New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
13 July 2021
195 Lambton Quay
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
Sebastian
T +64 4 439 8000
[FYI request #15416 email]
F +64 4 472 9596
OIA 27461
Tēnā koe Sebastian
I refer to your email of 10 May 2021 in which you request the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA):
“…This is a request for the following 9 documents:
ONE: I request a copy of the current Pacific Reset priority areas and work programme
TWO: Cabinet minute ERS-18-MIN-0028 noted that
“A further omnibus report on the implementation of the Pacific Reset will be submitted to
Cabinet before the end of 2019”
I request a copy of this report.
THREE: I request copies of all other Pacific Reset reports-back since the beginning of
2020
FOUR: Cabinet minute ERS-18-MIN-0028 also noted that
“Significant progress has been made on a refreshed New Zealand approach to regional
security, intended to align with and support implementation of the Boe Declaration”
I request a copy of the refreshed approach to regional security referred to here
FIVE: I also request a copy of MFAT's implementation plan for the Boe Declaration
SIX: I request a copy of CAB-18-MIN-0537
SEVEN: I request a copy of the Pacific Realm Policy Framework
EIGHT: The 2019-2020 MFAT Annual Report notes that
“A 2019 stocktake of New Zealand agency engagement in the Realm strengthened
awareness and highlighted opportunities for enhanced coordination in areas such as
health, education and climate change”
I request a copy of this stocktake.
NINE: The 2019-2020 MFAT Annual Report also notes that
“In June [2020], the Ministry prepared advice to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on
recalibrating New Zealand’s Pacific engagement to respond to the far-reaching and
serious impacts of COVID-19 across the region in the short to medium term”
e [MFAT request email]
w www.mfat.govt.nz
Page 2 of 2
On 8 June 2021, the deadline to respond to your request was extended to 13 July 2021. Thank
you for your patience while this process was completed.
The Ministry has made a decision on your request. The information is in the final stages of
preparation and review and will be provided to you as soon as possible.
Some parts of this information have been withheld under the following sections of the OIA:
6(a): to avoid prejudicing the security or defence of New Zealand or the international
relations of the New Zealand Government;
6(b)(i): to protect the passing of information from another government on a
confidential basis;
7(b): to prevent prejudice to relations between any of the Governments of
New Zealand and Realm countries;
9(2)(a): to protect individuals’ privacy;
9(2)(g)(i): to protect the free and frank expression of opinions by departments; and
9(2)(f)(iv): to protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown
and officials.
Where the information has been withheld under section 9 of the OIA, we have identified no
public interest in releasing the information that would be sufficient to override the reasons for
withholding it.
If you have any questions about this decision, you can contact us by email at:
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman of this decision by contacting
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone
0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Julie-Anne Lee
for Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
