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Showing 301 to 350 of 669 written question sets.

Answered

Question 28150 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many agenda items, if any, was each director or member of any board, committee, or other body of any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible excluded from or absent for…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 28155 (2026)

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Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Since February 2026 what is the number of local government Councillors that have personally written to the Minister with a complaint or concern regarding the Council they are elected to, and if any, what Council were they elected to, what…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

As the Minister I am responsible for the legislative framework within which councils operate. Councils are responsible for manging matters related to their own governance and administration and should have appropriate processes in place to…

Answered

Question 28170 (2026)

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Asked by

Dan Rosewarne

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What correspondence, including emails and letters, if any, has he received from Hon Matt Doocey regarding the Pegasus Golf Course for the month beginning 8 May 2026?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

None.

Answered

27151, 27930 (2026)

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Questions

  • Asked by

    Tangi Utikere

    Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

    27151 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 1 June 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

  • Asked by

    Lan Pham

    List MP · Green Party

    27930 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What advice, reports, briefings, aide memoires, or any other documents has the Minister or any member of their office received, if any, during the week beginning 01/06/2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

As the Minister of Local Government, I received the following advice, reports, briefings, aide memoires, or any other documents from the Department of Internal Affairs during the week beginning 1 June 2026. • 2/06/2026 - Meeting with…

Answered

Question 27929 (2026)

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Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 01/06/2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 27971 (2026)

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Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Following Reply 20045 (2026), does the Minister accept that the restriction requiring consents for wastewater treatment plants to be "no more or less restrictive than is necessary to give effect to the wastewater environmental performance…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

Yes.

Answered

Question 27256 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 1 June 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 27546 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, if any, did the Minister or their officials receive recommending against, or proposing a lower figure than, any board fee increase the Minister subsequently approved since 27 November 2023 for any agency, department, Crown…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

Neither I, nor my office, received advice on this relating to the Local Government portfolio within the specified period.

Answered

Question 27549 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What additional payments, allowances, or expenses, if any — including but not limited to meeting fees, daily rates, travel, or accommodation — were paid to board or committee members of any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I refer the member to the attached document.

Answered

Question 27550 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What is the total amount, if any, paid in board and committee fees by each agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible in each financial year since 27 November 2023, broken down by…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I refer the member to the attached document.

Answered

Question 27551 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many board fee increases, if any, did the Minister approve since 27 November 2023 that exceeded the rate or range in the Cabinet Fees Framework for any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

As Minister of Local Government, I have not approved any board fee increases that exceeded the rate or range in the Cabinet Fees Framework within the specified period.

Answered

Question 27553 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many board or committee appointments and reappointments, if any, did the Minister make since 27 November 2023 to any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible, broken down by…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I am advised that for the Water Services Authority – Taumati Arowai Board: •Two appointments on 25 September 2025. Fee was increased from $15,000 to $25,800 from 1 October 2025. •One reappointment on 25 September 2025. Fee was increased…

Answered

Question 27554 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What board fees, if any, are currently paid to the chair and to each member of every board, committee, or other body of any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible, broken down…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I am advised that for the Water Services Authority Board – Taumata Arowai: • Chair annual fee is $51,600 (from 1 October 2025). • Member annual fee is $25,800 (from 1 October 2025). For Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai Māori…

Corrected reply

Question 27721 (2026)

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Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Following Reply 20047 (2026), does the Minister accept that the requirement to provide a 35-year period for a resource consent for an activity that meets the requirements of a wastewater environmental performance, which he cites as the…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

Corrected reply: No. The 35-year consent period for activities that meet the relevant wastewater environmental performance requirements was already provided for in clause 277 of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and…

Answered

Question 27783 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many board fee increases, if any, approved by the Minister since 27 November 2023 for any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible were backdated or applied retrospectively,…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

As Minister of Local Government, I can confirm no board fee increases were backdated or applied retrospectively within the specified period.

Answered

Question 27785 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What is the total additional annual cost, if any, of all board fee increases approved by the Minister since 27 November 2023 across any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible,…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I refer the member to the attached document.

