Performance of Ukranian military in training courses

Mohammed Khan made this Official Information request to Ministry of Defence

Response to this request is long overdue. By law Ministry of Defence should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.

From: Mohammed Khan

Dear Ministry of Defence,

In light of reporting about the under-performance in combat of Ukranian men unlucky enough to be drafted by the Zelensky regime, and the lack of reports produced by the NZDF, I am seeking information held by the department- namely the opinion of the senior personnel responsible for the artillery training conducted with the assistance of NZDF personnel as to the performance and readiness of the Ukrainian military personnel they have trained to date, with reference to the standard that would be expected for NZDF artillerymen.

Regards,
Mohammed Khan

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From: Information
Ministry of Defence


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Morena Mohammed

 

Please find attached the Ministry of Defence's response to your
information request.

 

Ngā mihi

 

Adrian MacGregor

Managing Principal, Ministry of Defence

 

 

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From: Mohammed Khan

Dear Mike,

As you can verify for yourself by reading the Official Information Act, or consulting the informative website maintained by the Ombudsman, "Official information also includes information which is known to an agency but has not yet been written down." https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/what...

The fact that you repeatedly assert that the NZDF have constructively attempted to prevent information being publicly disclosed by not writing it down does not mean you don't hold it per the OIA. Have all personnel involved in the training left the Defence Forces? Do they all have Alzheimers and have forgotten everything about the training? Do you claim there is some secret codicil to the OIA that means you don't have to follow it?

Assuming that neither of those scenarios is true, you continue to be obliged to provide me with "the opinion of the senior personnel responsible for the artillery training conducted with the assistance of NZDF personnel as to the performance and readiness of the Ukrainian military personnel they have trained to date, with reference to the standard that would be expected for NZDF artillerymen." I expect to receive that Monday afternoon at the latest.

Regards,
Mohammed Khan

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From: Information
Ministry of Defence


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Good afternoon Mohammed

Please find attached the Ministry of Defence response to your email: transferring it to the New Zealand Defence Force, which is the agency best-placed to respond.

Yours sincerely

Adrian MacGregor
Managing Principal, Ministry of Defence

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From: Ministerial Services


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Good morning Mohammed Khan,

 

Your request for information held by the Ministry of Defence regarding the
performance and readiness of the Ukrainian military personnel trained to
date was transferred to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) for
consideration under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).

 

It was NZDF personnel who provided support to the United Kingdom, so it is
understandable and correct for the New Zealand Ministry of Defence to
decline your request under section 18(e) of the OIA as that New Zealand
Ministry would not hold any relevant information.

 

With respect to your request for the opinion of the senior personnel
responsible for the artillery training conducted with the assistance of
NZDF personnel as to the performance and readiness of the Ukrainian
military personnel they have trained to date, with reference to the
standard that would be expected for NZDF artillerymen, the opinions of
relevant NZDF personnel will not be provided in accordance with sections
6(a) and 9(2)(g)(i) of the OIA.

 

While the OIA has no provision for the transfer of a request to an agency
of a foreign government, you may wish to seek information from the United
Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence by visiting
[3]https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-inf...

 

You have the right, under section 28(3) of the OIA, to ask an Ombudsman to
review this response to your request.

 

Regards

 

Corporate and Ministerial Services

OCDF, Office of Chief of Defence Force
New Zealand Defence Force

[4]www.nzdf.mil.nz

[5]cid:image001.png@01D8E9D7.F537E0B0

 

 

 

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