Details of the email exchange between former Digital Services Minister Clare Curran and Derek Handley were revealed today during Parliament's Question Time.
The messages were sent over the role of chief technology officer, with Ms Curran using her private Gmail account to send the emails.
An offer to Mr Handley for the role was retracted by the Government last week, resulting in a $100,000 pay out to the entrepreneur.
Acting State Services Minister Grant Robertson told the House the following about three exchanges between the pair about the role.
First exchange
August 11:
"Derek Handley emails Clare Curran about the chief technology officer position and questions about the role of the CTO, including resourcing for the role and potential conflicts of interest."
August 14
"Clare Curran replies to that email, confirming a call to discuss these matters."
August 15
"Derek Handley replies to that, confirming times for the call."
Second exchange
August 19
"Clare Curran emails Derek Handley regarding logistics around the next step on the process of appointment, including the content of any public statements that might be made, and refers to contract discussions with the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA)."
August 20
"Derek Handley responds to that email to Clare Curran about those issues, including the contact he has had with DIA and management of conflicts of interest."
Third exchange
August 21
"Clare Curran emails Derek Handley regarding issues that would be on the work plan of the chief technology officer and attaches some relevant background documents on those issues.
"On the same day, Derek Handley responds to Clare Curran, acknowledging the material and referring to the discussions that he is having with DIA."
Derek Handley says he’ll donate the compensation but is disappointed at the way the issue was handled.
The chief technology officer was intended to "drive a forward-looking digital agenda for New Zealand", said the then Minister for Government Digital Services Clare Curran, when the role was announced last December.
The new Minister for Government Digital Services Megan Woods said the Government have put a "full stop" on the process.
Ms Curran was stripped of her position as Minister for Government Digital Services after not disclosing a meeting with Mr Handley previously.
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