On behalf of Hon Murray McCully, thank you for your email.  Your
correspondence has been noted.

 

Please be aware that the Minister receives a large volume
of correspondence every day which means we cannot always respond as
rapidly as some email users may anticipate.  

 

While the minister considers all correspondence to be important, if you
are writing to express a personal view, your opinion will be noted but a
response beyond this acknowledgement may not necessarily be sent.

 

Kind regards,

The Office of Hon Murray McCully

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Alex Harris

On behalf of Hon Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs, thank you for your correspondence of 29 May 2014 requesting information regarding the Pacific Economic Ambassador role, including correspondence with Shane Jones.

You will receive a reply within 20 working days as required by the Official Information Act.

Yours sincerely,

Holly

Holly Bennett | Ministerial Secretary | Office of Hon Murray McCully
Minister of Foreign Affairs | Minister for Sport and Recreation
6.1 Executive Wing Beehive | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand

-----Original Message-----
From: Alex Harris [mailto:[OIA #1718 email]]
Sent: Thursday, 29 May 2014 11:27 a.m.
To: M McCully (MIN)
Subject: Official Information Act request - Ambassador for Pacific Economic Development appointment information

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

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an OIA request done via the FYI website.

Please do not send progress updates as PDF files.

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an OIA officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________

hide quoted sections

Hi Alex - see attached.

Catrina McDiarmid | Senior Private Secretary | Office of Hon Murray McCully
+64 4 817 9710 | +64 21 686 744

________________________________