19 December 2022
45 Pipitea St
PO Box 805
P Taylor
Wellington 6140
FYI.org.nz
Phone +64 4 495 7200
[FYI request #20992 email]
Fax +64 4 495 7222
Websit
e dia.govt.nz
Tēnā koe P Taylor
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request dated 31 October 2022 (ref OIA 22/23 0346)
Thank you for your OIA request dated 31 October 2022 to the Department of Internal Affairs
(Department). You asked for the following information –
“Under the Official Information Act 1982, I would like to request all communications between
any member of the Department of Internal Affairs Digital Safety Team and the London Institute
for Strategic Dialogue during the period of 01 August 2022 and 30 September 2022.”
On 28 November 2022, we informed you of our decision to extend the time to respond to your OIA
request by 15 working days. This made the new due date for your OIA response to be on 19
December 2022.
Principle of availability
The guiding principle for considering your request for official information is the principle of
availability (section 5 of the OIA). That is, information must be made available on request unless
there is good reason for withholding it. “Good reason” for withholding is provided for in the OIA and
it is against this framework that we considered whether to withhold official information in this case.
Response to your request
We have located
nine documents within scope of your request. These documents are listed in the
table below and are attached to this letter as
Appendix A.
Where it is necessary, we are relying on grounds listed under section 9(2) of the OIA. The grounds
under section 9 are subject to the public interest test in section 9(1). The particular grounds in
question are as follows:
• Section 9(2)(g)(i) – the withholding of the information is necessary to maintain the effective
conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions between officers
and employees; and
• Section 9(2)(g)(ii) – the withholding of the information is necessary to protect officers and
employees from improper pressure or harassment
Under section 9(2)(g)(i), we are withholding documents 5,7 and 9 in full as these constitute draft
reports and the release of these documents would inhibit the free and frank expressions between
ISD and other officials in future and, in turn, would prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs. A
summary of these reports will be made available to you by 20 January 2023.
Under section 9(2)(g)(ii), we are withholding the contact details (names, roles, phone numbers and
email addresses) of officials and staff and any information that would reveal the identities of the staff
in documents 1,2,3,4,6 and 8 to protect them from improper pressure or harassment in order to
maintain the effective conduct of public affairs.
The withholding of this information under sections 9(2)(g)(i) and 9(2)(g)(ii) is not outweighed by
other public interest considerations which render it desirable to make this information available.
Therefore, sections 9(2)(g)(i) and 9(2)(g)(ii) constitute good reasons for withholding in this particular
case.
Withholding grounds applicable under section 6 of the OIA
The Department has considered the conclusive reasons for withholding information that are not
subject to the public interest test, listed in section 6 of the OIA. The particular grounds in question
are as follows:
• Section 6(a) – where the making available of the information would be likely to prejudice the
security or defence of New Zealand or the international relations of the Government of New
Zealand; and
• Section 6(c) – where the making available of the information would be likely to prejudice the
maintenance of the law, including the prevention, investigation, and detection of offences,
and the right to a fair trial.
The release of the redacted information in documents 3 and 4 would likely prejudice the security of
New Zealand under section 6(a) of the OIA. In particular, the release of this information would be
likely to undermine the Department’s operations and, in turn, detrimentally impact on the nation’s
security.
The release of the redacted information in documents 3 and 4 would likely prejudice the
maintenance of the law under section 6(c) of the OIA. In particular, it would jeopardise our ability to
gather relevant information for future operations.
Access to the Ombudsman
If you are dissatisfied with our decision on your request for information, you have the right, under
section 28 of the OIA, to make a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman. The Office of the
Ombudsman can be contacted by phone on 0800 802 602, via post at PO Box 10152 Wellington, or
via email to
[email address].
Ngā mihi
Jared Mullen
Director Digital Safety
Page 2 of 3
Appendix A
Document
Title
Date
Comments
number
1.
Email correspondence between DIA and
17/09/2022 –
Released, but with some information
ISD on review for briefing
20/09/2022
withheld under section 9(2)(g)(ii), 6(a)
and 6(c) of the OIA.
2.
Email correspondence between DIA and
23/08/2022 –
Released, but with some information
ISD notifying several documents requested
25/08/2022
withheld under section 9(2)(g)(ii) of the
under OIA
OIA.
3.
Email correspondence between DIA and
4/08/2022 –
Released, but with some information
ISD acknowledging receipt of draft report
1/09/2022
withheld under sections 9(2)(g)(ii), 6(a)
and 6(c) of the OIA.
4.
Email correspondence between DIA and
4/08/2022 –
Released, but with some information
ISD noting changes made in draft report (1
15/08/2022
withheld under sections 9(2)(g)(ii), 6(a)
attachment)
and 6(c) of the OIA.
5.
Attachment: Draft ISD report titled
No date
Withheld in full under 9(2)(g)(i)
‘Understanding the long tail of online
extremism in New Zealand’
6.
Email from ISD requesting feedback on
17/09/2022
Released, but with some information
draft report (1 attachments)
withheld under section 9(2)(g)(ii) of the
OIA.
7.
Attachment: Draft ISD report titled ‘NZ
No date
Withheld in full under 9(2)(g)(i)
Online Extremism: International Influences’
8.
Email from ISD requesting feedback on
4/08/2022
Released, but with some information
draft report (1 attachment)
withheld under section 9(2)(g)(ii) of the
OIA.
9.
Attachment: Draft ISD report titled
No date
Withheld in full under 9(2)(g)(i)
‘Understanding the Long Tail of Extremism
in New Zealand’
Page 3 of 3