20 November 2023
45 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wel ington 6011
PO Box 805, Wel ington
Phone +64 04 495 7200
Email: [email address]
dia.govt.nz
Kylie
[email address]
Tēnā koe Kylie
Your Official Information Act 1982 request reference OIA 2324-0289s
I am responding to your email of 27 October 2023 to Te Tari Taiwhenua | the Department of
Internal Affairs requesting the fol owing under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
Has the agency or any staff received external or internal instruction, direction or
guidance, written or oral, to prepare, develop, review or edit briefings to incoming
ministers with a view to removing the use of the word ‘Aotearoa’ or other te Reo
Māori? If so, what was the instruction received (either copies of meeting
minutes/emails/other document or via a summary of the memory of staff involved in
the discussion(s).
There is one internal document,
Style Guide for BIMs 2023, within the scope of your request.
This document is related to Briefings to Incoming Ministers, and its focus is to ensure clarity
and consistency across the BIMs for each Minister and ministerial portfolio supported by Te
Tari Taiwhenua.
It may be of interest to you that there is a publicly available guide for the inclusion of te reo
Māori when using it in an English context in government content. This guide can be found at:
www.digital.govt.nz/standards-and-guidance/design-and-ux/content-design-
guidance/inclusive-language/te-reo-maori.
The page linked above is part of a wider set of pages that advise on the use of inclusive
language: www.digital.govt.nz/standards-and-guidance/design-and-ux/content-design-
guidance/inclusive-language.
You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to seek a review of my decision by the Office
of the Ombudsman. The postal address of the Office of the Ombudsman is PO Box 10152,
Wellington. Alternatively, you can phone 0800 802 602 or email
[email address].
We intend to publish our response to your request on Te Tari Taiwhenua’s website at:
www.dia.govt.nz. This letter, with your personal details removed, wil be published in its
entirety. Publishing responses increases the availability of information to the public and is
consistent with the Act’s purpose of enabling more effective participation in the making and
administration of laws and policies and promoting the accountability of Ministers and
officials.
Nāku noa, nā
Jeremy Cauchi
Tumuaki | Director Ministerial, Monitoring, and Capability
