OIA Request – Government Communications with Media on Israel-Palestine Coverage
Will Bruce made this Official Information request to Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Currently waiting for a response from Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).
From: Will Bruce
Dear Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet,
Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following:
1. All correspondence (emails, meeting minutes, phone logs, or memoranda) since 1 October 2023 between [specify: e.g., the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Justice, or MFAT] and the following media outlets regarding editorial coverage of Israel, Palestine, or Gaza:
* RNZ (Radio New Zealand)
* TVNZ
* Stuff
* NZ Herald
* Newshub (Warner Bros. Discovery)
2. Any directives, guidance, or suggestions provided to these outlets by government officials or agencies about terminology, framing, or narrative emphasis in reporting on the conflict (e.g., use of "terrorist" vs. "militant," "genocide" vs. "war").
3. Records of complaints or pressure from external entities (e.g., foreign governments, lobby groups, or advocacy organisations) that were forwarded to or discussed with NZ media outlets by government agencies.
If any information is withheld, please cite the specific section of the OIA justifying the refusal. Please respond within the statutory 20 working days.
Yours faithfully,
Will Bruce
From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Tēnā koe,
Thank you for emailing the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
(DPMC), including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
DPMC can't respond to emails that are outside its scope. If the subject of
your email doesn't relate to the work of DPMC, we may forward your email
to the appropriate Minister or agency who will respond to you directly. To
find out more about DPMC's functions please view our
website [1]https://dpmc.govt.nz/.
If your correspondence is intended for the Prime Minister please email his
office at [2][email address]. Contact information for
other Members of Parliament can be found at
[3]https://www.parliament.nz/en/get-involve....
Common questions:
* Official Information Act (OIA) requests will be formally acknowledged
during office hours and actioned accordingly. For more information
about the statutory OIA timeframes please see
[4]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/.
* For job opportunities within DPMC see
[5]https://centralagenciesjobs.cass.govt.nz.... Please use this
website to apply for vacancies. Resumes received through other avenues
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* New Zealand visas and requests for asylum are managed by Immigration
New Zealand. Please see [6]https://www.immigration.govt.nz/.
We hope one of the above links helps answer your question. Thanks again
and please take care.
Link: [7]File-List
Link: [8]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [9]themeData
Link: [10]colorSchemeMapping
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From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Kia ora,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA)
received on 11 May 2025, copied below. We will respond to your request
within the statutory timeframes set out in the Act. If we are unable to
meet these timeframes we will notify you.
Your request will be managed by the Ministerial Services team within DPMC.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact us at
[DPMC request email].
DPMC may publish the response to your OIA request. If we publish the
response your personal information, including your name and contact
details, will be removed.
Ngâ mihi,
Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E [DPMC request email]
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
show quoted sections
From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Kia ora Will,
Thank you for your below OIA request, which is currently being assessed.
Could you please clarify whether you are interested exclusively in
information held by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
(DPMC), or whether you are seeking all information relevant to the matters
you have raised?
If you are seeking all relevant information, DPMC may consider
transferring part, or all, of your request to Ministers or other agencies
under section 14 of the Act. If you have already made your request to
other agencies or Ministers, where appropriate DPMC may refer you to their
responses.
I would appreciate your response by 5pm, Wednesday 21 May. If I don't hear
from you, I will proceed with your request as it is currently framed,
which may include transferring it.
Ngâ mihi
Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E [DPMC request email]
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From: Will Bruce
Kia ora,
Thank you for your email. To clarify my request:
I am seeking all relevant information across government agencies, including but not limited to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC). I consent to the transfer of any applicable parts of my request to other agencies or Ministers under section 14 of the OIA, provided that:
1. I am notified of which agencies/Ministers the request (or parts) have been transferred to;
2. The specific aspects of my request each recipient is handling are clearly identified; and
3. The expected timelines for their responses are communicated to me.
If DPMC identifies records that involve consultation with other agencies rather than a full transfer, I expect to be informed of any extensions or redactions resulting from inter-agency coordination.
Please let me know if further clarification is needed. I appreciate your assistance in ensuring this request is processed comprehensively.
