On behalf of Hon Tim Groser, thank you for your email.  Your
correspondence has been noted and will be recorded.

 

All correspondence, including email,  is routed through our mail tracking
process.  Although e-mail increases the speed of delivery, the
“behind-the-scenes” efforts of the Minister’s staff in responding to
mail cannot always provide the kind of speedy response users of email may
anticipate.

 

While the Minister considers all correspondence to be important, if it is
obvious that you are writing only to express a personal view your opinion
will be noted but a response beyond this acknowledgement may not be sent.

 

Thank you again.

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Dear Christopher Holdaway

Please find attached the response from Hon Tim Groser, Minister of Trade, to your OIA request.

Yours sincerely

Bibiana Marsh
Office of Hon Tim Groser
Minister of Trade | Minister for Climate Change Issues
Parliament Buildings | Private Bag 18041 | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand

-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Holdaway [mailto:[OIA #2336 email]]
Sent: Thursday, 11 December 2014 7:50 a.m.
To: T Groser (MIN)
Subject: Official Information Act request - Draft text of Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA)

Dear Minister of Trade,

The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) is being negotiated in a manner that lacks even the most basic transparency requirements. Citizens of New Zealand, myself included, are concerned that this secrecy represents at best a New Zealand government passively unconcerned with our best interests, and at worst betrays a capitulation to desperately waning economic imperialism of the United States.

The little information that has been released regarding the TPPA has suggested that it will significantly degrade the liberties of New Zealand citizens. It is known that, under the agreement, foreign corporations will have course to challenge our government and our law if they feel it restricts their ability to profit from business here. Such a state of affairs would have staggering social consequences, including loss of confidence in a government that works more for foreign business interests than its own citizens.

Even if this were the ONLY point of concern regarding the TPPA (and it is not, for other frightening consequences around spying/privacy, internet freedom, & intellectual property rights abound, just to name a few), it would still MANDATE the public release of the draft text.

The New Zealand public has a right to know how their rights at home and abroad are being affected by the clandestine acts of their government. We have a right to participate in our own democracy, to appeal our government over whether or not we consent to the TPPA. Before this vital stage of inclusive participation can happen, however, the draft text MUST be publicly released.

Other nations have released the draft text (c.f. Malaysia) - there is no reason why New Zealand should not follow suit.

Yours faithfully,

Christopher Holdaway
BA(Hons), MA(Hons) Auckland

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