New Zealand Ministry of 
 
Foreign Affairs and Trade 
Manatū Aorere   
24 May 2022 
195 Lambton Quay 
Private Bag 18−901 
 
Wellington 6160 
 
New Zealand 
 
Mr Jones 
T    +64 4 439 8000 
[FYI request #19347 email] 
F    +64 4 472 9596 
 
OIA 28061 
 
Tēnā koe Mr Jones 
 
I refer to your email of 14 May 2022 in which you request the following under the Official 
Information Act 1982 (OIA): 
As per OIA I am requesting full disclosure and release of all communications that the 
Ministry Of Foreign Affairs And Trade has received regarding Monarch Queen Elizabeth II 
passing 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) holds a set of documents relevant to your 
request. These documents and their titles are withheld in full, 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; and 
 
6(b)(i): to protect the passing of information from another government on a confidential 
basis. 
 
However, in line with section 16(1)(e) of the OIA, we have instead prepared a summary of these 
documents.  
 
MFAT’s Protocol Division has a plan outlining MFAT’s role and response actions in the event of 
the Monarch’s death. The plan notes that the New Zealand Cabinet Office has lead responsibility 
for coordinating the New Zealand Government’s response to the death of the Monarch, and 
includes the following details: 
 
Who is responsible for providing the initial notification and to whom;  
 
The activation of the plan and activation of MFAT’s task force; 
 
The process of MFAT notification to the Realm countries of Niue, the Cook Islands and 
Tokelau;  
 
The tasking for the New Zealand High Commission in London;  
 
A draft Formal Message to New Zealand posts offshore providing initial notification followed 
by instructions to half-mast the New Zealand flag, open books of condolence and provide 
information on the public observance of mourning and any national memorial service, and 
instruction to provide formal notification to the host Government; and  
 
The notification that will be provided to the diplomatic and consular corps accredited to 
New Zealand and to provide them with information on condolence books and any national 
memorial service.  
 
e   [MFAT request email]  
w   www.mfat.govt.nz 

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Please note that we may publish this letter (with your personal details redacted) on the 
Ministry’s website. 
 
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 
 
 

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