16 August 2022
45 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wel ington 6011
PO Box 805, Wel ington 6140
Phone +64 4 495 7200
Will Inglis
Email [email address]
[FYI request #19754 email]
Website www.dia.govt.nz
Tēnā koe Will
Your Official Information Act 1982 request OIA 22/23-0067
Thank you for your email of 19 July 2022 requesting the fol owing under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
“Any reports, aide memoires or written memos to Ministers’ offices in this term of
Government regarding the Charities Act, particularly information regarding the
provision for advancement of religion, and/or its application to organisations like
Sanitarium and other businesses owned by religious organisations.”
We have interpreted you request as:
“Any reports, aide memoires or written memos to Ministers’ offices in this term of
government for information regarding the Charities Act provision for advancement of
religion, and/or its application to organisations like Sanitarium and other businesses
owned by religious organisations.”
There are 24 documents falling within the scope of your request.
I am withholding 4 documents under section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the Act, to maintain the
confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials.
I am refusing the release of 8 documents under section 18(d) of the Act, as the information
requested is publicly available.
I am releasing, attached as
Appendix A, excerpts from six Community and Voluntary Sector
Status Reports from 31 March to 10 June 2021.
I am releasing the remaining six documents, also attached as
Appendix A, with some
information withheld as it fal s out of the scope of your request, and some information
withheld under the fol owing sections of the Act:
•
section 9(2)(a) – to protect the privacy of natural persons; and
•
section 9(2)(f)(iv) – to maintain the confidentiality of advice tendered by
Ministers of the Crown and officials.
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As is required by section 9(1) of the Act, I have considered whether the grounds for
withholding information from the documents provided with this response are outweighed
by other considerations which would make it desirable, in the public interest, to make that
information available. In this instance, I do not consider that to be the case.
You have the right, under section 28(3) of the Act, to seek an investigation and review of my
decision by the Office of the Ombudsman. The postal address of the Office of the
Ombudsman is PO Box 10152, Wel ington. Alternatively, you can phone 0800 802 602 or
email [email address].
We intend to publish our response to your request on www.dia.govt.nz. This letter, with
your personal details removed, will be published in its entirety. Publishing responses
increases the availability of information to the public and is consistent with the Act’s
purpose of enabling more effective participation in the making and administration of laws
and policies and promoting the accountability of Ministers and officials.
Nāku noa, nā
Anita Balakrishnan
Tumuaki | Director Ministerial, Monitoring, and Capability Group
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