Official Information Act Request by Sunday Star Times
05 August 2010
New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) recently received a request from the Sunday Star Times (SST) related to the credit card usage and personal expense claim reimbursements of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The request period was for the 2 years to 30 June 2010.
NZBS has since complied with that request in accordance with the obligations imposed on Crown Entities under the Official Information Act.
We appreciate the level of public interest in knowing how health money is spent and support making this information publicly available.
NZBS as a national “public good entity” is entirely dependent on the goodwill of New Zealanders for blood donation, a selfless act so essential to the provision of safe blood product to those New Zealanders in need. Therefore; to ensure the confidence of the New Zealand public is maintained in our organisation; a summary of the CEO expenditure, as provided to the Sunday Star Times, over the 2 year period by expenditure category is set out below.
Our organisation, like others, has a number of internal checks in place to guide credit card use and reimbursement of expense claims, and we closely monitor how these are used. The reality is that the CEO of a national service needs to spend time meeting with others to share information, coordinate regional and national activities, make decisions and be aware of international best practice. This is all about improving the way our organisation delivers services to the community. NZBS is committed to using public money responsibly.
If there are any further queries in regard to this information please contact John Harrison, NZBS Chief Financial Officer in the first instance on 09-523-5752.
Fiona Ritsma
NZBS CEO
5th August 2010
