Handley texted PM about technology role

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern received a text message from entrepreneur Derek Handley about the role of government chief technology officer but says she did not respond to it.

“I can rule out any direct verbal communication. I haven’t spoken with Mr Handley in at least a year, maybe two,” Ardern said in Parliament yesterday.

She was being questioned about the appointment process by National leader Simon Bridges, who asked whether she had had any communication with Handley since she became Prime Minister. Ardern said she recalled receiving a text message some months ago from Handley mentioning the CTO role but she did not directly engage with him because it would have been inappropriate.

“My best recollection is I received a text message I didn’t directly engage in. For all other platforms I would want to go back and check, but I don’t recall directly communicating in regards to that role,” Ardern told Parliament.

Meanwhile, State Services Minister Chris Hipkins has been ordered by Speaker Trevor Mallard to bring to the debating chamber today all emails exchanged between former minister Clare Curran and Handley via her private Gmail account that have not already been publicly released.

He made the direction after National MP Nick Smith complained that he had asked about the number of Gmails and their content without success.