Tēnā koe,

 

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Cabinet.

This email address is monitored between 9am & 5pm, Monday to Friday
(excluding public holidays).

If your email is an Official Information Act submission it will be
formally acknowledged in the coming days and actioned accordingly. For
more information about the statutory OIA timeframes please see
- [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

 

If your enquiry is regarding job opportunities within DPMC please see
- [2]https://centralagenciesjobs.cass.govt.nz...

 

If you are writing about obtaining a New Zealand Visa please see
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If your correspondence is intended for the Prime Minister please email her
office at - [email address]

If you correspondence relates to the New Zealand Police you can contact
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our purview. If we are unable to respond we will forward your email to
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of DPMC please view our website - [6]https://dpmc.govt.nz/

 

Ngā mihi,

DPMC Ministerial Services Team.

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hide quoted sections

[IN-CONFIDENCE]

Kia ora Mahrukh,

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 which was received on 13 September 2019, copied below. A response will be provided in accordance with the Act (please see the Office of the Ombudsman Website for more details -  http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/).

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) may publish the response to your Official Information Act (OIA) request.

When you are provided with a response to this request, you will be informed about whether the response to your OIA request will be published. If DPMC does publish the response to your OIA request, personal information, including your name and contact details, will be removed. This publication process does not apply to extension letters or transfers.

Ngā mihi,
Anna.

Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

E    [DPMC request email]

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.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mahrukh Sarwar <[FYI request #11215 email]>
Sent: Friday, 13 September 2019 11:41 PM
To: Information [DPMC] <[DPMC request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Information for the purpose of participating in the Royal Commission inquiry into the attack on Christchurch Mosques.

Dear Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet,

DPMC

We request the following information for the purpose of participating in the Royal Commission inquiry into the attack on Christchurch Mosques.

Relevant Operative Mentions
1. Copies of documents, correspondences and addresses (including but not limited to emails, letters, presentations) referring to any of the following terms:
a. Arab / Muslim / Islam / Islamist / Islamicist / Jihadist /
b. Terrorists / Extremists / Radical / Far-right / White supremacy

By any of the following Politicians for Period A
a. Winston Peters
b. Don McKinnon
c. Jim Bolger
d. Jenny Shipley
e. Warren Cooper

By any of the following Politicians for Period B
a. Phil Goff
b. Winston Peters
c. Phil Goff
d. Chris Carter
e. Trevor Mallard
f. Mark Burton
g. Don Brash

By any of the following Politicians for Period C
a. Simon Bridges
b. Judith Collins
c. Chris Finlayson
d. Winston Peters
e. Rodney Hide
f. Alfred Ngaro
g. Ron Mark

By any of the following Politicians for Period D
a. Winston Peters
b. Ron Mark
c. Andrew Little
d. Jenny Salesa
e. Kelvin Davis

2. What correspondence have Members of Parliament received from the Public for Periods A, B, C and D which include use of any of the following words:
a. Arab
b. Muslim (including its variant spellings)
c. Burqa (including its variant spellings)
d. Islamic
e. Islam

Training
3. What professional cultural advice or training or resources has the government requested or received on Islam or Muslims for periods A, B, C and D?

Policy Reform
4. What made the government form a task force to monitor for far-right extremism in July 2018?

5. Where did the bridge-building initiative between the government and Muslim Community post 9-11 originate from and what initiatives was it based on or influenced by?

6. Why have the government stopped trying to bridge build with the Muslim community? What was the shift in DPMC policy that deprioritised bridgebuilding?

7. What cultural intelligence and cultural awareness and sensitivity training and reform arose out of the consequences of the Ahmed Zaoui Case? 

8. What cultural intelligence and cultural awareness and sensitivity training and reform arose out of the consequences of the Urewera Raids? 

Royal Commission
9. What was the process for selecting the Royal Commission?

Consultation
10. Who is the government’s on-hand cultural advisor/negotiator/facilitator for:
a. On-going strategy
b. Emergency Situations

Diversity
10. What diverse perspectives have been embraced and resulted in reform of organisational culture that promotes diverse experiences and perspectives?

We request information for the following time periods:
Period A: October 2017 – present
Period B: November 2008 – October 2017
Period C: December 1999 – November 2008 Period D: November 1990 – November 1999

For the requests that ask for information from Periods A, B, C and D please note we do not require that all the information come through at once.
We request in order of this priority: Period A, then B, then C and finally period D.

