Coast Bays · National Party · Minister of Immigration
I am advised INZ has used Artificial Intelligence in the form of biometric matching algorithms since 2016. One of the goals of the Biometric Capability Update (BCU) was intended to update the biometric algorithms responsible for facial and…
Asked by
Phil Twyford
Member for Te Atatū · Labour Party
Has the Biometric Capability Upgrade exceeded its funding appropriation; if so, by how much?
Answered by
Hon Erica Stanford
Member for East Coast Bays · National Party · Minister of Immigration
I am advised by MBIE that the total cost of the project was $33.36m. However, the independent review that I received on 12 June has raised concerns that this may not be an accurate reflection of the actual costs of the project and that…
Asked by
Phil Twyford
Member for Te Atatū · Labour Party
How much, if anything, has been spent on the Biometric Capability Upgrade?
Answered by
Hon Erica Stanford
Member for East Coast Bays · National Party · Minister of Immigration
I am advised by MBIE that the total cost of the project was $33.36m. However, the independent review that I received on 12 June has raised concerns that this may not be an accurate reflection of the actual costs of the project and that…
Asked by
Phil Twyford
Member for Te Atatū · Labour Party
When was the original expected go-live date for the Biometric Capability Upgrade?
Answered by
Hon Erica Stanford
Member for East Coast Bays · National Party · Minister of Immigration
I am advised the original expected go live date was July 2020.
Asked by
Phil Twyford
Member for Te Atatū · Labour Party
What advice, if any, has she received on the Biometric Capability Upgrade since January 1st 2026?
Answered by
Hon Erica Stanford
Member for East Coast Bays · National Party · Minister of Immigration
I have received both verbal and written advice following the decision by MBIE is late 2025 to discontinue the project. This includes advice as part of Budget 2026 which appropriates over $30m in repayable funding for the costs of writing…
Asked by
Ginny Andersen
List MP · Labour Party
What communications, if any, has the Minister, or anyone from her office, had with David Ferguson about the role of Chief Executive and Chief Review Officer at the Education Review Office?
What communications, if any, has the Minister, or anyone from her office, had with David Ferguson in the last three months?
Answered by
Hon Erica Stanford
Member for East Coast Bays · National Party · Minister of Education
I have had the following communications with David Ferguson on this matter: - A phone call in early June to congratulate him on his appointment and advise that I would put out a press release - An email on 4 June in which he resigned from…
Asked by
Ginny Andersen
List MP · Labour Party
Did David Ferguson declare any conflicts of interest during the process of appointing him Chief Executive and Chief Review Officer of the Education Review Office; if so, what were they?
Answered by
Hon Paul Goldsmith
List MP · National Party · Minister for the Public Service and Digitising Government
All candidates complete a declaration of interests as they proceed through a chief executive appointment process. Mr Ferguson has undertaken this step. All real, perceived or potential COIs are actively managed and are lodged with both the…
Asked by
Ginny Andersen
List MP · Labour Party
Who else, if anyone, was considered for the role of Chief Executive of the Education Review Office before David Ferguson was appointed?
Answered by
Hon Paul Goldsmith
List MP · National Party · Minister for the Public Service and Digitising Government
Candidates applying for chief executive roles have an expectation that they will not be publicly scrutinised or criticised for applying for these roles, especially in a way that impacts their future career prospects. These people therefore…
Asked by
Ginny Andersen
List MP · Labour Party
When was the Minister first informed that David Ferguson was going to be appointed as Chief Executive and Chief Review Officer of the Education Review Office?
Answered by
Hon Erica Stanford
Member for East Coast Bays · National Party · Minister of Education
I was first advised by the Public Service Commission that David Ferguson was the preferred candidate for the Chief Review Officer and Chief Executive of the Education Review Office on Monday 11 May 2026.
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
On what date, if at all, were the consents and designation for an alternative to the Brynderwyn Hills (section 2b) lodged under the Fast-track Approvals Act, relative to the end-of-March 2026 timeframe stated on 20 October 2025?
Answered by
Hon Chris Bishop
Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Transport
Information on the Alternative to the Brynderwyn Hills project is proactively released on the Fast-track website, here: https://www.fasttrack.govt.nz/projects/alternative-to-the-brynderwyn-hills
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
What decision, if any, has the Government made on the NZTA Board's tolling recommendations that he said on 20 October 2025 the Government would consider and "announce next steps in due course"?
Answered by
Hon Chris Bishop
Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Transport
Since 20 October 2025, NZTA has considered public feedback on the Belfast to Pegasus and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance tolling proposal, which was publicly consulted on from 12 August to 9 September 2025. I have received a…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
What benefit-cost ratio threshold, if any, will the Government apply in determining the sequence of Roads of National Significance in the Major Transport Projects Pipeline?
