58249 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Housing

58249 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Housing: How much, if any, did the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, spend on christmas, holiday, end of year, and any other types of celebratory functions or parties during November and December in 2020?

Hon Chris Bishop: Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities advises me that in 2020 the cost of Christmas functions was $152,531. Due to HUD changing to a new financial management system, it would take considerable amount of time to collate this information. Therefore, in accordance with Speaker’s Ruling 210/6, I consider that the time, and hence expense, of answering this question cannot be justified as a matter of public interest. However, I can confirm that HUD's policy at the time was a maximum of $15 per staff member on Christmas-related activities, that there would be one HUD-funded event for staff (as per Public Service Commission guidance at the time), and that this funding could not be spent on alcohol.