58342 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Police

58342 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Police: 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 2022?

Hon Mark Mitchell: I am advised that the information requested is not recorded centrally and is not readily available. To collate this information would require considerable effort to assemble. The time and associated cost in obtaining this information are not, in my view, justifiable. However, I am further advised that Police has comprehensive policies and processes in place, including a Sensitive Expenditure policy which provides high-level guidance and principles to support Police staff to appropriately manage sensitive expenditure. This policy provides guidance and principles to ensure expenditure is appropriate, transparent, and compliant with all statutory and regulatory requirements. It covers matters such as staff functions, end-of-year events, alcohol use in exceptional circumstances, recognition, gifts, and refreshments. The end of year functions for the Serious Fraud Office’s Wellington and Auckland offices are primarily staff-funded via a social club fund. SFO makes an annual contribution of $35 per staff member into the social club fund to support events during the financial year, and some of this funding may be used to support end of year functions. These arrangements are consistent with previous financial years. This is also my response to Written Parliamentary Questions 58345, 58346, 58347, 58349, and 58350 (2025).