18 November 2022
Harry Peterson
[FYI request #20530 email]
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):
I am requesting all communications through your office as Minister of Foreign Affairs
requesting all communications regarding the appointment of Rt Hon Trevor Mallard
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 Mallard as ambassador to Ireland
On 12 October 2022, due to further consultation being required before a response could be
provided, the timeframe for responding to your request was extended by 20 working days, to
10 November 2022. Thank you for your patience while this process was concluded.
Please find attached the documents relevant to your request.
The appointment process for Rt Hon Trevor Mallard as Ambassador to Ireland was completed
within normal timeframes. There are two parts to the formal appointment process:
1) Obtaining the formal approvals of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Governor-
General. This can take up to six weeks and is dependent upon signing availability of the
Minister and Governor-General. In Mr Mallard’s case, it took just under five weeks (24
working days); and
2) Obtaining agrément (the foreign government’s approval). This can take up to several
months and is entirely dependent upon foreign government’s processes. In Mr Mallard’s
case, it took five weeks (25 working days) for the foreign government to approve his
appointment.
No visa is required for the Rt Hon Trevor Mallard to travel to the Republic of Ireland.
I understand that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) are preparing a separate OIA
response to you on this topic. Where documents in scope of this request appear in the MFAT
request too, these documents will be released in the Ministry’s response to avoid duplication.
Page 2 of 2
Some portions of the documents are withheld under 9(2)(a) to protect individuals’ privacy.
Where the information has been withheld under section 9 of the OIA, no public interest in
releasing the information has been identified that would override the reasons for withholding it.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision by
contactin
g www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa
Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Minita Take Aorere / Minister of Foreign Affairs
