OIA2425 0815 Response Letter.pdf

8 May 2025
45 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wel ington 6011
PO Box 805, Wel ington
Phone: 04 495 7200
New Zealand Council of Civil Liberties
Email: [email address]
[FYI request #30213 email]
Website: dia.govt.nz

Tēnā koe,
Your Official Information Act 1982 request, reference OIA2425-0815
I am responding to your email of 25 February 2025 to the Department of Internal Affairs (the
Department) requesting the fol owing under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
1.  Al  communications to and from the IPCA relating to this report [The Policing of public
protests in New Zealand], excluding anything relating to any specific complaint. Given
that the IPCA has indicated it col aborated with the Department on the preparation of
the main body of the report, we expect this would include emails, briefings, meeting
notes, formal and informal advice, and responses to the positions of the IPCA and its
other col aboration partners and stakeholders.
2.  All internal analysis, assessment, consideration, formal and informal advice, and
recommendations or responses developed or communicated within the Department
about the issues raised in the IPCA report and the recommendations made by IPCA.
3.  Al  information recording Department decisions on how to proceed regarding the
recommendations made by the IPCA in its report.
4.  Al  communications from the Department about the report, or how to proceed
fol owing the publication of the report, to (a) the Minister of Internal Affairs, (b) the
Minister of Justice, (c) the Police, (d) Crown Law and (e) the NZ Security Intel igence
Service.
On 25 March 2025, the timeframe to respond to your request was extended by 16 working
days to 16 April 2025 under section 15A(1)(b) of the Act. This was because consultations
necessary to make a decision on your request were such that we could not respond within
the original time limit.
On 16 April 2025, you were advised that the Department had made a decision in principle
about your request for official information. I advised you that it was our intention to release
information by 12 May 2025.
Response to your request
I am partially releasing 26 documents to you, appended and attached as Appendix A. Some
information is withheld within these documents under the fol owing sections of the Act:
•  9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of natural persons;

•  9(2)(g)(ii), to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the
protection of Ministers, members of organisations, officers, and employees
from improper pressure or harassment;
•  18(c)(i), that the making available of the information requested would be
contrary to the provisions of a specified enactment; and
•  18(d), that the information is or will soon be publicly available.
Some information has also been withheld as out of scope of your request.
I am withholding documents 22A and 22B under section 18(d) of the Act, as these
documents are publicly available at on the Independent Police Conduct Authority’s website:
•  www.ipca.govt.nz/download/168202/18%20February%202025%20-
%20IPCA%20Public%20Report%20-
%20Thematic%20Review%20on%20the%20policing%20of%20public%20protest
s%20in%20New%20Zealand.pdf; and
•  www.ipca.govt.nz/Site/publications-and-media/2025-reports-on-
investigations/2025-feb-18-public-protest-policing-review.aspx.
I am refusing part four of your request under section 18(e) of the Act, as the information you
have requested does not exist.
Public interest considerations
As is required by section 9(1) of the Act, consideration has been given as to whether the
withholding of information is outweighed by other public interest considerations which
would make it desirable to make this information available. In this instance, it is not
considered to be the case.
Accessing the Ombudsman
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of my decision by the Office of the
Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Proactive release
We intend to publish our response to your request on our website at:
www.dia.govt.nz/Official-Information-Act-Requests-2. This letter, with your personal details
removed, will be published in its entirety. Publishing responses increases the availability of
information to the public and is consistent with the Act’s purpose of enabling more effective
participation in the making and administration of laws and policies and promoting the
accountability of Ministers and officials.
Nāku noa, nā

Jeremy Cauchi
Director, Ministerial and Monitoring

Appendix A: Documents within scope

No.  Date Range
Title
Decision
Withholding grounds
1.    15 March 2024
Email: Review of legal framework
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)

2.    15 - 18 March 2024
Email: Internal discussion
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
3.    25 March 2024
Email: Tasks for meeting
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
3A: Attachment
3A: Withheld
18(c)(i)
4.    27 March 2024
Email: Draft
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
5.    28 March 2024
Email: Draft
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
6.    15 March – 18 March 2024
Email: Arranging meeting
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
7.    15 March – 15 May 2024
Email: Arranging meeting
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
8.    15 March – 18 May 2024
Email: Arranging meeting
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
9.    28 March – 2 April 2024
Email: Arranging discussion
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii), Out of
scope
10.   3 April – 22 April 2024
Email: Meeting
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
11.   23 April 2024
Email: Meeting
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
12.   30 April 2024
Email: Arranging meeting
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
13.   30 April 2024
Email: Council meeting
Partially released
9(2)(a)
14.   22 May 2024
Email: Online meeting
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
15.   29 May 2024
Email: [18(c)(i)]
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii), 18(c)(i)
15A: Attachment
15A: Withheld

No.  Date Range
Title
Decision
Withholding grounds
16.   12 November 2024
Email: Draft report
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii), 18(c)(i)
16A: Attachment: Draft report
16A: Withheld
17.   12 – 13 November 2024
Email: Discussion on draft report
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
18.   12 – 19 November 2024
Email: Arranging meeting
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
19.   12 November – 19 November
Email: Arranging meeting
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
2024
20.   22 November 2024 – 2
Email: TMPs
Partially released
9(2)(g)(ii), 18(c)(i)
December 2024
21.   12 November 2024 – 10
Email: Publication of report
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
February 2025
22.   12 February 2025
Email: Embargoed report and media statement
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii), 18(d)
Attachment A: Report

Attachment B: Media statement
22A: Withheld
22B: Withheld
23.   12 February 2025
Email: Acknowledgement of embargoed report
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
24.   9 December 2024 – 28 January
Email: Status report entry
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
2025

25.   28 January 2025
Email: Status report entry
Partially released
9(2)(g)(ii)
26.   12 February 2025
Email: Status report entry and reactive media lines
Partially released
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)