7707 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety

7707 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does the answer to WPQ 5535 / 24 show all amounts WorkSafe paid for legal services to the law firm Meredith Connell (if anything) in each month commencing 1 July 2022 to 1 March 2024, or only amounts relating to the Whakaari prosecutions and related Buttles Judicial Review; if it is the latter what were the full amounts WorkSafe paid for legal services to the law firm Meredith Connell (if anything) in each month commencing 1 July 2022 to 1 March 2024?

Hon Brooke van Velden: I am advised that WorkSafe New Zealand’s response to WPQ 5535 / 24 showing the amounts paid to Meredith Connell in each month commencing 1 July 2022 to 1 March 2024 related only to the Whakaari prosecutions and related Buttles Judicial Review. The below table shows again the amounts provided in the response to WPQ 5535/24 and then an additional column which shows the total amounts paid to Meredith Connell each month for all matters. These amounts are GST exclusive and include disbursements. Additionally, we received a credit from MC when it was identified that WS had been overcharged AOG fees in error.