Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/12632-decision-to-allow-export-of-george-cross-to-stuart-guthrie-nz-police on November 04, 2025 14:50

Decision to allow export of George Cross to Stuart Guthrie, NZ Police

P J Beattie made this Official Information request to Ministry for Culture and Heritage

The request was partially successful.

From: P J Beattie

Dear Ministry for Culture and Heritage,

I believe the George Cross awarded to the late Sergeant Stewart Graeme Guthrie, which was awarded for his bravery at the Aramoana shootings in 1990, was purchased by Michael Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft in 2017 (or thereabouts). As the purchaser resides outside New Zealand, and the medal is classed as a Protected New Zealand Object, application must have been made to the Chief Executive of MCH to approve the export of this item.

I request to view the decision document that granted an export license for this item, including the identity of the two (or more) expert examiners who must have advised the Chief Executive in their decision to allow the export of this unique item.

Yours faithfully,

P J Beattie

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From: OIA
Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Kia ora

This email acknowledges receipt of your OIA request below.

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in
any event no later than 20 working days after the day your request was
received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
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response and will let you know if this applies to your request. For more
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during the Covid-19 lockdown period please refer to
[1]https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/news.

 

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact Ministerial Services
at [2][email address].  If any additional factors come to light which are
relevant to your request, please do not hesitate to contact us so that
these can be considered.

Our email notifying you of our decision on your request will confirm if we
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Ngâ mihi

Ministerial Services
Manatû Taonga | Ministry for Culture & Heritage
He ngâkau titikaha, he hononga tangata

Promoting a confident and connected culture
Public Trust Building, 131 Lambton Quay, Wellington
PO Box 5364, Wellington 6140
Ph +64 4 499 4229

 

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From: OIA
Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Attachment Documents for release 1.PDF.pdf
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Attachment Documents for release 2.PDF.pdf
2.7M Download View as HTML

Attachment Documents for release 3.PDF.pdf
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15 May 2020

 

 

P J Beattie

[1][FYI request #12632 email]

 

 

Dear P J Beattie

 

I refer to your request received on 16 April 2020, which has been
considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), for the
following information:

 

The decision document that granted an export license [under the Protected
Objects Act 1975] for this item [the George Cross awarded to the late
Sergeant Stewart Graeme Guthrie], including the identity of the two (or
more) expert examiners who must have advised the Chief Executive in their
decision to allow the export of this unique item.

 

Information being released

Please find enclosed the following documents:

 

Item Date Document Description Decision
1 15 December 2017 Expert examiner assessment Release in part.
provided by Canterbury Museum Withhold names of
individual staff
employed by the
expert examiner
institution.
2 17 January 2018 Expert examiner assessment Release in part.
provided by Auckland War Withhold names of
Memorial Museum individual staff
employed by the
expert examiner
institution.
3 18 January 2018 Ministry for Culture and Release in part.
Heritage decision memo: Withhold names of an
individual Ministry
Permanent export application staff member.
under section 6 of the
Protected Objects Act 1975:
George Cross Medal

 

I have decided to release the documents listed above, subject to
information being withheld under section 9(2)(a) – to protect the privacy
of natural persons. In addition, some information has been deleted where
it is not within the scope of your request.

 

In making my decision, I have considered the public interest
considerations in section 9(1) of the OIA.  I do not consider these
considerations outweigh the need to withhold the information.

 

If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
Kartini Havell at [2][email address].

 

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
[3]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

 

Please note that we do not intend to publish our response to your request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Imelda Bargas

Pou Arataki, Te Pae Māpuna | Manager Te Pae Māpuna

Manatū Taonga - Ministry for Culture and Heritage 

He ngākau titikaha, he hononga tangata 
Promoting a confident and connected culture 
Public Trust Building, Level 1, 133-135 Lambton Quay
P O Box 5364, Wellington 6140
Ph +64 4 462 8868

Website: [4]www.mch.govt.nz

 

 

 

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2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
4. http://www.mch.govt.nz/

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