10 November 2021
R S Bicknell
By email: [FYI request #17103 email]
Tēnā koe R S Bicknell
Official information request for expenditure information from the Southeast
Asia Centre for Asia Pacific Excellence (SEA Cape)
I refer to your request for information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act)
dated 9 October 2021:
“The total amount of money spent on hospitality (lunches, dinners, event catering
etc) by the SEA Cape in 2018,2019, and 2020.
The total amount spent on alcohol by the SEA Cape in 2018, 2019, 2020.
The total amount spent on international airfares by the SEA Cape in 2018 and
2019. Please breakdown this cost by class of travel.
The total amount spent by the SEA Cape on memberships of any private club
memberships for staff associated with the SEA Cape (including the Wellington
Club or Northern Club).
The total amount of funds spent on salaries by the SEA Cape in 2018,2019, and
2020. Please breakdown by role.
The total amount of funding spent on hotels by the SEA Cape in 2018, 2019, and
2020. Please breakdown by hotel.”
The Southeast Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence (SEA CAPE) is hosted by Victoria
University of Wellington as part of a consortium of New Zealand universities. As per my
previous correspondence, the aspects of your request that relate to expenditure by other
universities have been transferred to those universities who will respond to you directly.
The table below contains the information you have requested in relation to expenditure
by Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington (The University).
Accommodation
Amora Hotel
2,882
Bolton Hotel
1,601
Copthorne Hotel
190
Cordis Hotel
391
Crown Hotel
516
Distinction Hotel
470
Harvest Lodge
896
Ibis Hotel
170
Inya Lake Hotel
335
James Cook Grand Chancel or
240
Jet Park Hotel
488
Portside Hotel
629
Quadrant Hotel
378
Scenic Hotel
1,018
Skycity Hotel
236
Thorndon Hotel
187
Unspecified
103,043
Hospitality and Event
Catering
127,950
Salaries
1,425,619
International airfares
381,018
Grand Total
2,048,255
Please note the following points regarding this information:
•
Information regarding alcohol purchases is not recorded separately in our financial
reporting systems. Costs associated with expenditure on alcohol are included in the
hospitality field. Your request for the provision of this information separately is
refused in accordance with Section 18(f) of the Act as to provide the information
would require a substantial amount of research and collation that would affect the
effective administration of the University.
•
International airfares purchased are economy class, in accordance with the
Universitie
s Travel and Expenses Policy. However, in some instances, individuals
may choose to upgrade their class of travel at their own personal expense. The
figure provided for international airfares represents the cost to the University for
economy class flights and does not include any additional upgrades purchased
separately by the person travelling.
•
No private club memberships were purchased for SEA Cape members. Therefore,
this aspect of your request is refused in accordance with Section 18(e) of the Act as
the information does not exist.
•
We have provided the total amount spent on salaries. Detailed information
regarding salaries is withheld in accordance with Section 9(2)(a) of the Act in order
to protect the privacy of natural persons.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of the
decisions made regarding this request. Information about how to make a complaint is
available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact me at
[VUW request email].
Ngā mihi nui
Blair Doherty
Senior Advisor, Official Information and Privacy
Legal Services
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