Answered

Question 27787 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What board fee increases, if any, did the Minister approve for any board, committee, or other body of any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible since 27 November 2023, broken…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

Water Services Authority Board. Fee for the Chair increased from $30,000 to $51,600 from 1 October 2025 – percentage increase is 72 percent. Fee for members increased from $15,000 to $25,800 from 1 October 2025 – percentage increase is 72…

Answered

26233, 26249 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Questions

  • 26233 (matches this search)

    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…

  • 26249 (matches this search)

    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 Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I refer the member to the attached document.

Answered

Question 26248 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    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 Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

As a Crown entity, the Authority exercises fiscal prudence as required through The enduring Letter of Expectations to all Crown entities issued by the Minister of Finance on 23 April 2024.

Answered

Question 26251 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    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 Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai (Authority) has not conducted advertising, communications or promotional activities in relation to Budget 2026.

Answered

Question 26252 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    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 Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

It is my expectation, as Minister, and the practice in my office, that official emails are used for official business, and that any incidental use of other email accounts involving official information is accessible to the public record,…

Answered

Question 26256 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    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 Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

No

Answered

Question 26610 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What new spending initiatives or Budget bids, if any, did the Minister or their agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible, submit for Budget 2026, listed by title, amount sought,…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The Budget will be followed by a proactive release of documents informing budget decisions.

Answered

Question 26623 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What is the total sum, if any, spent on wages for any contractors and consultants who have been previously employed in a different capacity at any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai has not engaged any contractors or consultants who have been previously employed by the Authority. The Authority does not record information on whether contractors or consultants engaged by the…

Answered

Question 26627 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Which agencies, departments, Crown entities, companies, or other organisations for which the Minister is responsible, if any, have been required to identify or deliver baseline savings or staffing reductions since 27 November 2023, and how…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

As a Crown entity, the Authority is subject to the enduring Letter of Expectations to all Crown Entities, issued by the Minister of Finance on 23 April 2024. This includes exercising ongoing fiscal prudence.

Answered

Question 26628 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    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 Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I refer the member to the attached document.

Answered

Question 26641 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    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…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I refer the member to the attached document.

Answered

Question 26898 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What cost pressures within their relevant portfolio Votes, if any, was the Minister informed of prior to Budget 2026 - listing any advice received on this by date and title?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai (the Authority) is primarily levy-funded with Crown funding providing the balance (20%). The current levy was agreed by Cabinet in mid-2025 and covers the 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial…

Answered

Question 26899 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What rules or directives, if any, were sent to the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, regarding making bids for Budget 2026?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The Budget will be followed by a proactive release of documents informing budget decisions.

Answered

Question 26901 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Which, if any, of the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, were invited to make Budget bids as part of Budget 2026?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The Budget will be followed by a proactive release of documents informing budget decisions.

Answered

Question 26903 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Which, if any, of the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, were asked to identify savings as part of the 2026 Budget?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai was not asked to identify savings in relation to Budget 2026.

Answered

Question 25762 (2026)

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Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice did the Minister receive, if any, from public health agencies or advisors on the public health implications of section 89(1) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43), which…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

All advice about the policy development of section 89(1) was received in relation to the Local Government (Water Services) Bill. The Bill was split into two Acts at the Committee of the whole House, which created the Local Government…

Answered

Question 25763 (2026)

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Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, if any, did the Minister receive from public health agencies and/or advisors on section 80(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025, which introduced a requirement to the Resource…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

All advice about the policy development of section 80(2) was received in relation to the Local Government (Water Services) Bill. The Bill was split into two Acts at the Committee of the whole House, which created the Local Government…

Answered

Question 25788 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if any, is the total budget in the Minister's departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, for the 2026/27 financial year on artificial intelligence- including costs on…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai is yet to set the finalised Budget for the 2026/27 financial year as it is to be finalised through the Statement of Performance Expectations. The Authority anticipates undertaking a range of…

Answered

Question 25437 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Is the Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai's drinking water regulation function exempt from the government's public servant job number cuts?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai was not included in the Budget 2026 public service cuts and as such, is exempt from roles disestablishment and associated processes of Budget 2026.

Answered

Question 25474 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    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?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

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 –…

Answered

Question 25480 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What official information, if any, is held on a private email account of a current or former staff member in the Minister’s office and has not been placed on the official record since 27 November 2023; and what steps are being taken to…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 25484 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Will the Minister undertake a review of current and former staff members’ private email accounts to identify any official information that should be on the public record; if not, why not?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I have reaffirmed to staff my expectation that official information is maintained in the public record and asked them to ensure this remains the case.

