[ENTER DATE SENT]
Harold
[FYI request #18475 email]
Ref: OIA-2021/22-0953
Dear Harold
Official Information Act request relating to the Australia-New Zealand National
Security Dialogue I am writing in regard to your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request of 7 February
2022. You requested:
“ONE: A copy of the full document Australia-New Zealand National Security Dialogue:
Briefing Pack (12 March 2021) – i.e. including the parts of this document not processed
for release for the OIA request above as they were not in scope.
TWO: Copies of all other “Briefing Packs” produced for each Australia-New Zealand
National Security Dialogue since the inaugural dialogue in October 2016”
I note the time frame for responding to your request was extended by 60 working days
because your request necessitated a search through a large quantity of information and
further consultations were needed before a decision could be made on the request. On
2 June DPMC contacted you to advise the response to your request had been delayed.
I subsequently released the 2021 Australia New Zealand National Security Dialogue briefing
package on 12 August 2022, with some information withheld under section 6(a) of the Act, as
the release of the information would be likely to prejudice the national security and/or the
international relations of New Zealand.
In that response I informed you that the information within scope of Part Two of your request
was still in the process of being prepared for release and would be provided to you as it
becomes available.
I am now in a position to release to you the 2016 Australia New Zealand National Security
Dialogue briefing package. Please note pages where information has been withheld in full
have been removed from this release document. Information has been withheld in the
attached material under the following sections of the Act:
• section 6(a), as the release of the information would be likely to prejudice the national
security and/or the international relations of New Zealand, and
• section 9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of individuals.
Further, I can advise that an Australia New Zealand National Security Dialogue did not take
place in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Work regarding the outstanding briefing
packs in scope of your request, for the 2017, 2018 and 2019 dialogues, is ongoing.
In making my decision, I have taken the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of the
Act into account.
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
4599092
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
This response wil be published on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s
website during our regular publication cycle. Typically, information is released monthly, or as
otherwise determined. Your personal information including name and contact details will be
removed for publication.
Yours sincerely
Marika Hughes
Acting Deputy Chief Executive
National Security Group
4599092
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