Word-specific requests: please include variant spellings for these. E.g. For a request pertaining to “Muslim”, please include variants such as “Moslem”.

We appreciate that our requests are extensive. However, they are not disproportionate to the significance of the matters we are engaging in with the Royal Commission.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,
Mahrukh Sarwar

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

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #11215 email]

Is [DPMC request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet? 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.

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

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Mahrukh Sarwar

 

Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request
received by DPMC on 13 September 2019. Your full request is in the email
below.

 

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) is only in a
position to respond to your request in terms of information held by DPMC.
To respond, we would like to engage with you in more detail to clarify the
information you would like to receive. I note parts of your request can be
interpreted in different ways, some parts appear to be for information
that would not be official information as deemed by the Act or is for
information (if it exists) that would not be held by DPMC but may be held
by another department or Minister, or is already publicly available.

 

We invite you to contact us at [1][DPMC request email] so that we can
clarify each aspect of your request with you directly.  Grateful if you
could please make contact by Friday, 27 September 2019 to enable us to
progress your request.  We look forward to hearing from you.

 

Ngā mihi

 

Anna Whiskin
Senior Ministerial Advisor
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

 
[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

[UNCLASSIFIED]

 

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Mahrukh Sarwar <[3][FOI #11215 email]>
Sent: Friday, 13 September 2019 11:41 PM
To: Information [DPMC] <[4][DPMC request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Information for the purpose of
participating in the Royal Commission inquiry into the attack on
Christchurch Mosques.

 

Dear Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet,

 

DPMC

 

We request the following information for the purpose of participating in
the Royal Commission inquiry into the attack on Christchurch Mosques. 

 

Relevant Operative Mentions

1.Copies of documents, correspondences and addresses (including but not
limited to emails, letters, presentations) referring to any of the
following terms:

a.Arab / Muslim / Islam / Islamist / Islamicist / Jihadist / b.Terrorists
/ Extremists / Radical / Far-right / White supremacy

 

By any of the following Politicians for Period A a.Winston Peters b.Don
McKinnon c.Jim Bolger d.Jenny Shipley e.Warren Cooper

 

By any of the following Politicians for Period B a.Phil Goff b.Winston
Peters c.Phil Goff d.Chris Carter e.Trevor Mallard f.Mark Burton g.Don
Brash

 

By any of the following Politicians for Period C a.Simon Bridges b.Judith
Collins c.Chris Finlayson d.Winston Peters e.Rodney Hide f.Alfred Ngaro
g.Ron Mark

 

By any of the following Politicians for Period D a.Winston Peters b.Ron
Mark c.Andrew Little d.Jenny Salesa e.Kelvin Davis

 

2.What correspondence have Members of Parliament received from the Public
for Periods A, B, C and D which include use of any of the following words:

a.Arab

b.Muslim (including its variant spellings) c.Burqa (including its variant
spellings) d.Islamic e.Islam

 

Training

3.What professional cultural advice or training or resources has the
government requested or received on Islam or Muslims for periods A, B, C
and D?

 

Policy Reform

4.What made the government form a task force to monitor for far-right
extremism in July 2018?

 

5.Where did the bridge-building initiative between the government and
Muslim Community post 9-11 originate from and what initiatives was it
based on or influenced by?

 

6.Why have the government stopped trying to bridge build with the Muslim
community? What was the shift in DPMC policy that deprioritised
bridgebuilding?

 

7.What cultural intelligence and cultural awareness and sensitivity
training and reform arose out of the consequences of the Ahmed Zaoui
Case? 

 

8.What cultural intelligence and cultural awareness and sensitivity
training and reform arose out of the consequences of the Urewera Raids? 

 

Royal Commission

9.What was the process for selecting the Royal Commission? 

 

Consultation

10.Who is the government’s on-hand cultural advisor/negotiator/facilitator
for:

a.On-going strategy

b.Emergency Situations

 

Diversity

10.What diverse perspectives have been embraced and resulted in reform of
organisational culture that promotes diverse experiences and perspectives?

 

We request information for the following time periods:

Period A: October 2017 – present

Period B: November 2008 – October 2017

Period C: December 1999 – November 2008 Period D: November 1990 – November
1999

 

For the requests that ask for information from Periods A, B, C and D
please note we do not require that all the information come through at
once. 

We request in order of this priority: Period A, then B, then C and finally
period D. 

 

Word-specific requests: please include variant spellings for these. E.g.
For a request pertaining to “Muslim”, please include variants such as
“Moslem”.

