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

Link to this

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Brown <[FOI #26070 email]>
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2024 10:34 PM
To: Christopher Luxon (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Cost of Police protection of past Prime Ministers

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

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #26070 email]

Is [Christopher Luxon request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Christopher Luxon? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________

hide quoted sections

Link to this

From: Sarah Boyle


Attachment MOIA Transfer PMO 163 2023 24 OIA 2023 24 0648 Brown Cost of security for past PMs Mark Brown 4859985.1 002.docx
234K Download View as HTML


 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Link to this

From: Ministerial Services


Attachment Mark Brown IR 01 24 9838 response.pdf
487K Download View as HTML


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

Link to this

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

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Christopher Luxon only: