12 July 2023
Liam Hehir
[FYI request #23343 email]
Ref: OIA-2022/23-1078
Dear Liam Hehir
Official Information Act request relating to communications or instructions about
sausage rolls during overseas trips
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on 1 July 2023.
You requested:
‘Under the Official Information Act 1982, I am writing to request any information held by
the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) that relates to the
communication of specific dietary preferences of the Prime Minister at official meetings
with foreign leaders.
In particular, I am seeking any written instructions, emails, or other communications
that instruct or suggest that sausage rolls be made available at these meetings, or that
indicate a preference for the Prime Minister to have them available in view of media.
Please include any communications or guidelines that are intended to be shared with
foreign countries’ representatives, their catering teams, or any public relations
personnel. The timeframe for this request is from the beginning of the Prime Minister’s
term to the present.’
We note you have made a similar request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(MFAT), and we understand they will be providing you a response in due course. Our
response is limited to the information DPMC holds on this matter as we have understood
your interest to be in our information (rather than any information that may be held by the
Prime Minister’s Office or other agencies). We have also understood your particular interest
to be in communications about the Prime Minister’s preferences rather than seeking
communications that reference catering/meals/food in any capacity.
We have undertaken searches of our records and I can advise that we did not identify any
communications falling within the scope of your request. As no information has been
identified, your request is refused under section 18(e) of the Act as the information either
does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts, cannot be found.
Noting your particular interest in communications around making sausage rolls available, you
may be interested to note that communications with foreign leaders (and their teams) around
dietary needs are usually limited to allergies and preferences for tea or coffee, still or
sparkling water. Such communications do not go into specific preferred foods/dishes. We
have identified some email correspondence which includes reference to the Prime Minister’s
preferences among a range of other matters relating to overseas travel. These
communications, in so far as they relate to food preferences, can be summarised (in line with
section 16(e) of the Act) as a preference for tea and a note on food allergies.
4764677
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
We do not intend to publish this response on the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet’s website.
Yours sincerely
Anneliese Parkin
Deputy Chief Executive, Policy
4764677
2