 

We appreciate that our requests are extensive. However, they are not
disproportionate to the significance of the matters we are engaging in
with the Royal Commission.

 

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

 

Yours faithfully,

Mahrukh Sarwar

 

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

 

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

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[5][FOI #11215 email]

 

Is [6][DPMC request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet? If so, please
contact us using this form:

[7]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:

[8]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.

 

 

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

 

 

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

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.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[DPMC request email]
3. mailto:[FOI #11215 email]
4. mailto:[DPMC request email]
5. mailto:[FOI #11215 email]
6. mailto:[DPMC request email]
7. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
8. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Tēnā koe

 

Please see the attached letter regarding your recent OIA request.

 

Nāku noa, nā

 

Anna Whiskin
Senior Ministerial Advisor
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

 
[1]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

 

[UNCLASSIFIED]

 

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

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.

References

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hide quoted sections

Tēnā koe Mahrukh,

Thank you for your OIA request, which has been transferred in part from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to the Department of Internal Affairs (the Department), and which was received by the Department on 21 November 2019. This transfer comprised parts 5 and 6 of your request, which are set out below.

5. Where did the bridge-building initiative between the government and Muslim Community post 9-11 originate from and what initiatives was it based on or influenced by?
6. Why have the government stopped trying to bridge build with the Muslim community? What was the shift in DPMC policy that deprioritised bridgebuilding?

The Department will provide its response to your request as soon as practicable and within twenty working days.  The 20th working day is 19 December 2019

Please note that in cases where the Department’s response provides information that is identified to be of general public interest, the response may also be published on the Department of Internal Affairs website.  If the Department publishes its response to your OIA request, all personal information, including your name and contact details, will be removed.

Ngā mihi

Michelle Reed | Lead Advisor – Official Correspondence 
Te Urungi - Organisational Strategy and Performance
Te Tari Taiwhenua - The Department of Internal Affairs
45 Pipitea St | PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, New Zealand |  www.dia.govt.nz

Tēnā koe Mahrukh,

Thank you for your OIA request, which has been transferred in part from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to the Department of Internal Affairs (the Department), and which was received by the Department on 21 November 2019. This transfer comprised parts 5 and 6 of your request, which are set out below.

5. Where did the bridge-building initiative between the government and Muslim Community post 9-11 originate from and what initiatives was it based on or influenced by?
6. Why have the government stopped trying to bridge build with the Muslim community? What was the shift in DPMC policy that deprioritised bridgebuilding?

The Department will provide its response to your request as soon as practicable and within twenty working days.  The 20th working day is 19 December 2019

Please note that in cases where the Department’s response provides information that is identified to be of general public interest, the response may also be published on the Department of Internal Affairs website.  If the Department publishes its response to your OIA request, all personal information, including your name and contact details, will be removed.

Ngā mihi

Michelle Reed | Lead Advisor – Official Correspondence Te Urungi - Organisational Strategy and Performance Te Tari Taiwhenua - The Department of Internal Affairs
45 Pipitea St | PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, New Zealand |  www.dia.govt.nz

Ref: 1920-0820

 

Dear Mahrukh,

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 13 September 2019 requesting under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:

 

“what cultural intelligence and cultural awareness and sensitivity
training and reform arose out of the consequences of the Ahmed Zaoui
case?”

 

Your request has been transferred to the Ministry from the Department of
the Prime Minister and Cabinet on 21 November 2019 and is being processed
in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982. A response will be
sent to you in due course. If you have any enquiries regarding your
request feel free to contact us via email [1][email address] or using
the contact details below.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

MINISTERIAL SERVICES

 

Corporate, Governance and Information

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

Level 4, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140

[2]mbie-logo

 

[3]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

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

Any opinions expressed in this message are not necessarily those of the
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. This message and any
files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the
intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient or the person
responsible for delivery to the intended recipient, be advised that you
have received this message in error and that any use is strictly
prohibited. Please contact the sender and delete the message and any
attachment from your computer.

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

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.govt.nz/

hide quoted sections

Good morning,

Please find attached a response to this request, which was transferred from DPMC to NZSIS on 21 Nov.

Kind regards,

NZSIS
-----Original Message-----
From: Mahrukh Sarwar <[FOI #11215 email]>
Sent: Friday, 13 September 2019 11:41 PM
To: Information [DPMC] <[DPMC request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Information for the purpose of participating in the Royal Commission inquiry into the attack on Christchurch Mosques.

