The Arts Council, which governs Creative NZ, did follow the process as it was required, the judge said. Not all steps taken by staff in the process needed to be explicitly laid out. It also made no error. Creative NZ fulfilled its responsibilities in relation to responding to the complaint of denied funding, the judge decided. It investigated appropriately, and met the requirements of the complaints process. DANZ was “expressly advised” that it may not be successful in obtaining funding, despite the long-term nature of its funding relationship with Creative NZ. There was no basis for any legitimate expectation it would be consulted or notified other than what actually occurred.