Papers for Meeting in Finance Minister's Office: circa 7pm Tuesday 28 May

Matthew Hooton made this Official Information request to Jacinda Ardern

Response to this request is long overdue. By law Jacinda Ardern should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.

From: Matthew Hooton

Dear Jacinda Ardern,

The New Zealand Herald has reported that a meeting was held in the Office of the Minister of Finance around 7pm on Tuesday 28 May involving the Minister of Finance, the Secretary of the Treasury, staff from your office and staff from the Office of the Minister of the Finance.

Specifically, the Herald reported:

"What is known is that Makhlouf met Robertson at 7pm on Tuesday in Robertson's Beehive office to tell him he had referred the "hacking" matter to police.

"During that meeting, Robertson, and staff from his office and the Prime Minister's Office are understood to have grilled Makhlouf over his belief that the Treasury had been "hacked".

"Makhlouf held his ground and insisted that "hacking" was the right description, the Herald has been told.

"Robertson has previously said Makhlouf told him in the meeting that the Treasury had been "hacked", but that he could not tell him how it had happened or what material had been accessed."

Under the Official Information Act, I request the following:

1. The names and job titles of everyone who attended this meeting
2. All documents considered at the meeting, from wherever they were prepared, including but not limited to draft press statements
3. All handwritten or other notes taken by those at the meeting or marks made on the documents referred to in 2 above
4. Why no decision was taken at the meeting to immediately release market-sensitive parts of the Budget, given a hack of the Treasury was alleged to have occurred but that it was allegedly unclear how it had happened or what material had been accessed.

You will be aware there is a very high degree of public interest in this matter given speculation, as evidenced by media coverage, of incompetent or dishonest behaviour by some or all of those at the meeting, who include some of the most powerful people in New Zealand. I therefore ask that my request be dealt with urgently and that even if, under S9(1) of the Act, there are good reasons for withholding the information, that it be accepted that withholding of the information is outweighed by other considerations which render it desirable, in the public interest, to make that information available; namely to provide full assurance about the conduct and integrity of the Minister of Finance and Secretary of the Treasury on matters involving national security and the right of the Opposition to go about its business unhindered by frivolous complaints to the Police.

Thank you

Yours sincerely,

Matthew Hooton

Link to this

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

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

Link to this

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Hooton [mailto:[FYI request #10506 email]]
Sent: Monday, 10 June 2019 2:48 PM
To: J Ardern (MIN) <[Jacinda Ardern request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Papers for Meeting in Finance Minister's Office: circa 7pm Tuesday 28 May

Dear Jacinda Ardern,

The New Zealand Herald has reported that a meeting was held in the Office of the Minister of Finance around 7pm on Tuesday 28 May involving the Minister of Finance, the Secretary of the Treasury, staff from your office and staff from the Office of the Minister of the Finance.

Specifically, the Herald reported:

"What is known is that Makhlouf met Robertson at 7pm on Tuesday in Robertson's Beehive office to tell him he had referred the "hacking" matter to police.

"During that meeting, Robertson, and staff from his office and the Prime Minister's Office are understood to have grilled Makhlouf over his belief that the Treasury had been "hacked".

"Makhlouf held his ground and insisted that "hacking" was the right description, the Herald has been told.

"Robertson has previously said Makhlouf told him in the meeting that the Treasury had been "hacked", but that he could not tell him how it had happened or what material had been accessed."

Under the Official Information Act, I request the following:

1. The names and job titles of everyone who attended this meeting 2. All documents considered at the meeting, from wherever they were prepared, including but not limited to draft press statements 3. All handwritten or other notes taken by those at the meeting or marks made on the documents referred to in 2 above 4. Why no decision was taken at the meeting to immediately release market-sensitive parts of the Budget, given a hack of the Treasury was alleged to have occurred but that it was allegedly unclear how it had happened or what material had been accessed.

You will be aware there is a very high degree of public interest in this matter given speculation, as evidenced by media coverage, of incompetent or dishonest behaviour by some or all of those at the meeting, who include some of the most powerful people in New Zealand. I therefore ask that my request be dealt with urgently and that even if, under S9(1) of the Act, there are good reasons for withholding the information, that it be accepted that withholding of the information is outweighed by other considerations which render it desirable, in the public interest, to make that information available; namely to provide full assurance about the conduct and integrity of the Minister of Finance and Secretary of the Treasury on matters involving national security and the right of the Opposition to go about its business unhindered by frivolous complaints to the Police.

Thank you

Yours sincerely,

Matthew Hooton

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This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #10506 email]

Is [Jacinda Ardern request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Jacinda Ardern? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

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From: Matthew Hooton

Dear Dinah

Thank you for your prompt reply. Your your convenience, the NZ Herald story I refer to can be found at https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic...

Yours sincerely,

Matthew Hooton

Link to this

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

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

Link to this

From: Rt. Hon Jacinda Ardern

Thank you - I will pass that on.
Cheers
Dinah

Dinah Okeby
Office of the Prime Minister

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Hooton [mailto:[FYI request #10506 email]]
Sent: Monday, 10 June 2019 3:03 PM
To: Rt. Hon Jacinda Ardern <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Papers for Meeting in Finance Minister's Office: circa 7pm Tuesday 28 May

Dear Dinah

Thank you for your prompt reply. Your your convenience, the NZ Herald story I refer to can be found at https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic...

Yours sincerely,

Matthew Hooton

-----Original Message-----

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

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #10506 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________

hide quoted sections

Link to this

From: Tabitha Spicer


Attachment image001.png
30K Download

Attachment image003.png
7K Download

Attachment 2019 06 24 Letter to Matthew Hooton.pdf
97K Download View as HTML


Dear Matthew,

 

On behalf of Raj Nahna, I attach a letter in response to your request
received on 10^th June 2019.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Tabitha Spicer

Private Secretary (Administration) │Office of the Prime Minister

DDI  : + 64 4 817 9805

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

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

Link to this

From: Hon Grant Robertson


Attachment Matthew Hooton.pdf
87K Download View as HTML


 

 

Katy Greco-Ainslie | Private Secretary | Office of Hon Grant Robertson

Member of Parliament for Wellington Central

Minister of Finance | Minister for Sport and Recreation | Minister
Responsible for the Earthquake Commission |Associate Minister for Arts,
Culture and Heritage

Private Bag 18 888 |Parliament Buildings |Wellington 6011 |Ph: +64 4 817
9091  [1]www.beehive.govt.nz

 

The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and
intended for the addressee only.  If you are not the intended recipient,
you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or
make use of its contents.  If received in error you are asked to destroy
this email and contact the sender immediately.  Your assistance is
appreciated.

 

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
[2]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. http://www.beehive.govt.nz/
2. https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

Link to this

From: Hon Grant Robertson


Attachment Matthew Hooton.pdf
157K Download View as HTML


 

 

Katy Greco-Ainslie | Private Secretary | Office of Hon Grant Robertson

Member of Parliament for Wellington Central

Minister of Finance | Minister for Sport and Recreation | Minister
Responsible for the Earthquake Commission |Associate Minister for Arts,
Culture and Heritage

Private Bag 18 888 |Parliament Buildings |Wellington 6011 |Ph: +64 4 817
9091  [1]www.beehive.govt.nz

 

The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and
intended for the addressee only.  If you are not the intended recipient,
you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or
make use of its contents.  If received in error you are asked to destroy
this email and contact the sender immediately.  Your assistance is
appreciated.

 

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
[2]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

 

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.beehive.govt.nz/
2. https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

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