New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
13 July 2022
195 Lambton Quay
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
Mohammed Khan
T +64 4 439 8000
[FYI request #19361 email]
F +64 4 472 9596
OIA 28067
Tēnā koe Mohammed Khan
I refer to your email of 16 May 2022 in which you request the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA):
An article published today reports that Wellington Mayor Andy Foster chose to veto a
commemoration of the Nakba, the ongoing ethnic cleansing and genocide of the
Palestinian people from their homeland, after "Foster took advice from Mfat" (
https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/128648310/palestinian-
commemoration-ruled-out-after-wellington-mayor-pulls-pin ).
Please provide all correspondence, emails, agendas, briefing notes, text messages etc
1) between MFAT and Mayor Foster and his office and the Wellington City Council.
2) within MFAT regarding this matter.
3) between MFAT and other government bodies/ministers.
4) between MFAT and foreign lobby groups, such as the 'Israeli' 'Embassy', American
Embassy, 'Israel Institute of NZ', the so-called 'Indigenous Coalition for Israel', or
individuals acting on behalf of foreign powers such as Juliet Moses.
On 13 June 2022, we notified you that we were extending the due date for our response to your
request by 20 working days.
The information relevant to your request is attached:
The material within scope of your question 1 is Annex One.
The material within scope of your question 2 is Annex Two.
The material within scope of your question 3 is Annex Three.
We have withheld some information 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;
9(2)(a): to protect individuals’ privacy;
9(2)(g)(i): to protect the free and frank expression of opinions by departments; and
9(2)(g)(ii): to protect officers and employees from improper pressure or harassment.
e [MFAT request email]
w www.mfat.govt.nz
Page 2 of 2
Where the information has been withheld under section 9 of the OIA, we have identified no
public interest in releasing the information that would override the reasons for withholding it.
There is no information within scope of your question 4, therefore we refuse this part of your
request under section 18(e) of the OIA, as the information you requested does not exist.
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
Sarah Corbett
for Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade