66194 (2024). Lan Pham to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform

66194 (2024). Lan Pham to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform: What advice, briefings, reports or any other document, if any, did the Minister and their office receive from the Cabinet Office regarding conflicts of interest since February 2024?

Hon Chris Bishop: The Cabinet Office, on behalf of the Prime Minister, supports Ministers in identifying and managing conflicts of interest that may arise in relation to their portfolios or other ministerial responsibilities. Details regarding conflicts of interest disclosed to the Cabinet Office are not generally released, in order to ensure the confidentiality of Cabinet proceedings, to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs and, in some cases, to protect personal privacy. This has been the approach taken by successive administrations over many years 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. However, I can confirm that I received advice from the Cabinet Office on the following matters: • Following my appointment as a Minister, I met with the Cabinet Office for a confidential discussion about conflicts of interest, following which it provided a register of my interests and any recommended management actions in accordance with paragraph 2.76 of the Cabinet Manual. The Prime Minister agreed with the proposed management plan. • In relation to a personal conflict of interest, the Cabinet Office advised a management plan under which I will not receive Cabinet papers regarding, or participate in, certain decisions relating to Wellington International Airport Ltd with effect from 23 May 2024. This will be published in the Cabinet Office’s next proactive release relating to conflicts of interest. • In the middle of the year, I participated in the Cabinet Office’s 2024 review of Ministers’ conflicts of interest, during which I met with the Cabinet Office to go through my interest register to identify any new matters that have arisen and any other changes that need to be made. • In relation to projects to be included in the Fast-track Approvals Bill, the Cabinet Office provided advice relating to the transfer of responsibility described in https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-releases-more-fast-track-detail