provided by Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision to Minister Maggie Barry noted that even though it wanted to close the Christchurch operation it would be "increasing the level of activity and visibility that Cantabrians have to all of the collections". This was likely to include Christchurch-based partnerships with galleries, cinemas, archives, museums and libraries. Political involvement The Office of Hon Maggie Barry worked closely with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision to formulate a set of consistent responses that could be used by the Minister and others. The text was circulated to other Ministers' Offices as suggested responses to media or stakeholder enquires. Two weeks prior to the restructure being confirmed, opposition Labour MP Jacinda Ardern submitted seven written questions to the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Maggie Barry regarding the proposed restructure. The most notable question which was later highlighted by RNZ news, was "Does the Minister consider it satisfactory that much of New Zealand's audio-visual heritage is in the hands of a private trust which is not answerable in any formal or legal way to the people of New Zealand except through temporary funding contracts?" Ms Ardern was told that Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision was accountable through its agreement with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. And later, in response to an Official Information Act request Minister Barry wrote that "though significantly funded by government, Ngā Taonga is a non-government organisation and is responsible for its own organisational matters. It would therefore be inappropriate for me as a Minister to interfere with Ngā Taonga's internal decision-making." The New Zealand First Party said that relocating the national sound archives from Christchurch to Wellington was a direct result of the government's obsession with centralisation. New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters said "The wisdom of shifting archives to an area which is considered an earthquake risk in which 60 buildings were closed after the recent Kaikoura earthquake with some having to be demolished, must also be questioned. The plan was only announced to staff on 7 November and has been rushed through without professional risk management or sufficient input from the cultural heritages sector." National concern The Archives and Records Association of New Zealand wrote to Minister Maggie Barry and opposition MP Jacinda Ardern to express their concerns with the restructure. The Association noted that relocating all of the collections to Wellington "increases