Dear Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet,

DPMC

We request the following information for the purpose of participating in the Royal Commission inquiry into the attack on Christchurch Mosques.

Relevant Operative Mentions
1.Copies of documents, correspondences and addresses (including but not limited to emails, letters, presentations) referring to any of the following terms:
a.Arab / Muslim / Islam / Islamist / Islamicist / Jihadist / b.Terrorists / Extremists / Radical / Far-right / White supremacy

By any of the following Politicians for Period A a.Winston Peters b.Don McKinnon c.Jim Bolger d.Jenny Shipley e.Warren Cooper

By any of the following Politicians for Period B a.Phil Goff b.Winston Peters c.Phil Goff d.Chris Carter e.Trevor Mallard f.Mark Burton g.Don Brash

By any of the following Politicians for Period C a.Simon Bridges b.Judith Collins c.Chris Finlayson d.Winston Peters e.Rodney Hide f.Alfred Ngaro g.Ron Mark

By any of the following Politicians for Period D a.Winston Peters b.Ron Mark c.Andrew Little d.Jenny Salesa e.Kelvin Davis

2.What correspondence have Members of Parliament received from the Public for Periods A, B, C and D which include use of any of the following words:
a.Arab
b.Muslim (including its variant spellings) c.Burqa (including its variant spellings) d.Islamic e.Islam

Training
3.What professional cultural advice or training or resources has the government requested or received on Islam or Muslims for periods A, B, C and D?

Policy Reform
4.What made the government form a task force to monitor for far-right extremism in July 2018?

5.Where did the bridge-building initiative between the government and Muslim Community post 9-11 originate from and what initiatives was it based on or influenced by?

6.Why have the government stopped trying to bridge build with the Muslim community? What was the shift in DPMC policy that deprioritised bridgebuilding?

7.What cultural intelligence and cultural awareness and sensitivity training and reform arose out of the consequences of the Ahmed Zaoui Case? 

8.What cultural intelligence and cultural awareness and sensitivity training and reform arose out of the consequences of the Urewera Raids? 

Royal Commission
9.What was the process for selecting the Royal Commission?

Consultation
10.Who is the government’s on-hand cultural advisor/negotiator/facilitator for:
a.On-going strategy
b.Emergency Situations

Diversity
10.What diverse perspectives have been embraced and resulted in reform of organisational culture that promotes diverse experiences and perspectives?

We request information for the following time periods:
Period A: October 2017 – present
Period B: November 2008 – October 2017
Period C: December 1999 – November 2008
Period D: November 1990 – November 1999

For the requests that ask for information from Periods A, B, C and D please note we do not require that all the information come through at once.
We request in order of this priority: Period A, then B, then C and finally period D.

Word-specific requests: please include variant spellings for these. E.g. For a request pertaining to “Muslim”, please include variants such as “Moslem”.

We appreciate that our requests are extensive. However, they are not disproportionate to the significance of the matters we are engaging in with the Royal Commission.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,
Mahrukh Sarwar

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

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #11215 email]

Is [DPMC request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet? 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.

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

This electronic message, together with any attachments, contains information that is provided in confidence and may be subject to legal privilege.
Any classification markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in
any way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by return email and then destroy the original message.
The New Zealand Intelligence Community (NZIC) and the departments comprising the NZIC accepts no responsibility for changes to this e-mail, or to any attachments, after its transmission
from NZIC. This communication may be accessed or retained for information assurance purposes. Thank you.

______________________________________________________________________________

This email has been filtered by SMX.
For more information visit http://smxemail.com
______________________________________________________________________________

hide quoted sections

Dear Mr Sarwar

Please find attached OEC's response to parts 5 and 6 of your request.

Regards
Office of Ethnic Communities

-----Original Message-----
From: OIA
Sent: Thursday, 21 November 2019 1:48 PM
To: Mahrukh Sarwar <[FOI #11215 email]>
Subject: RE: Receipt of part transfer of your Official Information Act request, now denoted OIA1920-0421

Tēnā koe Mahrukh,

Thank you for your OIA request, which has been transferred in part from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to the Department of Internal Affairs (the Department), and which was received by the Department on 21 November 2019. This transfer comprised parts 5 and 6 of your request, which are set out below.

