Dear Minister of Foreign Affairs,

Today it was announced that former MP Shane Jones had been appointed as "Ambassador for Pacific Economic Development" ("Shane Jones officially appointed to new post", NZ Herald, 29 May 2014). I would like to request the following information under the OIA:

* all advice and communications, such as (but not limited to) cabinet papers, briefing notes, aides memoire, appointment letters, and emails, relating to the appointment. I am particularly interested in the process followed: whether the position was advertised, how many candidates applied, how many were interviewed, and how many were shortlisted. I am also interested in learning what stage Jones' name entered the process.
* all advice and communications (see above) on the creation of the position of Ambassador for Pacific Economic Development. I'm particularly interested in learning when the creation of such a position was first suggested and by whom (MFAT or the Minister) and the expected role it will play. I understand that this part of the request might be transferred to MFAT.

I ask that this request be handled urgently. Jones' appointment is a matter of some public interest, and there is a public interest in being able to examine the appointment process. I am happy to split the request if this results in some part of it being accorded urgency.

I would prefer to receive an electronic response. Queries about this request will be automatically forwarded to me by the fyi.org.nz website.

With regards to s12 of the OIA, I am an NZ citizen and in NZ.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Harris

Dear Holly Bennett,

Its been a week; has any decision been made on whether this request will be handled urgently?

Yours sincerely,

Alex Harris

Dear Cat McDiarmid,

Thanks for the response. I appreciate that you have received a large number of requests on this issue, but your response doesn't really contain any information related to the appointment process itself. as I noted in my request, "I am particularly interested in the process followed: whether the position was advertised, how many candidates applied, how many were interviewed,
and how many were shortlisted. I am also interested in learning what stage Jones' name entered the process."

There appears to be no documentation of any of this. Should I conclude therefore that there is no documentation, and that there was no formal appointment process?

Yours sincerely,

Alex Harris