New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
29 October 2021
195 Lambton Quay
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
R S Bicknell
T +64 4 439 8000
[FYI request #17104 email]
F +64 4 472 9596
OIA 27740
Tēnā koe R S Bicknell
I refer to your email of 9 October 2021 in which you request the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA):
The total amount spent on private club memberships in 2019 and 2020 for MFAT staff.
Heads of Mission/Post overseas may join a representational organisation, e.g. club or
association, at official expense where it can be demonstrated that joining:
Contributes to post operational objectives,
Assists in promoting New Zealand and advancing its foreign policy and trade interests,
Facilitates effective access to influential politicians, business people, government officials
and other diplomats in order to promote New Zealand’s interests, and/or
Facilitates official representational duties in the performance of responsibilities on behalf
of the Government and New Zealand.
The Ministry’s annual Budget exercise constitutes the main vehicle by which proposals for club
membership are considered for approval.
The Ministry requires Heads of Mission/Post to maintain records of any approved club
memberships, including the cost, whether membership is transferable to a successor at no
additional cost, the nature of the club and facilities available, and how membership satisfied
the criteria for joining.
As requested, set out below is information on expenditure on club memberships for the two
previous two financial years (1 July–30 June). Please note that these figures are inclusive of
country specific GST/VAT-type taxes:
Financial year
Expenditure NZ$
2019/20 $20,968
2020/21 $19,095
e [MFAT request email]
w www.mfat.govt.nz
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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 Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade