8 May 2025
Rhiannon Bond
[FYI request #30643 email]
Dear Rhiannon Bond,
Thank you for your email dated 7 April 2025, in which you made the following Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA) request:
“1. Timeline of Events and Knowledge
-
On what date and by what means did you or your office first become
aware of allegations or concerns relating to MP Benjamin Doyle’s
private social media activity, including any use of the Instagram handle
“BibleBeltBussy”?
-
When did you or your office first view or receive the photograph(s) or
content that was later reference in public statements or social media
posts?
-
Did you or any member of your staff engage with, or receive content
from, third-party actors (e.g. lobby groups, activists, media figures) in
relation to MP Doyle prior to your public comment on the matter? If so,
please specify who, when, and in what capacity.
2. Actions Prior to Public Disclosure
-
What steps, if any did you or your office take to verify the accuracy or
authenticity of the material prior to publishing your statement(s) about
MP Doyle.
-
Were the Police, Parliamentary Services, or any other government
agency contacted before you made public reference to the matter? If
so, please provide dates and details.
-
What consideration, if any, was given to the privacy, safety, or
wellbeing of MP Doyle and their child prior to your public commentary.
3. Correspondence and Records
-
Please provide copies of all correspondence, including but not limited
to:
o
Emails
o
Direct messages
o
Text messages
o
Internal memos
o
Social media messages
o
Briefing notes or any other written or digital communications
… that reference of relate to MP Benjamin Doyle, the Instagram content, or
any aspect of the associated media discussion, between 1 March 2024 and 7
April 2025.
This includes:
-
Communications between your office and third parties (e.g. Family
First, media outlets, political lobbyists, social media figures).
-
Communications within your office regarding the matter.
-
Drafts of any social media posts or official statements you later
released on the topic.
4. Clarification of Position
-
What advice, if any, did you seek or receive (legal, political,
communications) before publicly commenting on MP Doyle?
-
What was your intended purpose in raising these matters publicly
Please provide this information in an accessible, electronic format. If any part
of this request is likely to be refused under sections of the Act, I request that
you consider whether partial release, redaction, or summary is possible under
section 16 of the Act.”
This Office does not hold any Official Information related to your request, as the
comments you are referring to were made in the capacity as the Leader of the New
Zealand First Party, and not as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Rail,
Minister for Racing or Deputy Prime Minister. Therefore, your request has been
refused under section 18(e) of the Act, as the information you have requested does
not exist.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of this 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.
Yours Sincerely,
Jackson Burgess
Private Secretary (Advisory/Media)
