Cabinet paper on a review of the Official Information Act
Andrew Ecclestone made this Official Information request to Andrew Little
The request was refused by Andrew Little.
From: Andrew Ecclestone
Dear Mr Little,
This is a request under the Official Information Act 1982.
New Zealand's 3rd National Action Plan as a member of the Open Government Partnership contains a commitment that the Ministry of Justice would be "providing advice to the Government on whether to initiate a formal review of official information legislation."
(Commitment 7, here: https://ogp.org.nz/assets/Publications/O...)
The Ministry's September 2019 update on progress with this commitment (https://ogp.org.nz/assets/New-Zealand-Pl...) said that it had reported to you on this issue in September 2019.
The Ministry's December 2019 update on progress with this commitment (https://ogp.org.nz/new-zealands-plan/thi...) states:
"The Ministry is undertaking further work for the Minister before the Minister takes a paper to Cabinet"
and
"The Minister of Justice has considered the Ministry’s report and will consult with his colleagues on proposals to progress a review."
Please could you provide me with the information you hold on:
(a) The dates on which you consulted "colleagues" in relation to this issue;
(b) The names and titles of the "colleagues" you consulted in relation to this issue;
(c) The dates on which each of these "colleagues" responded;
(d) The names, titles and organisations of anyone else you have consulted on this issue, the dates on which they were consulted, and the dates their responses were received;
(e) The dates on which you asked the Ministry of Justice to do further work for you on this issue;
(f) The dates on which you received this further work from the Ministry of Justice;
(g) The detailed topics of the further work you asked the Ministry of Justice to do for you on this issue;
(h) If a paper for you to take to Cabinet or Cabinet Committee on this issue has been finalised; and
(i) The dates on which you raised this issue with Cabinet or Cabinet Committee, or when you intend to take any papers to either.
When considering your decision on this request, given that it relates to implementation of an Open Government Action Plan commitment, and our law on openness of government information, please can I ask you to have particular regard to the section 4(a) purposes of the OIA, namely:
"to increase progressively the availability of official information to the people of New Zealand in order—
(i) to enable their more effective participation in the making and administration of laws and policies; and
(ii) to promote the accountability of Ministers of the Crown and officials,—
and thereby to enhance respect for the law and to promote the good government of New Zealand".
Under section 19(a)(ii) of the OIA, if you decide to withhold any of the requested information I have requested, I further request that you provide me with the grounds in support of any reasons for withholding that you have asserted. In doing so, I also ask that you list each of the public interest factors favouring disclosure that you have considered when making your decision.
I look forward to hearing from you as soon as reasonably practicable.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Ecclestone
From: A Little Office (MIN)
Andrew Little
Tçnâ koe
Thank you for contacting the office of Andrew Little MP, Minister of
Justice, Minister for Courts, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi
Negotiations, Minister Responsible for the NZSIS, Minister Responsible for
the GCSB, Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry and Labour List
Member of Parliament with an office in New Plymouth.
Due to the high volume of enquiries we are receiving, we must prioritise
responding to messages about COVID-19. Below is useful information that
might answer your query.
We appreciate your patience as we unite against COVID-19. These are
extraordinary circumstances, but we will get through this together. Please
be kind to yourselves and each other.
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| For all of the latest information on COVID-19: |
| |
| Please visit [1]www.covid19.govt.nz or phone 0800 779 997 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, which include a fever (at least|
| 38°C), a cough, or shortness of breath: |
| |
| DO NOT visit a GP or a hospital |
| |
| Self-isolate at home and phone your GP or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
For the current COVID-19 alert level and information about the
restrictions that apply to you and your family:
Please visit
[2]https://covid19.govt.nz/government-actio...
For COVID-19 financial assistance:
Please visit [3]www.workandincome.govt.nz or phone 0800 40 80 40
For COVID-19 business and tax information:
Please visit [4]www.ird.govt.nz/covid19
For immigration and visa advice:
Please visit [5]www.immigration.govt.nz
For travel advice:
Please visit [6]www.safetravel.govt.nz
If you a victim of family violence, or in a relationship that makes you
fearful about your own or anyone else’s safety
If you need emergency assistance from the Police phone 111
For further information and support visit
[7]www.police.govt.nz/advice/family-violence/help
If you are feeling anxious or just need to talk to someone:
Please phone or text 1737
If you need to report concerns about breaches of self-isolation or the
restrictions that apply at today’s COVID-19 Alert Level:
Please email [email address]
(Priority will be given to messages from confirmed cases and the contacts
of confirmed cases and will also enable notifications of reported breaches
of self-isolation and mass gathering requirements. We ask people to use
this channel judicially.)
