New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Aorere
June 2022
195 Lambton Quay
Private Bag
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
Felicity
T +64 4 439 8000
[FYI request #19408 email]
F +64 4 472 9596
OIA 28085
Felicity
I refer to your email of 20 May 2022 in which you request information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA). We have numbered your request for ease of reference and
addressed each element in turn below.
Please note: we have interpreted your request for the number of positions available to be a
request for the number of established positions within the Ministry for each of the job types
requested. For example, the information supplied in response to questions 1 and 2 provides the
overall establishment FTE (i.e. positions that are available). The overall numbers of staff that
are actually employed does not equate to the overall number of established positions. Some of
the FTE positions in the establishment may be filled temporarily and from time to time only. For
example, a position may be filled while a staff member is preparing to go on a posting, or while
they are on language training. For tracking and reporting purposes, we maintain a record of all
established positions.
1.
the number of Foreign Policy Officer positions are available (FTE)
The number of Foreign Policy Officer positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(the Ministry) establishment (Full Time Equivalent (FTE)) is 461.
2. the number of Specialist positions are available (FTE)
The number of Specialist positions within the Ministry establishment (FTE) is 991.
3. Number of management positions are available at:
a. Unit Manager level (FTE)
b. Divisional Manager level (FTE)
The number of management positions within the Ministry establishment, titled Unit Manager and
Divisional Manager:
Manager position
FTE
Unit Manager
74
Divisional Manager
39
Since October 2018:
4. The number of staff that have been hired by MFAT at:
a. Foreign Policy Officer level
b. Specialist level
e [MFAT request email]
w www.mfat.govt.nz
Page 2 of 2
Since 1 October 2018, 851 staff have been employed by the Ministry.
Job family
No. of staff
Foreign Policy
206
Specialist
645
5. The number of staff that have resigned from MFAT at:
a. Foreign Policy Officer level
b. Specialist level
Since 1 October 2018, 375 staff have resigned from the Ministry.
Job family
No. of staff
Foreign Policy
62
Specialist
313
6. The number of staff that have taken Leave With Out Pay and not returned at:
a. Foreign Policy Officer level
b. Specialist level
Since 1 October 2018, 21 staff have taken and concluded their leave without pay and not
returned to work at the Ministry.
Job family
No. of staff
Foreign Policy
10
Specialist
11
7. The number of Foreign Policy Officers that joined after September 2018, who have
now left MFAT.
As at 1 June 2022, 14 of the 206 Foreign Policy Officers employed after September 2018 have
resigned from the Ministry.
Please note that we may publish this letter (with your personal details redacted) on the
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.
Julie-Anne Lee
for Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
