28717 (2026). Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Prime Minister

28717 (2026). Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Prime Minister: How many concerns, if any, regarding actual or perceived conflicts of interest in the Fast-track process have been raised with the Prime Minister or the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet since 1 January 2024?

Rt Hon Christopher Luxon: In my capacity as Prime Minister, I am the responsible minister for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC). On my behalf, the Cabinet Office supports Ministers in identifying and managing conflicts of interest that may arise in relation to their portfolios. The details regarding conflicts of interest are not generally disclosed. This has been the approach of successive administrations because it is in the public interest that the Cabinet Office can obtain and assess information about conflicts of interest and provide advice to Ministers on how to resolve them on a confidential basis. The Cabinet Office proactively releases some details of conflicts of interest, where the management action has resulted in a transfer of responsibility or a standing arrangement not to receive papers (including in the context of Fast-track Approvals Act). This is available at: https://www.dpmc.govt.nz. Hon Bishop also released some information about the management of conflicts of interest in relation to the Fast-Track Approvals Act, available at: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-releases-more-fast-track-detail. As to the number of concerns regarding actual or perceived conflicts of interest in the Fast-track process raised with me or DPMC since 1 January 2024, DPMC and I receive correspondence about a variety of matters, and this is not categorised in the way the Member has asked. To collate this information requires substantial resources and thus a cost to the taxpayers. In accordance with Speaker’s Ruling 210/6, I do not consider that this would be in the public interest.