5. Where did the bridge-building initiative between the government and Muslim Community post 9-11 originate from and what initiatives was it based on or influenced by?
6. Why have the government stopped trying to bridge build with the Muslim community? What was the shift in DPMC policy that deprioritised bridgebuilding?

The Department will provide its response to your request as soon as practicable and within twenty working days. The 20th working day is 19 December 2019

Please note that in cases where the Department’s response provides information that is identified to be of general public interest, the response may also be published on the Department of Internal Affairs website. If the Department publishes its response to your OIA request, all personal information, including your name and contact details, will be removed.

Ngā mihi

Michelle Reed | Lead Advisor – Official Correspondence Te Urungi - Organisational Strategy and Performance Te Tari Taiwhenua - The Department of Internal Affairs
45 Pipitea St | PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, New Zealand | www.dia.govt.nz

hide quoted sections

Dear Mahrukh Sarwar,

 

Please find attached the response from the Ministry of Business Innovation
and Employment to your Official Information Act request of 21 November
2019.

 

Yours sincerely

Martin Prowse

 

 

Martin Prowse

Business Advisor

 

Verification and Compliance, Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

 

[1][email address]

Level 6, 256 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140
| [2]http://www.mbie.govt.nz

[3]Description: Description:
http://mbieintranet/assets/MBIE-visual-i...

 

[4]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

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

Any opinions expressed in this message are not necessarily those of the
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. This message and any
files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the
intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient or the person
responsible for delivery to the intended recipient, be advised that you
have received this message in error and that any use is strictly
prohibited. Please contact the sender and delete the message and any
attachment from your computer.

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

References

Visible links
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2. http://www.mbie.govt.nz/
4. http://www.govt.nz/

hide quoted sections

Dear Mr Sarwar,

 

Thank you for your email.

 

MBIE are referring your follow up correspondence to DOIA 1920-0820 to the
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet on the basis that your email
appears to be raising matters relating to the approach taken by DPMC.

 

You can expect a reply from them in due course.

 

Regards,

 

Ministerial Advisor

Engagement, Communications and Ministerial Services, Corporate Governance
and Information

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 |  P O Box 1473 Wellington 6140

[1]cid:image004.jpg@01D10666.447C6950

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

From: Mahrukh Sarwar <[2][FYI request #11215 email]>

Sent: Monday, 17 February 2020 1:28 PM

To: Martin Prowse <[3][email address]>

Subject: Re: Official Information Act 1982 request - our reference DOIA
1920-0820 [UNCLASSIFIED]

 

To whom it may concern,

 

Thank you for responding to my OIA requests.

 

We note that these follow up requests are made several months after our
original requests during which time you would have had the chance to
consider many of the critical issues raised; these issues are raised for
substantive reasons and regarding ongoing concerns of public safety and
reliability of the assurances of safety.

 

Please note all of the clarifications and comments below, while arising in
the context of individual requests, apply to all requests as a whole.

 

As a general question, we ask how the DPMC distinguishes information they
would rather not disclose for public relation reasons (both domestically
and through foreign relations) from the reasons you provided. We have
noted that in several instances, information has been refused or partially
answered without any compilation, disclosure or analysis of the
information and without providing details for why information is
theoretically prejudicial. Under section 19(a)(ii) of the Official
Information Act, we are entitled to ask for the grounds in support of the
reason for refusal. The High Court has stated that the test in section
6(a) requires evidence (Kelsey v Minister of Trade [2016] 2 NZLR).

 

You claim that some of our requests are unclear. Please refer to responses
we have received from NZSIS, GCSB, MBIE, NZDF and Customs. These agencies
show a thorough understanding of our requests.

 

Question One

 

Premature refusal

 

The information requested for has been withheld under s18(f) of the
Official Information Act. Under sections 18A and 18B of the Official
Information Act (OIA), you were required to consider whether the reason
for refusal can be removed by either consulting us, fixing a charge or
extending the time period for a response. Your response merely suggests
your contention that a further extension of the timeframe would not enable
the DPMC to provide a response, and you have decided this without any
consultation with us. Failing to follow the steps in sections 18A and 18B
of the Act was held by the High Court as unlawful (Kelsey v Minister of
Trade [2016] 2 NZLR).

 

Ideally, you could have fixed a charge if you are to believe that
collation of requesting documents is substantial.

 

This indicates that you have not made any effort to make this information
available, despite the avenues set by Parliament which attempt at ensuring
agencies engage with requests before refusal under section 18(f).

