Reviews of governance, emergency response and consular services

Scott made this Official Information request to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The request was successful.

From: Scott

Dear Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade,

I would like to make a request for copies of three reviews referred to in MFAT’s 2022 Annual Report:

ONE: On page 44, an internal exercise relating to the COVID-19 response is referred to:

“The Ministry also conducted an exercise to identify lessons from the Ministry’s contribution to the All-of-Government COVID-19 response in the period June 2020 to June 2022. The exercise was an opportunity to reflect on the Ministry-wide coordination, coherence, and operational issues that would be relevant should we need to undertake a similar response in future.”

I would like to request a copy of whatever report was produced to summarise the outcomes of this exercise.

TWO: On page 37 an internal review of consular service is referred to:

“The Ministry has made substantial progress towards completing the implementation of the changes recommended in the internal evaluation of the Ministry’s COVID-19 consular response, including the introduction to the House of a legislative amendment to regularise the provision of consular loans where required.”

I would like to request a copy of this internal evaluation.

THREE: On page 49 a review of MFAT governance is referred to:

“The Ministry initiated a review of its Governance Framework in March 2022 to assure senior leaders that fit-for-purpose arrangements were in place for effective governance. The review provided an opportunity to improve the efficiency of delivery and to ensure clarity of purpose.”

I would like to request a copy of this review.

Yours faithfully,

Scott

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From: ENQUIRIES
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[UNCLASSIFIED]
Thank you for your email.

For information about travel advice, including travelling during the
pandemic, please refer to the SafeTravel website: Home | SafeTravel. The
Unite Against COVID-19 website also provides information about
international travel: International travel and transit | Unite against
COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz).

For enquiries regarding:
• Managed Isolation and Quarantine – Detailed information can be found at:
https://www.miq.govt.nz.
• Consular issues - or if you are a New Zealand citizen overseas needing
assistance, email: [email address].
• New Zealand Scholarships - Use the scholarships enquiries form available
at: https://scholarship.force.com/CommunityF....
• MFAT Vacancies - visit our website at:
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/wor....
• MFAT Graduate Programme - email: [email address].
• New Zealand visas and asylum enquiries - visit the Immigration New
Zealand website at: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/.
• Visas for other countries - contact the relevant foreign representative
to New Zealand. A full list is available at
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/embassies/.
• New Zealand passports - visit the Internal Affairs website at:
www.passports.govt.nz.
• New Zealand citizenship - visit the Internal Affairs website at:
www.dia.govt.nz/New-Zealand-citizenship.
• Authentication of documents and Apostilles - visit the Internal Affairs
website at: www.dia.govt.nz/document-authentication.
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at: www.customs.govt.nz.
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From: ESD
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[UNCLASSIFIED]

Kia ora Scott

 

Thank you for your OIA request received on 25 October 2022 for:

 

… copies of three reviews referred to in MFAT’s 2022 Annual Report:

 

ONE: On page 44, an internal exercise relating to the COVID-19 response is
referred to:

 

“The Ministry also conducted an exercise to identify lessons from the
Ministry’s contribution to the All-of-Government COVID-19 response in the
period June 2020 to June 2022. The exercise was an opportunity to reflect
on the Ministry-wide coordination, coherence, and operational issues that
would be relevant should we need to undertake a similar response in
future.”

 

I would like to request a copy of whatever report was produced to
summarise the outcomes of this exercise.

 

TWO: On page 37 an internal review of consular service is referred to:

 

“The Ministry has made substantial progress towards completing the
implementation of the changes recommended in the internal evaluation of
the Ministry’s COVID-19 consular response, including the introduction to
the House of a legislative amendment to regularise the provision of
consular loans where required.”

 

I would like to request a copy of this internal evaluation.

 

THREE: On page 49 a review of MFAT governance is referred to:

 

“The Ministry initiated a review of its Governance Framework in March 2022
to assure senior leaders that fit-for-purpose arrangements were in place
for effective governance. The review provided an opportunity to improve
the efficiency of delivery and to ensure clarity of purpose.”

 

This email confirms receipt of your request and advises that we will
respond to it as soon as reasonably practicable, and in terms of the
timeframes and requirements of the OIA.

 

Please note that our response letter to you (with your personal details
redacted), and any enclosed documents, may be published on the Ministry’s
website.

 

Ngā mihi

 

Executive Services Division
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatū Aorere

 

 

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From: ESD
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[UNCLASSIFIED]

Tēnā koe Scott

I am writing concerning your OIA request below. This email is to advise that we will need to extend the time limit for responding to you by 30 working days working days, to 24 January 2022. This is because 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)(a) of the OIA refers)

Please note, this extension takes into account the upcoming statutory holidays and the period between 25 December to 15 January, which are not considered working days, as set out in section 2(1) of the OIA.

However, if this process is completed before 24 January 2022, the response will be sent to you as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, you can contact us by email at: DM [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.

Ngā mihi

Executive Services Division
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatū Aorere
________________________________________
195 Lambton Quay, Private Bag 18901, Wellington 5045, New Zealand
www.mfat.govt.nz | www.safetravel.govt.nz

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From: ESD
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade


Attachment OIA 28362 Scott Response.pdf
161K Download View as HTML

Attachment OIA 28362 Scott FYI Combined Information Redacted.pdf
5.8M Download View as HTML


[UNCLASSIFIED]

Tēnā koe Scott,

Please see the attached letter concerning your OIA request.

Ngā mihi

Executive Services Division
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatū Aorere

195 Lambton Quay, Private Bag 18901, Wellington 5045, New Zealand
www.mfat.govt.nz | www.safetravel.govt.nz

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