Alleged PIJF influence buying

Kurt Mastrovich made this Official Information request to Winston Peters

The request was refused by Winston Peters.

From: Kurt Mastrovich

Dear Winston Peters,

Per your comments as DPM about the independence of state-owned Media I would like to request the information you hold that proves your statements. I would like information that backs up your claim the media were bribed by the PIJF and that there is no evidence they are independent.

Please supply the following information under the Official Information Act (OIA).

If you need any more information from me please let me know as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully,
Kurt Mastrovich

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From: Winston Peters (MIN)
Winston Peters

Dear Correspondent  

 

Thank you for contacting Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister,
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Racing.  

 

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appreciates you taking the time to write.   

 

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The Office of Rt Hon Winston Peters

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From: Winston Peters (MIN)
Winston Peters


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Dear Kurt Mastrovich,

 

I acknowledge receipt of your official information request dated
13/12/2023.

 

We received your request on 13/12/2023. We will endeavour to respond to
your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than
01/02/2024, being 20 working days after the day your request was received.
If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of
an extension of that timeframe.

 

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact our office. If any
additional factors come to light which are relevant to your request,
please do not hesitate to contact us so that these can be taken into
account.

 

 

 

Kind regards

 

 

Office of Rt Hon Winston Peters

 

Private Secretary(Executive Support) | Office of Rt Hon Winston Peters  

Deputy Prime Minister | Minister of Foreign Affairs | Minister for Racing

7.4 EW, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

DDI: 04 817 6825

E: [1][Winston Peters request email]

 

 

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From: Winston Peters (MIN)
Winston Peters


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Dear Kurt Mastrovich

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act). The request sent on 13 December 2023 asks for:

“Per your comments as DPM about the independence of state-owned Media I
would like to request the information you hold that proves your
statements. I would like information that backs up your claim the media
were bribed by the PIJF and that there is no evidence they are
independent.”

In order to ensure accuracy in our response, can you please provide a
reference/s to Mr Peter’s claim that you are referring to.

 

Thank you for your assistance.

 

Kind Regards

 

Office of Rt Hon Winston Peters

 

 

Office of Rt Hon Winston Peters

Deputy Prime Minister | Minister of Foreign Affairs | Minister for Racing
| Leader of New Zealand First

7.4 EW, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

 

Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by
replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.

 

 

 

From: Winston Peters (MIN)
Sent: Thursday, 14 December 2023 8:28 AM
To: Kurt Mastrovich <[1][FOI #25167 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Alleged PIJF influence buying

 

Dear Kurt Mastrovich,

 

I acknowledge receipt of your official information request dated
13/12/2023.

 

We received your request on 13/12/2023. We will endeavour to respond to
your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than
01/02/2024, being 20 working days after the day your request was received.
If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of
an extension of that timeframe.

 

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact our office. If any
additional factors come to light which are relevant to your request,
please do not hesitate to contact us so that these can be taken into
account.

 

 

 

Kind regards

 

 

Office of Rt Hon Winston Peters

 

Private Secretary(Executive Support) | Office of Rt Hon Winston Peters  

Deputy Prime Minister | Minister of Foreign Affairs | Minister for Racing

7.4 EW, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

DDI: 04 817 6825

E: [2][Winston Peters request email]

 

 

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Link to this

From: Kurt Mastrovich

Dear Winston Peters (MIN),

This link https://youtu.be/DI9pVuL2oH8?si=MUO_1SDc... from 3:01 provides the necessary reference. I quote "you cannot defend $55 million of bribery".

Yours sincerely,

Kurt Mastrovich

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From: Kurt Mastrovich

Dear Winston Peters (MIN),

It seems my original reply to this clarification didn't come through.

The reference is from the following link (https://youtu.be/DI9pVuL2oH8?si=tikYI102...) via Newshub from 3:02 where Mr Peters questions the independence of the public media and 3:22 where he states "you can't defend $55 million dollars of bribery".

Given such a serious allegation the evidence for Mr Peters statement is greatly appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

Kurt Mastrovich

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From: Winston Peters (MIN)
Winston Peters


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Dear Kurt Mastrovich,

I am writing concerning your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request,
which asks: 

“Per your comments as DPM about the independence of state-owned Media I
would like to request the information you hold that proves your
statements. I would like information that backs up your claim the media
were bribed by the PIJF and that there is no evidence they are
independent. Please supply the following information under the Official
Information Act (OIA).”

This email is to advise that we will need to extend the time limit for
responding to you by 20 working days, to Tuesday 27 February 2024. This is
because extensive consultations are necessary to make a decision on your
request. Those consultations are such that a proper response cannot
reasonably be made within the original time frame (section 15A(1)(b) of
the OIA refers).

However, if this process is completed before 27 February 2024, the
response will be sent to you as soon as possible.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
this decision by contacting [1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone
0800 802 602.

Private Secretary.

Office of Rt Hon Winston Peters
Deputy Prime Minister

Minister of Foreign Affairs |

Minister for Racing |

Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

 

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References

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1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

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From: Winston Peters (MIN)
Winston Peters


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Attachment OIA letter Kurt Mastrovich.pdf
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Dear Kurt Mastrovich,

 

Please find a letter attached regarding your OIA request.

 

Kind regards,

Private secretary.

 

Office of Rt Hon Winston Peters
Deputy Prime Minister

Minister of Foreign Affairs |

Minister for Racing |

Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

 

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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Winston Peters only: