Ardern Jacinda: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeArdern Jacinda: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 06 May 2014. Volume:698;Page:17489. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.JACINDA ARDERN (Labour) to theMinister of Police: Is she satisfied with the role she has played as Minister of Police in the events that led up to Hon Maurice Williamson’s resignation last week?Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Police): Yes. I had no role to play in the investigation or in the events that led up to the resignation of the Hon Maurice Williamson.Jacinda Ardern: When was she first informed that Maurice Williamson had placed a phone call to senior police officers regarding an active criminal investigation and whom was she informed by?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: The police commissioner verbally briefed me on the afternoon of 28 April 2014.Jacinda Ardern: If she has a no-surprises policy with the police why did it take from 23 January when Maurice Williamson made the call to the police until 28 April for her to be informed?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: The police decide if and when an issue should be brought to my attention and how much information they should give me. I back the police to make that decision.Jacinda Ardern: At the time she was briefed about the Official Information Act request relating to Maurice Williamson’s contact with the police what date did the police discuss releasing this information to theNew Zealand Herald?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: From memory the police commissioner indicated to me that they had informed the reporter that they were going to hold the Official Information Act request until after the appearance in court in the following week.Jacinda Ardern: Did she believe that it was acceptable to sit on information relating to her ministerial colleague’s interference in an active criminal case until June which is when theNew Zealand Heraldreporter was told by the police on Tuesday that the information would be released to him?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I am sorry. I could not understand from the question—Mr SPEAKER: The easiest way forward is to ask the member to repeat the question.Jacinda Ardern: I am happy to repeat the question.Mr SPEAKER: Yes please.Jacinda Ardern: Why did she believe it was acceptable to sit on information relating to her ministerial colleague’s interference in an active criminal case until June which is the date theNew Zealand Heraldreporter was given by the police for the release of the Official Information Act information—the day after she was briefed?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: Well first of all I did not sit on any information. I had no knowledge that there was an Official Information Act request in. I had no knowledge of Maurice Williamson’s phone call until 28 April Monday when the police commissioner briefed me. If the member is asking about the appropriateness of the police then that is an operational issue and I trust the police to deal with that in the manner in which they have operational independence.Jacinda Ardern: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I believe that the member may have misinterpreted my question. My question related to the date that the police gave her that they would be releasing the information to theNew Zealand Heraldwhich was 2 months after she was briefed about the Official Information Act request.Mr SPEAKER: No the question as you have explained it was the way I understood it as well. The Minister said she certainly did not sit on any information and then she went on to say that if the police have indicated another date that was an operational matter. The Minister has addressed that question.Jacinda Ardern: Was the Minister informed by the police that they would not release the information about Maurice Williamson’s emails until June which is what theNew Zealand Heraldreporter was told?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: In an earlier answer to that member I told her that the police commissioner informed me they had informed the reporter that because the man was due to appear in court in the following week they did not intend to release the emails prior to that court appearance. That is entirely up to the police to decide that.