Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street
DX SX10088 | Wel ington
T 04 918 8800 |
F 04 918 8820
[email address] | www.justice.govt.nz
James Watson
[email address]
6 May 2020
Our ref: OIA 81304
Dear Mr Watson
Official Information Act request: Cabinet Papers relating to The Treaty of Waitangi and the Foreshore
and Seabed Act 2004
Thank you for your request made under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Department of
the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC). Your request was subsequently refined on 20 March 2020 and
then transferred to the relevant agencies. The Ministry of Justice received your request on 3 April 2020 as
follows:
“(a) all Cabinet papers since 2005 which discuss the constitutional status of the Treaty of
Waitangi.
(b) all Cabinet papers relating to the foreshore and seabed act 2004”
The Ministry is working on preparing a response to your request which is due today, 6 May 2020. We
have identified a significant number of documents that fall within the scope of your request and for which
we will need to consult various organisations.
Due to the COVID-19 alert level 4 and subsequent alert level 3, both the Ministry’s ability to consult with
these organisations and their ability to respond to us have been severely hampered and therefore a
response cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit. I am extending the time limit for
response to this request by 60 working days under section 15A of the Act and wil respond to you by 30
July 2020. I appreciate that this is a long extension and we wil endeavour to provide the information to
you before then should it be possible.
If you require any further information, please contact Jerram Watts, Acting Team Leader, Media and
External Relations, by calling (04) 918 8980; or emailing [email address]
You have the right under section 28(3) of the Act to complain to the Ombudsman about the decision to
extend the time for responding to your request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by emailing
[email address].
Yours sincerely
Shanan Smith
Manager, Ministerial Relations and Services