15 May 2024
45 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wel ington 6011
PO Box 805, Wellington
Phone 04 495 7200
John Luke
Ema
il [email address]
[FYI request #26631 email]
Website dia.govt.nz
Tēnā koe John,
Your Official Information Act 1982 request, reference OIA 2324-0938
I am responding to your email of 5 May 2024 to Te Tari Taiwhenua | the Department of
Internal Affairs (the Department) requesting the fol owing under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act):
I noted, you have recently call for nomination for your Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust
[…] May I ask how you called for public nomination and on what platform you have call
for public nominations e.g. govt.jobs website. Also, how many applications you have
received from the public and how many you have received from other nominating
agencies such as TPK or Ministry of women etc for your role. How many you have
shortlisted and how many you have interviewed.
Response to your request
On 21 March 2024, the Department opened a call for nominations for the Chinese Poll Tax
Heritage Trust (the Trust) and advertised positions on its website at:
www.dia.govt.nz/Appointments-to-Statutory-Bodies.
On 25 March, the Department sought nominations from the Ministry for Ethnic
Communities. We also sought nominations from several Chinese community organisations
and advertised the roles in Chinese newspapers, such as the Chinese Herald Limited and the
New Zealand South Island Chinese Newspaper Limited. The Minister for Ethnic Communities
also sought nominations from parliamentary col eagues.
Applications for the Trust closed on 19 April 2024. The Department received 17 applications
and is in the process of shortlisting applicants. I am therefore refusing your request for the
numbers of shortlisted and interviewed candidates under section 18(g) of the Act, as the
information requested does not exist.
Of the 17 applications, one was received from the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, and the
remaining candidates learned of the vacancies from Chinese community groups, the
Appointments to Statutory Bodies page on our website, or by word of mouth.
Accessing the Ombudsman
You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to seek an investigation and review of this
decision by the Office of the Ombudsman. Information on how to make a complaint is
available at:
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz. The postal address is PO Box 10152,
Wellington. Alternatively, you can phone 0800 802 602 or email
[email address].
Proactive release
We intend to publish our response to your request on www.dia.govt.nz. This letter, with
your personal details removed, wil be published in its entirety. Publishing responses
increases the availability of information to the public and is consistent with the Act’s
purpose of enabling more effective participation in the making and administration of laws
and policies and promoting the accountability of Ministers and officials.
Nāku noa, nā
Jeremy Cauchi
Director Ministerial, Monitoring, and Capability
