8114 (2026). Hon Kieran McAnulty to the Minister of Housing

8114 (2026). Hon Kieran McAnulty to the Minister of Housing: On what date did he first become aware of a proposal to transfer Infrastructure Acceleration Fund funding from a Hutt City stormwater project to the City Link Bridge project and when, if at all, did he first discuss that proposal with the Chair of Kāinga Ora?

Hon Chris Bishop: I was first made aware of Hutt City Council’s formal variation request on 3 February 2025, when I received a letter from Jo Miller, Chief Executive of Hutt City Council, requesting approval to amend its IAF Funding Agreement and delivery plan. However, in the interests of full disclosure, I do recall the Mayor of Lower Hutt at the time, Campbell Barry, mentioning to me around Christmas 2024 that Hutt City Council was interested in and/or working on a variation request to their IAF agreement. The former Mayor and I caught up regularly in formal and informal settings and often discussed a range of matters. From memory, he indicated the Council would write to me in the new year about the matter. I do not recall discussing the proposal with the Chair of Kāinga Ora.