 

Contextual significance

 

The question asked is contextually significant legal and other processes
in response to the Christchurch attacks, and will be useful for future
prevention and research. We note the context of this request would appear
to outweigh even substantial inconvenience to DPMC in the collation
process. The context is highlighted by the historical significance of the
Christchurch events, demanding the need for a comprehensive investigation
which the Royal Commission and other civil society organisations are
undertaking. DPMC is a primary agency in this regard and we would have
expected that several months after the attacks the priority of this issue
would by now be self-evident.

 

Timely collation

 

We allow DPMC’s consideration of any reasonable consequences to the extent
of this request, such as focussing on the order of priority, and/or
prioritising certain searches. In other words, you can decide which
searches you consider inconvenient to take on first as per DPMC's
operation processes or resource use etc. However, we request this is made
available as soon as possible so as to inform the current surge of public
resources already going into inquire into these matters, in comparison to
which your agency's costs will pale into insignificance. We request being
updated in whatever process is undertaken.

 

In your response, you refer to hard copy documents that DPMC holds. We
simply request both the number and copies of these, which follows an easy
process for collation. Refusing to provide these documents will become a
general impediment to the transparency of OIA requests, here in light of
Christchurch attacks. The purpose of this information is prevention
through making recommendations. We invite you to reflect on how clearly
the context of this request would appear to outweigh even substantial
inconvenience to your agency.

 

We acknowledge that the number of documents is significant, but we note
that this is not an individual case. Rather, it is a case of national
importance and this should be evident to you.

 

Evident inaccuracy of given information

 

You confirm that no relevant Cabinet documents were identified regarding
Winston Peters and any of the key words listed. However, the following
information regarding Winston Peters and any of the key words listed is in
the public realm.

 

The following link is one example among many where Winston Peters has made
relevant statements in his Ministerial capacity:
[4]https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/386....

 

Further, Hansard provides evidence where Winston Peters has made such
generalised comments in Parliamentary proceedings. The following statement
will indicate to you what you may already know or bring to light the
extreme nature of his statements:

 

“What we know about the London Bridge attackers is that two of them
arrived in the UK as immigrants. One was known to officials and even TV
audiences, so we must ask: how could people plan such terrible deeds but
leave their friends, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and spouses
completely in the dark? Inevitably, we will be told that the wider
community knew nothing, and neither did the friends or the family. How
many times have you heard this disavowal? It is washing seriously thin.
What is happening is that families, friends, and confidants are choosing
to turn the other cheek, choosing silence, rather than turn these monsters
in. That may be the culture of Damascus, but it is not ours. It may be
acceptable in Tripoli, but it most certainly is not acceptable in New
Zealand. While the Islamic community must clean house by turning these
monsters in, it starts with their own families.” (1)

 

If Winston Peters is able to make such bold statements in public, then it
is highly likely he has made similar statements within Cabinet. Therefore,
we request a further confirmation from you that despite these statements
in the public domain, you were unable to identify any Cabinet documents
pertaining to Winston Peters and our list of key words.

 

Accordingly, we have been very disappointed with the lack of helpfulness
of your responses to our requests and your dismissiveness without engaging
in any of the clearly stipulated legal processes on such an important
matter of public safety and significance.

 

Questions Three and Eleven:

 

We would like to confirm that for the relevant time periods provided, the
only training provided regarding Islam and Muslims is on “functions and
responsibilities of the Police”. Can you please provide more information
as to how this provided insight into Islam, Muslims and embracing
diversity.

 

Furthermore, the police has not responded to our OIA, which is a hindrance
due to time constraints. Can you please explain what prevents DPMC from
providing information on that presentation, given that it was presented to
you?

 

Question Four:

 

Thank you for transferring this request to NZSIS. However, we are aware
that DPMC receives advice from SIG’s NAB, which provides information to
Cabinet and Ministers who set national intelligence priorities. We note
that your response does not refer to NAB or SIG. We are requesting
information within this context.

 

We request clarification as to why you did not refer to NAB or SIG.
Further, are there any other relevant groups within your department that
handle these issues?

 

Questions Five and Six:

 

Thank you for transferring Parts 5 and 6 to the DIA - Office of Ethnic
Communities. We acknowledge that this policy was not led by DPMC. The
information we request pertains to any information regarding
bridge-building initiatives that DPMC does hold.

