UNCLASSIFIED
New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
195 Lambton Quay
2 May 2025
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
T +64 4 439 8000
F +64 4 472 9596
Logan Cowan
OIA 29998
[FYI request #30286 email]
Tēnā koe Logan Cowan
Thank you for your email of 4 March 2025 in which you request the following under the
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA):
Any documents, communications, or records from the New Zealand Government,
including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Department of the
Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), and any other relevant government
departments or agencies, that reference New Zealand’s position, participation, or
knowledge regarding geoengineering activities, both in New Zealand and
internationally, from January 1, 2010, to the present. This includes any reports,
correspondence, or internal documents, irrespective of the location where these
records are stored (including external databases or servers).
Any records, emails, or reports between New Zealand Government agencies (such
as MFAT, DPMC, or the Ministry for the Environment) and foreign governments,
international organizations (e.g., the United Nations, World Meteorological
Organization), and private companies, discussing or referencing geoengineering
projects, weather modification, or similar initiatives, including any projects
potentially being run by or in collaboration with foreign entities, such as the
United States Department of Defence (DoD), U.S. Air Force, or private
contractors with ties to New Zealand’s climate strategy.
Any internal memoranda or briefing documents produced by the New Zealand
Government or the Ministry of Defence that discuss the potential environmental,
economic, and national security impacts of geoengineering strategies, and New
Zealand’s potential role or awareness of such practices, especially when
implemented by foreign military agencies or private contractors operating in New
Zealand’s airspace or territory.
On
24 March 2025 we contacted you regarding the size of your request, and proposed
the below refinement, as responding to your request as it is currently framed may have
involved substantial collation and research:
Briefings, reporting and advice to The Minister of Foreign Affairs concerning the
proposed United Nations Environment Assembly resolution concerning
geoengineering.
UNCLASSIFIED
Page 2 of 3
Thank you for your response. However, I must be clear: I will not accept any
attempt to dilute my request, nor will I entertain the threat of refusal due to
scope or research requirements. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is
required to provide the information I have requested under the Official
Information Act (OIA), regardless of the level of effort involved in locating and
compiling it. It is precisely the Ministry’s role to fulfil such requests, as public
servants to the people, not to turn away from providing the information we are
entitled to.
I insist that you proceed with processing my original request without any
alterations. My request is clear, and I expect all relevant information to be
provided in full, without reduction or modification.
I look forward to receiving the requested information in its entirety.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (the Ministry) has identified information in
scope of you request regarding the global governance of geoengineering, please find this
information attached. 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;
• 9(2)(a): to protect individuals’ privacy and,
• 9(2)(g)(i): to protect the free and frank expression of opinions by departments.
The following documents are withheld in full:
# Title
Date
Decision
1. FW Geo-Engineering and its
13 March 2018
6(a)
governance - UNEA 5
6(b)(i)
2. [First word of title withheld under
13 December 2018
6(a)
section 6(a)] Your consideration of
6(b)(i)
UNEA Resolution on Geoengineering
and its Governance
3. Update - UNEA 5 resolution on CATM 22 July 2020
6(a)
6(b)(i)
4. [Title Withheld] 24
October
2021
6(a)
5. RE: CATE Chat with
[final word
5 January 2022
6(a)
withheld under section 6(a)]
6(b)(i)
6. RE CATM - Options for UNEA 5.2.
21 January 2022
6(a)
6(b)(i)
7. RE UNEA-5.2 Climate Altering
3 February 2022
6(a)
Technologies and Measures
6(b)(i)
Page 3 of 3
# Title
Date
Decision
8. FW Sharing
[following word withheld
22 February 2022
6(a)
under section 6(a)] views on SRM
6(b)(i)
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.
We have also identified relevant publicly available information, which can be accessed at
the below links. Accordingly, this part of your request is refused under section 18(d) of
the OIA:
Resolutions.unep.org/resolutions/
UN Environment Document Repository Home
UN Environment Assembly and Governing Council sessions
One Atmosphere: An Independent Expert Review on Solar Radiation Modification
Research and Deployment | UNEP - UN Environment Programme
Ocean-Based Carbon Removal Deserves a Closer Look | World Politics Review
The global conversation about solar geoengineering just changed at the UN
Environment Assembly. Here’s how. - Legal Planet
Countries failed to agree first steps on solar geoengineering at the UN. What went
wrong? - Legal Planet
The Ministry is unable to provide further information related to your request due to the
substantial collation and research that would be involved to locate any further
documents that may exist in scope of your request. Accordingly, the remainder of your
request is refused under section 18(f) of the OIA, due to substantial collation and
research.
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/
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
Sarah Corbett
for Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
