UNCLASSIFIED
New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
195 Lambton Quay
19 December 2024
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
T +64 4 439 8000
F +64 4 472 9596
Andrew Riddell
OIA 29785
[FYI request #28924 email]
Tēnā koe Andrew Riddell
Thank you for your email of 26 October 2024 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(the Ministry), in which you request the following under the Official Information Act 1982
(OIA):
“I request copies of all assessments, briefings, reports, talking points and similar
advice by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
on the 19 July 2024 declaratory decision by the International Court of Justice on
the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the
occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.”
Background
A significant amount of information relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict is publicly
available on the Ministry’s website
: https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-
regions/middle-east/israel-hamas-conflict
This information is regularly updated and includes links to announcements, details on
funding, statements and press releases, proactively released OIA responses, and
responses to frequently asked questions.
Response to your request
Please see the following table for a list of documents in scope of your request:
Type
Title
Date
Email
ICJ issues significant advisory opinion on Israeli
20 July 2024
Occupation
Email
ICJ issues significant advisory opinion on Israeli
22 July 2024
Occupation
Email
ICJ issues significant advisory opinion on Israeli
23 July 2024
Occupation
Email
Oral Questions Thursday 25 July: Israel/ICJ
25 July 2024
Email
FORMAL MESSAGE: MEPP/ICJ: [Withheld under 6(b)(i)]
2 August 2024
UNCLASSIFIED
Page 2 of 3
Type
Title
Date
Email
FORMAL MESSAGE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICTS – UPDATED 8 August 2024
TALKING POINTS
Email
Sanctions on Israel following ICJ Ruling on Unlawful
12 August 2024
presence in Palestinian Territories - ministerial templates
for OMFA
Some information is withheld under the following sections of the OIA:
•
6(a): to avoid prejudicing the security or defence of New Zealand or the
international relations of the New Zealand Government;
•
6(b)(i): to protect the passing of information from another government on a
confidential basis;
•
6(b)(ii): to protect the passing of information from an international organisation on
a confidential basis;
•
9(2)(a): to protect individuals’ privacy;
•
9(2)(g)(i): to protect the free and frank expression of opinions by departments;
•
9(2)(g)(ii): to protect officers and employees from improper pressure or
harassment; and
•
9(2)(h): to maintain legal professional privilege.
One briefing titled “UNGA Resolution: ICJ Advisory Opinion on Israeli Occupation of
Palestine” dated 16 September 2024 is refused under section 18(d) as the information is
publicly available on the MFAT website here:
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/OIA/OIA-
2024/OIA-29693-UNGA-Illegal-israeli-actions-in-occupied-Jerusalem-6-November-
2024.pdf
Where the information has been withheld under section 9 of the OIA, no public interest
in releasing the information has been identified that would override the reasons for
withholding it.
Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official
information requests where possible. Therefore, our response to your request (with your
personal information removed) may be published on the Ministry website:
www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/contact-us/official-information-act-responses/
Page 3 of 3
If you have any questions about this decision, you can contact us by email at:
[email address]. 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.
Nāku noa, nā
Owen Thornber
for Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Document Outline
