28861 (2026). Rt Hon Chris Hipkins to the Prime Minister

Written Question

Published date: 02 Jul 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	28861 (2026)
Question asked:	16 Jun 2026
Member asking:	Rt Hon Chris Hipkins
Portfolio:	Prime Minister
Minister replying:	Rt Hon Christopher Luxon
Answer received:	28 Jun 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_28861_2026
Document guid:	e9db6b67-2924-4986-a105-9c75c110e2f0

28861 (2026). Rt Hon Chris Hipkins to the Prime Minister: Further to his answer to written question 20419 (2026): prior to media reporting on 24 May 2026, had his Chief of Staff had any discussions regarding the Smith v Fonterra case with any of his staff, if so, who?

Rt Hon Christopher Luxon: The Chief of Staff had brief conversations with my former Chief Policy Advisor on a small number of occasions across 2024 and 2025, asking the Chief Policy Advisor to check whether work was progressing on the issue as it was an area Ministers had indicated they were keen to progress in early 2024. Further the Chief of Staff also called the Senior Ministerial Advisor in Hon Goldsmith’s office around 23 October 2025, to check he was the correct person to forward the email received from Z Energy referred to in my reply to question 20419 (2026).