New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
28 March 2023
195 Lambton Quay
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
Reagan Gibbons
T +64 4 439 8000
[FYI request #21671 email]>
F +64 4 472 9596
OIA 28496
Tēnā koe Reagan Gibbons
I refer to your email of 30 January 2023 in which you request the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA):
I request all advice provided by MFAT to the Minister of Foreign Affairs since 1 January
2022 regarding the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
On 15 February 2023 you agreed to refine your request for information to:
Key Submissions provided by MFAT to the Minister of Foreign Affairs since 1 January 2022
regarding the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
On 28 February 2023, the timeframes for responding to your request were extended by 20
working days. Thank you for your patience.
We have decided to grant your request for information. The documents are in the final stages
of being prepared for release and will be provided to you as soon as practicable. Some
information in these documents will be withheld under the following 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;
6(b)(i): to protect the passing of information from another government on a confidential
basis;
9(2)(a): to protect individuals’ privacy;
9(2)(g)(i): to protect the free and frank expression of opinions by departments; and
9(2)(h): to maintain legal professional privilege.
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.
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.
e [MFAT request email]
w www.mfat.govt.nz
Page 2 of 2
Nāku noa, nā
Sarah Corbett
for Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade