2 October 2023
Charles Finley
[FYI request #24145 email]
Ref: OIA-2023/24-0194
Dear Charles Finley
Official Information Act request for a list of Cabinet papers or briefings which have not
been proactively released
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on 14 September
2023. You requested:
Please can you share a list of all cabinet papers or briefings from across agencies
which have not been proactively released in the last 12 months of this government, and
the reasoning for not releasing. I am not interested in those papers which arent
released because of defence / security reasons, but interested in papers which were
not released for other reasons (choice / timing etc.) Ideally the list will include: Paper
title (and short descriptor if not decipherable from the title), Agency, Date, Reason for
not being released proactively. “”
I refer to our email of 20 September 2023 advising that your request as currently worded is
substantial in nature and is likely to be refused under section 18(f) of the Act as the
information requested cannot be made available without substantial collation or research. We
invited you to refine your request to include a list of Cabinet papers prepared by the
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) for the current Prime Minister that
have not been proactively released. For the current Prime Minister this covers the timeframe
from 25 January – 14 September 2023.
We have not received a response to our email and proposed refinement. I am therefore
refusing your request under section 18(f) of the Act. If you wish to submit a new request, we
will assess it in accordance with the Act.
As advised, DPMC is not responsible for the publication of all Cabinet papers or briefing
documents. These are typically published by the relevant Minister via their responsible
agency. You may wish to consider making a request direct to other agencies for the
requested information. Details on other government agencies are available on the following
website: Welcome to Govt.nz | New Zealand Government
(www.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
Clare Ward
Executive Director
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
4792506
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz