9 April 2024
Ms Anderson
[FYI request #25618 email]
Dear Ms Anderson
Thank you for your email of 3 February 2024 in which you request the fol owing under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA):
al correspondence that you or your office has received in your capacity as Minister of
Defence from the date of my last request (10 December 2023) to today, 3 February 2024
(correspondence meaning any emails and physical mail), relating to the below subjects.
Please provide separate numbers for correspondence in support of Palestine vs those
that are in support of Israel.
Subjects of interest:
- Gaza
- Palestine
- Israel's actions towards Gaza/Palestine
- Operations in the Red Sea, or against Yemeni Houthi rebels.
Regarding phone cal s received by the Minister's office, is there a process by which
concerns relating to the Minister's portfolios are relayed to him? If there is, can you please
describe this?
On 8 February 2024, this office requested clarification from you that your request was intended
for Foreign Affairs, rather than Defence portfolio, and that you are wanting details on the number
of correspondence received, rather than the physical letters/emails. You replied on
9 February that you had meant to write to this office, and could you be provided with a definition
of correspondence.
On 8 March 2024, the timeframes for responding to your request were extended by an additional
20 working days because responding to your request stil necessitated a review of a large quantity
of information, and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with the
operations of this office (section 15A(1)(a) of the OIA refers).
For the purposes of your request, correspondence refers to al emails, letters, text messages and
phone cal s from members of the public.
Between 10 December 2023 to the 3 February 2024, this office has received 1,058 number of
correspondence in scope of your request.
2
This office is unable to provide a breakdown of this correspondence along the lines you have
requested, as providing resource to do so would have an unreasonable impact on this office’s
ability to carry out its other functions. This part of your request is therefore refused under section
18(f) of the OIA, as the information requested cannot be made available without substantial
col ation or research.
The Minister's office receives a number of phone cal s on a daily basis. The office requests cal ers
submit their enquiries in writing for further consideration and possible response.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision by
contacting www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Rt Hon Winston Peters
Minister of Foreign Affairs