 

Questions Seven and Eight:

 

Ahmed Zaoui case

 

Thank you for transferring this request to MBIE. However, we are aware
that DPMC receives advice from SIG’s NAB, providing information to Cabinet
and Ministers who set national intelligence priorities, including such
information relevant to Ahmed Zaoui’s case. We are requesting information
within this context. We have asked NZSIS, and they have told us they do
not hold any records regarding any cultural awareness change resulting
from a particular incident. From your initial response, we gage that you
do hold certain information. This request is simply interested in the
information your agency, DPMC, holds regarding this request.

 

Clarifications

 

From your response, we take it that DPMC has no involvement in any changes
or learnings as a result of the Zaoui case. In other words, DPMC has no
interest in anything from this case of national and international
significance.

 

Uruwera Raids

 

The Police is yet to respond to us, as evident in this link:
[5]https://fyi.org.nz/request/11234-informa...

 

We acknowledge that the Urewera raids were carried out by the Police, not
DPMC. NAB, which falls under DPMC, assesses and advises on intelligence
priorities. NAB would or ought to have addressed the raids in their
priorities and hence hold the relevant information our request pertains
to. We request this information as again, police have not responded to our
OIA, and we are under time constraints.

 

From your response, we take it that DPMC has no involvement in any changes
or learnings as a result of the Urewera raids. In other words, DPMC has no
interest in anything from this case of national significance.

 

Regarding both Zaoui case and the Urewera raids, you confirm that you do
not have any other information that is not held by other agencies. We note
that these other agencies have not responded to our OIA requests. We also
note that given the diversity of responses we will get from other
agencies, we have specifically asked you for a response from DPMC itself,
not any other agency.

 

We also note that these cases were of national significance and DPMC was
involved. These cases were also international security issues, which is
not only relevant to all levels of the government but is listed as a
priority in National Security and Intelligence Priorities. This list was
approved by the Cabinet.

 

We confirm that we haven't received anything from the agencies you refer
to in relation to these cases.

 

Question Nine:

 

This request is not asking for the general selection process of the Royal
Commissioners. Given the level of detail in the Cabinet framework, we
expect that there would be a thorough process that was applied. We would
like the details of that specific process of appointment and the criteria
applied for the commissioners and counsel specifically.

 

As per Cabinet papers establishing the Royal Commission of Inquiry into
the Attack on Christchurch Mosques, Cabinet appointed Sir William Young as
Chair and authorised the appointment of one other member of the Royal
Commission. Our request pertains to specific information DPMC holds on the
appointment of the selected members of the Royal Commission. This is not
limited to those authorised by the Cabinet only.

 

We expect this information to include how many other candidates were
considered and their general ability and criteria. Were there any
candidates considered reflecting the cultural diversity of the incident?
Or any who may have experiences that would provide them insight into the
experiences of the victim community?

 

Question Ten

 

Please note our requests of police have not been successful. The
information we are seeking from DPMC relates to the inter-agency
coordination and leadership at a national level. Accordingly, we expect
from this response the names of any details of advisors, negotiators
and/or facilitators. We clarify that we expected details of your
“expertise” utilised since for the periods of the requests provided
(Periods A, B, C and D).

 

We acknowledge you have used particular groups from time to time, but you
have not specified what group you have used at the time over those
periods. We take from your response that DPMC has not identified any go-to
expertise on these issues and simply focuses on what is available at the
time.

 

We request any strategy for building a body of expertise which the DPMC
can use on such issues, or we will infer from your response that DMPC does
not have a strategy.

 

Further, we note that transferring or suggesting we liaise with other
agencies is a recurring trend in your response. We must express that the
information we seek from you is related to DPMC solely as we have
requested this information from other agencies under OIA ourselves. We
would not have requested this information from DPMC if they were not in a
position to hold this information, which the as the Department of the
Prime Minister and Cabinet, we are aware that you do.

 

Unfortunately, you have continuously created an impediment to
accessibility of information. Please note that accessibility to
information is the purpose of the Act in question, as stipulated in s4. 

 

We look forward to having correct and thorough responses from you.

 

Kind regards,

Mahrukh Sarwar

 

Footnotes:

1. [6]https://www.parliament.nz/en/WatchParlia...

 

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

 

Dear Mahrukh Sarwar,

 

 

 

Please find attached the response from the Ministry of Business
Innovation  and Employment to your Official Information Act request of 21
November  2019.

 

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Martin Prowse

 

 

 

 

 

Martin Prowse

 

Business Advisor

 

 

 

Verification and Compliance, Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

 

 

 

[1][email address]

 

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