Answered by
Hon Chris Bishop
Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Transport
The Benefit-cost ratios applied will be the Benefit-cost ratios of the projects.
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
How much, if any, of the $515 million in approved Roads of National Significance property funding had been used for property acquisition as at 5 June 2026?
Answered by
Hon Chris Bishop
Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Transport
I am advised by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, that as at the end of April 2026, $422.1 million of the $515 million approved for property acquisition work on Roads of National Significance has been spent.
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
How much, if any, of the $675 million announced as approved on 20 October 2025 for consenting, design, route protection, site investigations and early works had been spent as at 5 June 2026?
Answered by
Hon Chris Bishop
Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Transport
Corrected reply: I am advised by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi that, as at 30 April 2026, $323.8 million had been spent on pre-implementation activities for Roads of National Significance (RoNS) projects that had not yet progressed to…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
Which Road of National Significance, if any, does he expect to be the next to commence main construction following Budget 2026?
Answered by
Hon Chris Bishop
Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Transport
I am advised by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi that the State Highway 1 Cambridge to Piarere Expressway is expected to commence construction in 2027.
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
How many of the Roads of National Significance, if any, have had a confirmed main construction start date assigned, as at 5 June 2026?
Answered by
Hon Chris Bishop
Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Transport
I am advised by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi that Ōtaki to north of Levin: Te Pae o Tararua highway, State Highway 2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway, Takitimu North Link Stage 1 and State Highway 29 Omanawa Bridge replacement are currently under…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
Has the prioritisation plan for Roads of National Significance that was signalled on 20 October 2025 been published in the period since that statement, if not, why?
Answered by
Hon Chris Bishop
Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Transport
No.
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
By what date did he originally intend to release the "clear plan for delivery, including well-reasoned prioritisation," that he said on 20 October 2025 the Government would "have more to say about… in the coming months"?
Answered by
Hon Chris Bishop
Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Transport
I did not have a specific date in mind.
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
On what date does he expect to publish the Major Transport Projects Pipeline referred to in his 17 February 2026 statement on the National Infrastructure Plan?
Answered by
Hon Chris Bishop
Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Transport
Soon.
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
Does the Minister, or any member of their office, hold or store any official information relating to their portfolio or ministerial duties in private or personal email accounts, and if so, what steps are being taken to ensure that…
Does the Minister, or any member of their office, hold or store any official information relating to their portfolio or ministerial duties in private or personal email accounts, and if so, what steps are being taken to ensure that…
Does the Minister, or any member of their office, hold or store any official information relating to their portfolio or ministerial duties in private or personal email accounts, and if so, what steps are being taken to ensure that…
Answered by
Hon David Seymour
Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Minister for Regulation
No.
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
Has the Minister had any lobbying or advocacy meetings since 27 November 2023 that do not appear in the Minister's published diary, and if so, on what dates, with whom, and for what purpose, as at 5 June 2026?
Has the Minister had any lobbying or advocacy meetings since 27 November 2023 that do not appear in the Minister's published diary, and if so, on what dates, with whom, and for what purpose, as at 5 June 2026?
Has the Minister had any lobbying or advocacy meetings since 27 November 2023 that do not appear in the Minister's published diary, and if so, on what dates, with whom, and for what purpose, as at 5 June 2026?
Answered by
Hon David Seymour
Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Minister for Regulation
No.
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
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…
Answered by
Hon David Seymour
Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Minister for Regulation
I am advised that the Ministry for Regulation has not entered into any financial settlements since its establishment.
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
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,…
Answered by
Hon David Seymour
Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Minister for Regulation
I am advised that the Ministry for Regulation has executed a small number of document or documents in scope of the question. However, revealing the details sought may lead to an individual or individuals being identified and, would, among…
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
What is the total amount, if any, spent by agencies, departments, Crown entities, companies, or other organisations for which the Minister is responsible on advertising, communications, or promotional activity relating to Budget 2026,…
Answered by
Hon David Seymour
Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Minister for Regulation
None.
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
What is the total expenditure, actual or projected, if any, on staff redundancies across all agencies, departments, Crown entities, companies, or other organisations for which the Minister is responsible arising from Budget 2026 decisions,…
What redundancy or restructuring costs, if any, have been incurred by any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible since 27 November 2023, listed by organisation, the number of…
How many staff, if any, at any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible, since 27 November 2023, have been made redundant, broken down by month and by (a) voluntary redundancy…
Answered by
Hon David Seymour
Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Minister for Regulation
I am advised that the Ministry for Regulation has no current or pending redundancy processes arising from Budget 2026. No staff have been made redundant since the Ministry for Regulation was established. This is also my response to WPQs…
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
Does the Minister, or any member of their office, hold or store any official information relating to their portfolio or ministerial duties in private or personal email accounts, and if so, what steps are being taken to ensure that…
Answered by
Hon Shane Jones
List MP · NZ First · Minister for Resources
No.
