New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
10 November 2022
195 Lambton Quay
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
Harry Peterson
T +64 4 439 8000
[email address]
F +64 4 472 9596
OIA 28292
Tēnā koe Harry Peterson
Thank you for your email of 13 September 2022 in which you request the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA):
al communications between MFAT regarding the appointment of Rt Hon Trevor Mal ard as
ambassador to Ireland.
This includes but is not limited to:
- Communications regarding a diplomatic visa
- Communications regarding the reason for a hold up or delay in the appointment of the Rt
Hon Trevor Mal ard as ambassador to Ireland.
On 12 October 2022 we wrote to you to advise you of the need to extend the time limit for responding to
you by 20 working days, to 10 November 2022. This was because of the consultations necessary to make
a decision on your request are such that a proper response cannot reasonably be made within the original
time frame (section 15A(1)(b) of the OIA refers).
This letter advises that a decision has been made on your request. The documents will be released to you
with some portions of the documents withheld under the following two 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
9(2)(a): to protect individuals’ privacy.
Where the information has been withheld under section 9 of the OIA, it has been identified that there is
no public interest in releasing the information that would override the reasons for withholding it.
The relevant documents are in the final stages of preparation, and will be sent to you as soon as
reasonably practicable.
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
e [MFAT request email]
w www.mfat.govt.nz