Lillian Hanly of RNZ
The staffer who received a document from Fonterra and Z Energy - that made suggestions for a potential law change - was a senior adviser in the Prime Minister's Office.
The Prime Minister's chief policy adviser, Matt Burgess, received the briefing note which had been delivered in hard copy in mid-2024.
Burgess was in the role in the Prime Minister's Office from January 2024 to October 2025 and had previously worked at the New Zealand Initiative think-tank as senior economist.
When approached for comment, Burgess told RNZ he had nothing to add.
RNZ reported on Sunday that a previously undisclosed briefing document had been provided to the Prime Minister's Office by Fonterra and Z Energy regarding climate activist Mike Smith's case against those companies and other major emitters.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said at the time there was no record of the document on file.
He has since been questioned about the issue by Opposition parties, telling the House yesterday the staffer was "someone who left a while ago".
Today Luxon said again he wouldn't "go into names", as it wasn't appropriate.
"But the staff member hasn't worked there for a while."
Asked repeatedly if the staffer's departure was related to this incident, Luxon said he wouldn't go into "any staffing issues".
"As I said yesterday, all I can confirm is the staff member left a while ago."
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Luxon would need to correct that statement because "within the last month is not some time ago."
"That means he's misled Parliament."
This story was first published on rnz.co.nz |  |
