OIA2958
Sharon Smith
[FYI request #26638 email]
15 May 2024
Tēnā koe Sharon
I refer to your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) of 6 May 2024 to Whaikaha -
Ministry of Disabled People (Whaikaha). You sought:
•
Please upload all documents, emails, memos, meeting minutes and any other
written information regarding options considered around cost reduction. I am
looking for what options were considered given Whaikahas financial position to
cut costs to stay within budget. I am interested in what specific options were
considered and discarded and why.
On 8 May 2024, you clarified that you were interested in options considered for cost
reduction in both the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.
Whaikaha has proactively released the advice provided to the previous Minister about
two initiatives Whaikaha considered, and then implemented, to manage its projected
deficit for 2023/24 expenditure. These two initiatives were:
• introducing measures to better manage demand for Equipment and
Modifications Services and
• making changes to flexible funding Purchasing Rules.
This information can be found her
e: Responses to OIA Requests | Whaikaha - Ministry
of Disabled People
In particular, this briefing may be of interest to you:
Briefing of 22 February 2024 –
Changes to Equipment and Modification Services and flexible funding to manage
Whaikaha expenditure. I can confirm Whaikaha has considered other savings options. However, these options
were considered for both the 23/24 and 24/25 financial years, meaning until Budget
2024 is announced, they are subject the Ministerial consideration.
For this reason, further information in scope of your request is withheld at this time in
accordance with section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the OIA, to maintain the constitutional
conventions for the time being which protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by
Ministers of the Crown and officials.
For your interest, here are some of the in-scope briefings that need to be withheld at
this time under section 9(2)(f)(iv):
Date of
Title
document
13 December 2023 Talking points: Notes to support Hon Simmonds to discuss
Whaikaha cost pressures with the Minister of Finance
15 December 2023 Briefing REP-WHK-23-12-016 Options to manage cost and
spend growth in disability supports
19 January 2024
Briefing REP-WHK-24-01-003 Prioritising options to manage
cost and spend growth in disability supports.
7 March 2024
Briefing REP-WHK-24-03-025 Update on progress on
Whaikaha savings options
Whaikaha will be in a position to consider these documents (and other documents
relating to cost savings) for release under the OIA after Budget 2024 is announced on
30 May 2024.
If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to seek an investigation
and review by the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is
available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi nui
Emma Williams
Manager, Ministerial and Executive Services