Answered

Question 25487 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Has the Minister or any staff member in their office received a briefing, document, or correspondence from a company, lobbyist, or other third party at a private email account that hasn't then been forwarded to an official email account or…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

No.

Answered

54 questions (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Questions

Matching question numbers: 21269 (2026), 21270 (2026), 21635 (2026), 21642 (2026), 21643 (2026), 21653 (2026), 21661 (2026), 21668 (2026), 21999 (2026), 22000 (2026), 22014 (2026), 22021 (2026), 22022 (2026), 22044 (2026), 22359 (2026), 22371 (2026), 22378 (2026), 22381 (2026), 22398 (2026), 22409 (2026), 22718 (2026), 22734 (2026), 22748 (2026), 22751 (2026), 22762 (2026), 22779 (2026), 23056 (2026), 23110 (2026), 23112 (2026), 23119 (2026), 23143 (2026), 23151 (2026), 23412 (2026), 23471 (2026), 23487 (2026), 23501 (2026), 23502 (2026), 23509 (2026), 23782 (2026), 23833 (2026), 23853 (2026), 23860 (2026), 23868 (2026), 23880 (2026), 24129 (2026), 24174 (2026), 24180 (2026), 24181 (2026), 24192 (2026), 24939 (2026)

  • 21248 (matches this search)

    Question published

    On what date, if at all, did the Minister first receive advice from the Government Chief Digital Officer, the Public Service Commissioner, the Privacy Commissioner, Treasury, or any other agency regarding the feasibility, cost, delivery…

  • 21253 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Which AI vendors, products, or platforms are expected to be procured, expanded, or relied upon as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any; what is the forecast contract value of each, in which…

  • 21255 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What evidence base, including any business cases, pilot results, productivity studies, benchmark data, or independent advice, was relied upon in determining that AI could absorb the workload of the roles being disestablished as part of…

  • 21264 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What is the total forecast spend on (a) AI software licences and subscriptions, (b) AI-related cloud and compute infrastructure, (c) AI implementation consultants and systems integrators, (d) AI-related staff training and change…

Show the remaining 50 questions
  • 21269 (matches this search)

    Question published

    How many, if any, of the roles being disestablished as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, will have any of their functions or tasks performed, in whole or in part, by artificial…

  • 21270 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Has any (a) algorithmic impact assessment, (b) Privacy Impact Assessment, (c) Treaty of Waitangi impact assessment, or (d) Health and Safety at Work Act psychosocial risk assessment been completed in respect of the AI tools being deployed…

  • 21635 (matches this search)

    Question published

    For entities being abolished or merged as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, has the Minister received advice that the functions could be performed more cost-effectively if the entity…

  • 21642 (matches this search)

    Question published

    For entities being abolished or merged as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, which functions will (a) cease entirely, (b) transfer to another entity, or (c) be performed by a…

  • 21643 (matches this search)

    Question published

    For entities being abolished or merged as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, what is the forecast one-off cost of abolition or merger, including disestablishment, transition, legal and IT…

  • 21653 (matches this search)

    Question published

    For entities being abolished or merged as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, what was the total appropriation in 2024/25, if anything, and what is the forecast total cost of the functions…

  • 21661 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Has any psychosocial risk assessment been conducted in respect of the restructure being undertaken as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, under Health and Safety at Work Act obligations, if any,…

  • 21668 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Has the Minister received any advice that role reductions being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, will worsen results in staff engagement, workplace wellbeing, sick leave, or…

  • 21999 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Has the Minister sought or received advice on whether roles being disestablished as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, will need to be re-hired within the next 24 months, and what is the…

  • 22000 (matches this search)

    Question published

    How does the role reduction being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for compare, as a proportion of workforce, across the portfolio, broken down by agency, department, Crown entity, company,…

  • 22014 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What proportion of the current workforce does the role reduction being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for represent, if any, broken down by agency, department, Crown entity, company, or…

  • 22021 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What support, including outplacement, retraining, and mental health support, if any, is being made available to staff affected by savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, and at what cost, broken down by…

  • 22022 (matches this search)

    Question published

    How many staff affected by savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for are being offered redeployment to other roles within the same entity or elsewhere in the public service, if any, and what is the forecast…

  • 22044 (matches this search)

    Question published

    How many of the role reductions being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, will be achieved by (a) voluntary redundancy, (b) involuntary redundancy, (c) non-replacement of…

  • 22359 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What is the total forecast cost of restructures being undertaken as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, including (a) redundancy payments, (b) outplacement support, (c) change-management…

  • 22371 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Have any functions been transferred to another entity as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any; if so, has the receiving entity been given any additional baseline funding, and how much,…

  • 22378 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What, if anything, is the forecast contractor and consultant spend in each of the next four financial years as a consequence of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, by category of spend, broken…

  • 22381 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What, if anything, is the average daily rate paid for external consultants and contractors, and how does this compare to the equivalent daily cost of the roles being disestablished as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the…

  • 22398 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Will any work previously undertaken by roles being disestablished as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, be performed by (a) external consultants, (b) contractors, (c) labour-hire staff,…

  • 22409 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Did Treasury, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, or the Public Service Commission advise against any element of the role reductions being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for,…

  • 22718 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What savings target, if any, expressed in dollars or FTE, was set as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, by whom, and on what date, broken down by agency, department, Crown entity, company, or…

  • 22734 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Were any relevant unions consulted prior to the announcement of the role reductions being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any; if so, on what date, and were the unions provided with…

  • 22748 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Was the Public Service Commissioner consulted on the role reductions being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, and what advice did the Commissioner provide, if anything, broken…

  • 22751 (matches this search)

    Question published

    On what date, if at all, did the Minister first receive advice regarding the role reductions being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, and from whom, broken down by agency,…

  • 22762 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Will any obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including obligations under Treaty settlement legislation, be affected by the role reductions being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if…

  • 22779 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Has the Minister been advised of any risks to the health, safety or wellbeing of New Zealanders arising from the role reductions being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, and if…

  • 23056 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What is the forecast change in (a) processing times, (b) wait times, (c) call-answer times, and (d) complaint resolution times for services provided in the 12 months following the role reductions being made as part of savings made in…

  • 23110 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What is the forecast change to each published performance measure (as set out in the most recent Statement of Performance Expectations or equivalent), if any, as a result of the role reductions being made as part of savings made in Budget…

  • 23112 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Which specific functions, services, programmes or work streams, if any, will be reduced, ceased, or transferred elsewhere as a consequence of the role disestablishments being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the…

  • 23119 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Which statutory functions, if any, are affected by the role reductions being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, and has the Minister received legal advice as to whether each…

  • 23143 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Which statutory functions, if any, are affected by the role reductions being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, and has the Minister received legal advice as to whether each…

  • 23151 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Which specific functions, services, programmes or work streams will be reduced, ceased, or transferred elsewhere as a consequence of the role disestablishments being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is…

  • 23412 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What is the forecast impact, if any, of the role reductions being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, on the gender pay gap and the ethnic pay gap, broken down by agency,…

  • 23471 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Has any equity impact assessment, gender impact assessment, or Treaty of Waitangi impact assessment been completed in respect of the role reductions being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible…

  • 23487 (matches this search)

    Question published

    How many, if any of the roles being disestablished as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, are held by employees who have self-identified as having a disability, broken down by agency,…

  • 23501 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What is the geographic and regional distribution of the roles being disestablished as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, broken down by city or region and by agency, department, Crown…

  • 23502 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What is the age-band breakdown of the roles being disestablished as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, broken down by agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for…

  • 23509 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What is the ethnicity breakdown (Māori, Pacific peoples, Asian, European, Middle Eastern, Latin American, African, Other) of the roles being disestablished as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for,…

  • 23782 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What is the gender breakdown of the roles being disestablished as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, compared to the gender composition of each workforce as a whole, broken down by…

  • 23833 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What is the forecast change in spending, if any, on (a) external consultants, (b) contractors, and (c) temporary or labour-hire staff in each of the next four financial years as a consequence of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the…

  • 23853 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What is the total forecast cost of redundancy and severance payments, if any, associated with the role reductions being made as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, and what is the average…

  • 23860 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What is the distribution of roles, if any, being disestablished as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, across salary bands in $20,000 increments (e.g. $60,000–$79,999, $80,000–$99,999,…

  • 23868 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What is the (a) mean, (b) median, (c) 25th percentile, and (d) 75th percentile salary of the roles, if any, being disestablished as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, broken down by…

  • 23880 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What is the total annual salary cost (including employer KiwiSaver contributions and ACC levies) of the roles being disestablished as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, broken down by…

  • 24129 (matches this search)

    Question published

    How many, if any, of the roles being disestablished as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, are classified as (a) frontline, (b) frontline-enabling, and (c) back-office, and what definition…

  • 24174 (matches this search)

    Question published

    How many FTE positions, if any, are expected to be disestablished across the agencies, departments and other entities for which the Minister is responsible as a result of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible…

  • 24180 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Will the Minister provide a list of every role title being disestablished as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, the number of FTE associated with each role title, and the tier (Tier 1, 2,…

  • 24181 (matches this search)

    Question published

    Of the roles being disestablished as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, how many were (a) filled by a permanent employee, (b) filled by a fixed-term employee, (c) filled by a secondee,…

  • 24192 (matches this search)

    Question published

    How many roles, if any, expressed as both (a) full-time equivalents and (b) headcount, are being disestablished as part of savings made in Budget 2026 for votes the Minister is responsible for, if any, and over what period will those…

  • 24939 (matches this search)

    Question published

    For each agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible, what is the forecast payback period, in months, i.e. the time before the disestablishment of roles (if any) made as part of…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

As Minister of Local Government, I am responsible for the Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai. This agency was not included in the Budget 2026 public service cuts and as such, it is exempt from roles disestablishment and associated…

Answered

Question 24425 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 25 May 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

As the Minister of Local Government, I received the following advice, reports, briefings, aide memoires, or any other documents from the Department of Internal Affairs during the week beginning 25 May 2026. • 25/05/2026 - PM Brief -…

Answered

Question 24541 (2026)

Question published
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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 25 May 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 24675 (2026)

Question published
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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 11 May 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I refer the member to my response to WPQ 19437 (2026).

Answered

Question 24793 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 11 May 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

None.

Answered

20177, 20672 (2026)

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Questions

  • Asked by

    Lan Pham

    List MP · Green Party

    20177 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What advice, reports, briefings, aide memoires, or any other documents has the Minister or any member of their office received, if any, during the week beginning 18/05/2026, by title and date?

  • Asked by

    Tangi Utikere

    Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

    20672 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 18 May 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

As the Minister of Local Government, I received the following advice, reports, briefings, aide memoires, or any other documents from the Department of Internal Affairs during the week beginning 18 May 2026 • Talking points and goatskin for…

Answered

Question 20788 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 18 May 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

None.

Answered

20176, 20316 (2026)

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Questions

  • Asked by

    Lan Pham

    List MP · Green Party

    20176 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 18/05/2026, by title and date?

  • Asked by

    Francisco Hernandez

    List MP · Green Party

    20316

    Question published

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 18 May 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Climate Change

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 20045 (2026)

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Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Why was the suggestion from the 'National Public Health Service, Health New Zealand' to "allow regional councils and dischargers to establish through the consenting process if changing to the values in the Standards would result in health…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

This is because section 104(2D(b) of the Resource Management Act 1991 provides that a consenting authority must include, as a condition of granting the consent, requirements that are no more or less restrictive than is necessary to give…

Answered

Question 20047 (2026)

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Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Why was advice from the 'National Public Health Service, Health New Zealand' against a 35-year default consent length for wastewater treatment plant discharges, as noted in Appendix 1 of their 22 April 2025 letter to Taumata Arowai…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

It was determined the wastewater environmental performance standards should be consistent with section 123(1)(aa) of the Resource Management Act 1991, which specifies a 35-year consent period where wastewater standards are met. The water…

Answered

20048, 20049, 20050 (2026)

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Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Questions

  • 20048 (matches this search)

    At what point, if any, in the development of the wastewater environmental performance standards was public health advice sought on the standards?

  • 20049 (matches this search)

    Following the OIA release of feedback from the Public Health Agency on the "draft Cabinet paper (and associated discussion document) - Proposed national wastewater environmental performance standards: Approval to consult", where, if…

  • 20050 (matches this search)

    Following the OIA release of feedback from the Public Health Agency on the "draft Cabinet paper (and associated discussion document) - Proposed national wastewater environmental performance standards: Approval to consult", what public…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The proposals in the discussion document relating to wastewater standards were informed by a range of experts, including the Public Health Agency, the National Public Health Service, and a technical review group comprising a broad range of…