Amanda Murtagh
By email: [FYI request #25184 email]
Dear Amanda
OFFICIAL INFORMATION REQUEST - OUTSTANDING OIA'S
Thank you for your email dated 14 December 2023.
You have asked "when a Minister of the Crown resigns or changes, what is the law relating to outstanding
OIA's. Is the incoming Minister required by law to answer the previous Minister's OIA requests".
The Cabinet Manual 2023 notes that sometimes a request for official information received by a previous
Minister or administration will not have been responded to before the appointment of a new Minister or
administration. In these cases, the request for information continues and the new Minister must respond
to the request in accordance with the provisions of the Official Information Act 1982.
The Manual suggests the Minister should assess whether they, or any others who are subject to the Act,
hold the information requested. If the Minister does not hold the information but believes it to be held by
another agency or Minister, then the Minister should transfer the request under section 14 of the Act. If
the information requested is not held by any Minister or other agency then the request can be refused
under section 18(g) of the Act.
Yours sincerely
Hon Judith Collins KC
Attorney-General