5 October 2020
By email:
[FYI request #13842 email]
Dear Mr Sheridan
Request for information about the investigation into NZ First Foundation
I refer to your email dated 9 September 2020 requesting the fol owing information:
“
Please issue me under urgency any and all information as to when you wil issue information on
your enquiry into the NZ First Foundation and why it has not met a deadline of 28 September
2920x”.
We have considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (
OIA).
The Serious Fraud Office (
SFO) announced on 29 September 2020 that its investigation in relation to the
New Zealand First Foundation has been completed and a charge of ‘Obtaining by Deception’ has been
filed against two defendants. The charges were filed on 23 September. The defendants have interim name
suppression and so cannot be named or identified at this time. We note that neither defendant is a
Minister, sitting MP, or candidate in the upcoming election (or a member of their staff), or a current
member of the New Zealand First party.
You may find the ful media release on the SFO website:
https://www.sfo.govt.nz/sfo-files-charges-in-
relation-to-nz-first-foundation-electoral-donations.
You are entitled to make a complaint about our decision to the Office of the Ombudsman. They can be
contacted at P O Box 10152, Wellington 6143 or a
t [email address].
Yours sincerely
Kylie Cooper
Deputy General Counsel