For COVID-19 information in languages other than English:
Please visit
[8]www.covid19.govt.nz/resources-and-translation/translations/
(Information is available in Chinese, Cook Islands Mâori, Fijian, Gagana
Samoan, Hindi, Lea Tongan, New Zealand Sign Language, Niuean, Te Reo
Mâori, Tokelauan, Tuvaluan)
For the latest statements from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and other
Ministers:
Please visit [9]www.beehive.govt.nz
For the latest statements from Director-General of Health Dr Ashley
Bloomfield:
Please visit
[10]www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus
If you are still not sure who to contact:
Phone 0800 779 997 (8am–1am, 7 days a week) or email
[email address]
For issues that do not relate to COVID-19:
o If your message is for Andrew Little’s advice, or if you have copied
your email to another Minister and/or Member of Parliament with more
appropriate portfolio responsibilities, then this will be noted
o If you have invited Minister Little to an event then you should cancel
that event immediately
o If you have made a request for official information then this will be
managed in accordance with the provisions of the Official Information
Act 1982, which may include transfer to a more relevant Minister or
agency
o If you have made a request under the Privacy Act then this will be
managed in accordance with the principles of the Privacy Act 1993,
which may include transfer to a more relevant Minister or agency
o If you are a journalist then your request will be triaged by a press
secretary
o To find out more about Andrew Little read his [11]biography or recent
Ministerial [12]statements.
Ngâ mihi
Office of Hon Andrew Little MP
Parliamentary Reception phone +64 4 817 8707 | Ministerial email
[Andrew Little request email] | Web [13]beehive.govt.nz
Electorate office based in New Plymouth (currently closed to prevent the
spread of COVID-19) phone +64 6 757 5662 | Parliamentary email
[email address]
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
[14]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
Authorised by Hon Andrew Little MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160,
New Zealand
show quoted sections
From: A Little Office (MIN)
Andrew Little
Tçnâ koe
Thank you for contacting the office of Hon Andrew Little MP, Minister of
Justice, Minister for Courts, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi
Negotiations, Minister Responsible for the NZSIS, Minister Responsible for
the GCSB and Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry.
Minister Little receives a significant volume of correspondence:
o If your message is for Minister Little’s advice, or if you have copied
your email to another Minister and/or Member of Parliament with more
appropriate portfolio responsibilities, then this will be noted,
o If you have invited Minister Little to an event then a member of staff
may contact you for more information if the Minister’s attendance
might be possible,
o If you have made a request for official information then this will be
manged in accordance with the provisions of the Official Information
Act 1982, which may include transfer to a more relevant Minister or
agency,
o If you have made a request under the Privacy Act then this will be
managed in accordance with the principles of the Privacy Act 1993,
which may include transfer to a more relevant Minister or agency,
o If you are a journalist then your request will be triaged by a press
secretary,
o To find out more about Minister Little read his [1]biography or recent
[2]statements.
Ngâ mihi
Office of Hon Andrew Little MP
Reception +64 4 817 8707 | Ministerial Email
[3][Andrew Little request email] | Web [4]beehive.govt.nz | Postal Freepost
Parliament, Private Bag 18 041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New
Zealand
[5]https://xink.io/wp-content/themes/Xink/a...
Authorised by Hon Andrew Little MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160,
New Zealand
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References
Visible links
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2. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/hon...
3. mailto:[Andrew Little request email]
4. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/hon...
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From: Matt Swann
Dear Mr Ecclestone,
Please see the attached response to your OIA request.
Kind regards,
Matt Swann
Ministerial Advisor to Hon Andrew Little MP
DDI +64 4 817 9766 | Email [1][email address]
Office of Hon Andrew Little MP, Minister of Justice, Minister for Courts,
Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Minister Responsible for the
NZSIS, Minister Responsible for the GCSB, Minister Responsible for Pike
River Re-entry
Reception +64 4 817 8707 | Ministerial Email
[2][Andrew Little request email] | Web [3]beehive.govt.nz | Postal Freepost
Parliament, Private Bag 18 041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New
Zealand
[4]https://xink.io/wp-content/themes/Xink/a...
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
[9]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
Authorised by Hon Andrew Little MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160,
New Zealand
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References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[Andrew Little request email]
3. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/hon...
4. https://www.facebook.com/AndrewLittleLab...
5. https://twitter.com/AndrewLittleMP
6. https://www.instagram.com/andrewlittlemp
7. https://nz.linkedin.com/in/andrewlittlemp
8. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/hon...
9. https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
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