Contact between Beehive and Treasury on Tuesday 28 May

Matthew Hooton made this Official Information request to Jacinda Ardern

The request was partially successful.

From: Matthew Hooton

Dear Prime Minister

My request concerns the background to announcements made by the Treasury and the Minister of Finance on the evening of 28 May about a decision to refer to the police a complaint that the Treasury’s IT systems had been hacked.

The complaint was linked to statements made earlier in the day by the Opposition, but was quickly found by the police to not refer to any illegal activity.

To say the least, it is highly controversial for a government department to make a police complaint about the opposition, especially one that turns out to be unfounded, with or without its minister’s knowledge, acquiescence and/or encouragement. There is enormous public interest in all the background to the decision becoming public as soon as possible in order to explain what looks like, on the face of it, a politically motivated attempt to use an unfounded police allegation to interfere with what turned out to be legitimate activity by the opposition.

I therefore request under the OIA a timeline of all contact between all Treasury and DPMC officials and staff (including seconded staff) in the PMO and the offices of the Minister and Associate Ministers of Finance between 5pm and 9pm on 28 May.

This includes face-to-face discussions, phone calls, emails whether on public or private email addresses, texts, private WhatsApp, FaceBook or other similar messages, and any other communications whatsoever.

I do not at this stage seek information on the content of these communications.

I am sure you agree that it is desirable this matter be cleared up as soon as possible in order to protect your government’s and New Zealand’s reputation and therefore ask that this request be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

Yours faithfully,

Matthew Hooton

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From: Rt. Hon Jacinda Ardern

Kia ora,

 

Thanks very much for taking the time to get in touch with Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern.

We appreciate your email. Because of the large number of emails we
receive each day, you may not receive a response immediately.

While you are waiting for a reply, here's a list of links that may help
you find what you’re looking for:

[1]Beehive website

[2]The Prime Minister’s Facebook page

[3]The Prime Minister’s Twitter page

[4]Full list of Ministers

 

We hope one of the above links helps answer your question! In any case,
we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Thanks again.

Authorised by Jacinda Ardern MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

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References

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1. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/
2. https://www.facebook.com/jacindaardern/
3. https://twitter.com/jacindaardern
4. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/ministers

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From: Rt. Hon Jacinda Ardern

I am writing on behalf of the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, to acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act request.

Your request will be responded to under the provisions of the Official Information Act 1982.

Yours sincerely

Dinah Okeby
Office of the Prime Minister

Authorised by Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern MP, Parliament Buildings Wellington 6012

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From: Information [DPMC]


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[IN-CONFIDENCE]

 

Kia ora,

 

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) are supporting the
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in the processing of your Official
Information Act request, which was received by their Office on 4 June
2019.

 

We are looking to clarify whether you seeking copies of:

·         all correspondence between PMO (including any staff from DPMC
and Treasury based in our Offices) and the Minister of Finance/Associates
OR

·         all correspondence between PMO and the Minister of
Finance/Associates, all correspondence between Treasury and the Minister
of Finance/Associate and all correspondence between DPMC and the Minister
of Finance/Associates.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Ministerial Advisor
Ministerial Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
 
E    [1][email address]
 
[2]cid:image002.png@01D43609.296F69C0
 
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.

 

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From: Matthew Hooton

Dear Information [DPMC],

My request was quite clear. I do not require any correspondence. I am seeking a list of all communications involving those named in the tlme period named; eg, “6.21 pm PMO Chief of Staff sent text message to Secretary of Treasury.” But I do not require the detail of any of these communications, just a list of all of them.

Yours sincerely,

Matthew Hooton

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From: Jo Pettitt


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Attachment 2019 07 03 Letter to Matthew Hooton.pdf
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Dear Matthew

 

On behalf of Raj Nahna,  I attach a letter in response to your OIA request
received on 4^th June 2019.

 

Kind regards

 

 

 

 

Jo Pettitt

Executive Assistant │Office of Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff

DDI  : + 64 4 817 9732 │Mobile : + 64 21 229 9436

9-038 Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6011

 

 

The information contained in this email is intended for the named
recipient only.  It may contain privileged material or information in
confidence and if you are not the  intended recipient,  you must not copy,
distribute or take any action in reliance on it.  

If you have received this email in error please notify us immediately by
telephone (04 817-9732) or by return email.

Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

Authorised by Jacinda Ardern MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

 

Email disclaimer:

Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at
[1]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

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1. https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

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From: Tabitha Spicer


Attachment image001.png
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Attachment 2019 08 30 Letter to Matthew Hooton.pdf
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Dear Matthew Hooton

 

On behalf of Raj Nahna, I attach a letter in response to your request
received on 4 June 2019.

 

Many apologies for the delay in our response.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Tabitha Spicer

Private Secretary (Administration) │Office of the Prime Minister

DDI  : + 64 4 817 8700

Level 9 Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6011

 

 

The information contained in this email is intended for the named
recipient only.  It may contain privileged material or information in
confidence and if you are not the  intended recipient,  you must not copy,
distribute or take any action in reliance on it.  

If you have received this email in error please notify us immediately by
telephone (04 817-9732) or by return email.

Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

Authorised by Jacinda Ardern MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

 

Email disclaimer:

Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at
[1]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

 

 

 

 

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References

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1. https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

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