Government
MFAT Released Five OIA Responses Last Week. Three Were Identical.
While households freeze spending on soaring bills, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade just published nine OIA responses. Five were duplicates. This is what government transparency looks like in 2025.
Which Regions Are Government Departments Actually Spending Money In?
While ministers announce national policies, procurement data shows where the money actually flows. Auckland and Canterbury dominate government spending, but the gap to everywhere else tells a different story about regional investment.
Why Is the Government Tendering Three Thousand Contracts in Auckland Alone?
While the government announces homeless move-on orders for town centres nationwide, procurement data reveals Auckland received 2,938 tender opportunities last year. That's more than Canterbury, Wellington, and Waikato combined.
Where Does Your Tax Money Go? 25,000 Tenders Say Mostly to Auckland and Canterbury.
Every government contract is supposed to be public. But when you look at where 25,000 tenders actually go, two regions dominate. and the pattern raises uncomfortable questions about fairness.
Where Does Your Tax Money Go? One Region Has Triple the Government Contracts of Another
New Zealand recorded 3,011 government tenders last year. But Auckland companies won nearly as many contracts, while entire regions fought over scraps. The procurement gap is bigger than you think.
Auckland Companies Won 12% of All Government Contracts. Wellington Won 8%.
Government procurement tenders show a stark regional divide: Auckland dominates with nearly 3,000 contracts, while the capital trails behind. The data reveals which parts of New Zealand actually benefit when taxpayers open their wallets.
Government Spent $25 Billion Through Procurement. One Region Got Nearly Three Times More Work Than Another.
New Zealand had 3,011 national tenders. Auckland had 2,938 just for itself. The data reveals which regions are winning the government contract lottery and which are being left behind.
Public Service Commission Released Nine OIA Responses. Five Were Duplicates.
While the government talks about transparency, the Public Service Commission just dumped nine OIA responses on FYI.org.nz. Three of them were the exact same request, released three times. This is what official accountability looks like in 2025.
Police Released Five OIA Responses This Week. Four Were About Lounge Access.
While courts grapple with AI deepfakes, Police spent the week releasing official information about airport lounges and gift registers. The data nobody asked about is flowing freely. The transparency that matters? Still waiting.
Courts Worry About AI Deepfakes While Privacy Commissioner Refuses Data on Tech Threats
As judges struggle with AI evidence in court, the Privacy Commissioner has quietly refused multiple OIA requests about digital privacy threats. Four refusals in recent months all relate to technology risks New Zealanders face daily.
Police Refuse to Show Their Working on Roadside Drug Testing Claims
While courts worry about AI-generated evidence, Police have twice refused to reveal the factual basis for their own public statements about roadside drug tests. The OIA refusals raise a simple question: what are they protecting?
What's the Government Hiding About Hospital Financing? OIA Answers Tell You Nothing.
While courts worry about AI fakery, the real transparency crisis is unfolding in plain sight. Five new OIA responses just dropped, and not one reveals actual numbers about how we're financing public hospitals.
Government Agencies Now Refusing Evidence Requests on Their Own Public Claims
While courts grapple with AI fakery, government departments are refusing to provide the evidence behind statements they made to the public. Two identical requests about council spending sat refused. Police won't back up roadside drug test claims.
The Treasury Answers Zero OIA Requests While Courts Worry About AI Fakery
As judges grapple with deep fakes in court, one government agency has a perfect record of refusing Official Information Act requests: The Treasury answers 0% successfully. IRD, by contrast, answers nearly half.
Christchurch Council Refuses One in Four OIA Requests While Canterbury Drowns
Lake Forsyth residents are asking why the council didn't act before flooding hit. Now the data shows Christchurch City Council has the worst OIA refusal rate in the country at 24%. When councils won't answer questions, people pay the price.
The Government Just Backed Down on Housing. Good Luck Getting the Data on Why.
While ministers announce policy U-turns on Auckland housing, the agencies meant to explain those decisions refuse to answer public questions. Treasury's OIA success rate? Zero percent.