Rich Katherine: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Rich Katherine: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:620;Page:16176] 
9.  
KATHERINE RICH (National) 
 to the  
Minister for State Owned Enterprises 
: Has the Minister of Local Government expressed any concerns to him regarding the involvement of State-owned enterprise New Zealand Post’s subsidiary Datamail in the local body election “shambles”; if so what were those concerns? 
Hon MARK BURTON (Minister for State Owned Enterprises) 
: 
 Yes he has expressed strongly his concern that a timely and accurate reporting of the election results did not happen. I agree. 
Katherine Rich 
: Does he agree with the statement of the Minister of Local Government on National Radio yesterday that “It is I guess embarrassing that it’s a State company that’s responsible for this yes.”; if so what steps is he taking to ensure that New Zealand Post is not responsible for this kind of embarrassment again? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: Of course I am disappointed that any company owned by New Zealand Post should be involved in what can only be described as a failure. I agree with the comments of the chief executive of New Zealand Post that every effort has to be made first to put right the immediate situation which I think we would all agree is the first priority; and secondly to ensure that the underlying problem is addressed. I can tell the member because I know that she will be pleased to hear that the board of New Zealand Post has already moved to have KPMG appointed to conduct a complete independent audit of the process to help achieve just that result. 
H V Ross Robertson 
: Given the Minister’s answer to the House has he passed on to Datamail his own concerns about the delays and inaccuracies? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: Yes of course I have and the chief executive of New Zealand Post has informed me that the technical error that caused the problem has now been isolated and corrected. 
Katherine Rich 
: How did Datamail work with other Government agencies to ensure the vote-capturing software was of a suitable standard? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: The member is now delving into operational areas that I obviously do not have direct responsibility for but I can tell the member that I am advised that the software was indeed tested. There was a mock election in August which involved the Wellington City Council. 
John Key 
: Who won? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: That is a good question. I am further advised that all parties involved were fully satisfied with the testing results and that the testing was audited by Audit New Zealand. 
Katherine Rich 
: Why did the general operations manager of Datamail say that Datamail had worked for 2 years with the Ministry of Health and the Department of Internal Affairs on developing this system and that they had gained “the confidence of these departments” when the Minister of Local Government proclaimed last night that the departments had played no such role? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: I have no idea. I am not aware of the comment. 
Peter Brown 
: Noting those answers is the Minister telling this House that New Zealand Post is totally responsible for the shambles that occurred last Saturday with the local government elections and there is no ministerial responsibility whatsoever? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: I am not telling the member or the House that New Zealand Post is entirely responsible for the shambles last weekend.