Cost of Police protection of past Prime Ministers
Mark Brown made this Official Information request to Christopher Luxon
The request was refused by Christopher Luxon.
From: Mark Brown
Dear Christopher Luxon,
Under the Official Information Act we request information on the following.
It has been reported in the Media that when past Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has returned to New Zealand, she has had six body guards with her.
1) We assume these body guards are some type of Police protection offered to past Prime Ministers. Would you confirm if the body guards are that provided via a government department?
2) If they are government provided, please provide;
(i) the number of persons (body guards/police etc) used per time,
(ii) how many times they have been used,
(iii) and the cost for this service per use.
3) In comparison please outline the same details for the other past Prime Ministers; Chris Hipkins, Bill English, and John Key.
4) For how long is this service made available to past Prime Ministers?
We look forward to your prompt reply.
Yours faithfully,
Mark Brown
From: Christopher Luxon (MIN)
Christopher Luxon
Kia ora Mark,
Thank you for your email of 11th March 2024, in which you submitted an Official Information Act request as follows:
It has been reported in the Media that when past Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has returned to New Zealand, she has had six body guards with her.
1) We assume these body guards are some type of Police protection offered to past Prime Ministers. Would you confirm if the body guards are that provided via a government department?
2) If they are government provided, please provide;
(i) the number of persons (body guards/police etc) used per time,
(ii) how many times they have been used,
(iii) and the cost for this service per use.
3) In comparison please outline the same details for the other past Prime Ministers; Chris Hipkins, Bill English, and John Key.
4) For how long is this service made available to past Prime Ministers?
Your request is being considered in accordance with the Act, and you can expect a response by 10th April 2024 (date determined by the OIA calculator).
Ngā mihi nui
Sonya Ford
Correspondence Lead Advisor | Office of Rt Hon Christopher Luxon
Prime Minister
Minister for National Security and Intelligence
Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
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From: Sarah Boyle
MOIA Transfer PMO 163 2023 24 OIA 2023 24 0648 Brown Cost of security for past PMs Mark Brown 4859985.1 002.docx
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From: Ministerial Services
Tēnā koe Mark
Please find attached the response relating to your Official Information
Act request, received by Police on 21 March 2024.
Ngā mihi
Lisa
Ministerial Services
Police National Headquarters
===============================================================
WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the
addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be
subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which
creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this
message or any of its contents. Also note, the views expressed in this
message may not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Police. If
you have received this message in error, please email or telephone the
sender immediately
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Adrian left an annotation ()
This needs another look. Penny at police has quoted three sections under which she is refusing this - however none of them would appear to actually be applicable on first glance. Penny knows her grounds are not sufficient for withholding under any of those sections, hence why she has quoted three different reasons.
Link to this