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
Has the Minister had any lobbying or advocacy meetings since 27 November 2023 that do not appear in the Minister's published diary, and if so, on what dates, with whom, and for what purpose, as at 5 June 2026?
Answered by
Hon Shane Jones
List MP · NZ First · Minister for Resources
My diary is proactively released. For my staff to undertake a review of my diary going back to 2023 would impede the operation of my office, which is not in the public interest.
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
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…
Answered by
Hon Shane Jones
List MP · NZ First · Minister for Resources
I am not responsible for any government departments or agencies.
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
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,…
Answered by
Hon Shane Jones
List MP · NZ First · Minister for Resources
I am not responsible for any government departments or agencies.
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
What is the total amount, if any, spent by agencies, departments, Crown entities, companies, or other organisations for which the Minister is responsible on advertising, communications, or promotional activity relating to Budget 2026,…
Answered by
Hon Shane Jones
List MP · NZ First · Minister for Resources
I am not responsible for any government departments or agencies.
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
What is the total expenditure, actual or projected, if any, on staff redundancies across all agencies, departments, Crown entities, companies, or other organisations for which the Minister is responsible arising from Budget 2026 decisions,…
Answered by
Hon Shane Jones
List MP · NZ First · Minister for Resources
I am not responsible for any government departments or agencies.
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
Does the Minister, or any member of their office, hold or store any official information relating to their portfolio or ministerial duties in private or personal email accounts, and if so, what steps are being taken to ensure that…
Answered by
Hon Mark Mitchell
Member for Whangaparāoa · National Party · Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery
No.
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
Has the Minister had any lobbying or advocacy meetings since 27 November 2023 that do not appear in the Minister's published diary, and if so, on what dates, with whom, and for what purpose, as at 5 June 2026?
Answered by
Hon Mark Mitchell
Member for Whangaparāoa · National Party · Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery
No.
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
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,…
Answered by
Hon Mark Mitchell
Member for Whangaparāoa · National Party · Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery
I refer the member to the Prime Minister response to PQ 26188 (2026). There were no confidential settlement agreements, non-disclosure agreements, or confidentiality clauses entered into by the National Emergency Management Agency between…
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
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…
Answered by
Hon Mark Mitchell
Member for Whangaparāoa · National Party · Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery
I refer the member to response to PQ 25966 (2026).
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
What is the total amount, if any, spent by agencies, departments, Crown entities, companies, or other organisations for which the Minister is responsible on advertising, communications, or promotional activity relating to Budget 2026,…
Answered by
Hon Mark Mitchell
Member for Whangaparāoa · National Party · Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery
I refer the member to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)’s upcoming 2026/27 Estimates Examination responses to written questionnaire soon to be published on the parliament website.
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
Has the Minister had any lobbying or advocacy meetings since 27 November 2023 that do not appear in the Minister's published diary, and if so, on what dates, with whom, and for what purpose, as at 5 June 2026?
Answered by
Hon Chris Bishop
Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister responsible for RMA Reform
No.
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
What is the total expenditure, actual or projected, if any, on staff redundancies across all agencies, departments, Crown entities, companies, or other organisations for which the Minister is responsible arising from Budget 2026 decisions,…
Answered by
Hon Mark Mitchell
Member for Whangaparāoa · National Party · Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery
I refer the member to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)’s upcoming 2026/27 Estimates Examination responses to written questionnaire soon to be published on the parliament website.
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
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,…
Answered by
Hon Chris Bishop
Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister responsible for RMA Reform
I refer the Member to the Minister for the Environment's reply to written question 26301 (2026).
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
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…
Answered by
Hon Chris Bishop
Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister responsible for RMA Reform
I refer the Member to the Minister for the Environment's reply to written question 26283 (2026).
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
What is the total amount, if any, spent by agencies, departments, Crown entities, companies, or other organisations for which the Minister is responsible on advertising, communications, or promotional activity relating to Budget 2026,…
Answered by
Hon Chris Bishop
Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister responsible for RMA Reform
I refer the Member to the Minister for the Environment's reply to written question 26298 (2026).
Asked by
Camilla Belich
List MP · Labour Party
Has the Minister had any lobbying or advocacy meetings since 27 November 2023 that do not appear in the Minister's published diary, and if so, on what dates, with whom, and for what purpose, as at 5 June 2026?
Has the Minister had any lobbying or advocacy meetings since 27 November 2023 that do not appear in the Minister's published diary, and if so, on what dates, with whom, and for what purpose, as at 5 June 2026?
Answered by
Hon Todd McClay
Member for Rotorua · National Party · Minister of Agriculture
No. All Ministerial engagements are published in my Ministerial diary.