Yours sincerely,
Will Bruce
From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
DPMCOIA Transfer OIA 2024 25 0880 Bruce Communications with media regarding Israel Palesti 5019830.1.pdf
149K
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[UNCLASSIFIED]
Kia ora,
Please see the attached letter regarding your recent OIA request.
Ngā mihi,
+---------------------------------------------+
|Ministerial Coordinator |
|---------------------------------------------|
|Ministerial Services |
|---------------------------------------------|
|Strategy, Governance and Engagement |
|---------------------------------------------|
|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |
|---------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------|
|E [1][DPMC request email] |
| |
| |
|---------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------|
|The information contained in this email|
|message is for the attention of the intended|
|recipient only and is not necessarily the|
|official view or communication of the|
|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.|
|If you are not the intended recipient you|
|must not disclose, copy or distribute this|
|message or the information in it. If you have|
|received this message in error, please|
|destroy the email and notify the sender|
|immediately. |
+---------------------------------------------+
Link: [2]File-List
Link: [3]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [4]themeData
Link: [5]colorSchemeMapping
show quoted sections
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[DPMC request email]
2. file:///tmp/Signature_files/filelist.xml
3. file:///tmp/Signature_files/editdata.mso
4. file:///tmp/Signature_files/themedata.thmx
5. file:///tmp/Signature_files/colorschememapping.xml
6. file:///tmp/Signature_files/filelist.xml
7. file:///tmp/Signature_files/editdata.mso
8. file:///tmp/Signature_files/themedata.thmx
9. file:///tmp/Signature_files/colorschememapping.xml
From: ESD
[UNCLASSIFIED]
UNCLASSIFIED
Kia ora Will,
Thank you for your OIA request received on 19/05/2025 for:
1. All correspondence (emails, meeting minutes, phone logs, or memoranda)
since 1 October 2023 between [specify: e.g., the Prime Minister’s Office,
Ministry of Justice, or MFAT] and the following media outlets regarding
editorial coverage of Israel, Palestine, or Gaza:
* RNZ (Radio New Zealand)
* TVNZ
* Stuff
* NZ Herald
* Newshub (Warner Bros. Discovery)
2. Any directives, guidance, or suggestions provided to these outlets by
government officials or agencies about terminology, framing, or narrative
emphasis in reporting on the conflict (e.g., use of "terrorist" vs.
"militant," "genocide" vs. "war").
3. Records of complaints or pressure from external entities (e.g., foreign
governments, lobby groups, or advocacy organisations) that were forwarded
to or discussed with NZ media outlets by government agencies.
This email confirms receipt of your request and advises that we will
respond to it as soon as reasonably practicable, and in terms of the
timeframes and requirements of the OIA.
Please note that our response letter to you (with your personal details
redacted), and any enclosed documents, may be published on the Ministry’s
website.
Ngâ mihi
Executive Services Division
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatû Aorere
UNCLASSIFIED
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From: ESD
[UNCLASSIFIED]
UNCLASSIFIED
Tçnâ koe Will Bruce
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 request (OIA),
transferred from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 20 May 2025. Your request was
for:
1. “All correspondence (emails, meeting minutes, phone logs,
or memoranda) since 1 October 2023 between [specify: e.g., the Prime
Minister’s Office, Ministry of Justice, or MFAT] and the following media
outlets regarding editorial coverage of Israel, Palestine, or Gaza:
a. RNZ (Radio New Zealand)
b. TVNZ
c. Stuff
d. NZ Herald
e. Newshub (Warner Bros. Discovery)
2. Any directives, guidance, or suggestions provided to these
outlets by government officials or agencies about terminology, framing, or
narrative emphasis in reporting on the conflict (e.g., use of "terrorist"
vs. "militant," "genocide" vs. "war").
3. Records of complaints or pressure from external entities
(e.g., foreign governments, lobby groups, or advocacy organisations) that
were forwarded to or discussed with NZ media outlets by government
agencies.”
I am writing to advise that responding to your request as currently framed
would require review of a significant amount of information, to locate
information potentially in scope. As such, it is likely that your request
will be refused under section 18(f) of the OIA, as it would require
substantial collation and research.
Accordingly, I am seeking your agreement to refine your request to be for:
1. “All correspondence from 1 January 2025 to 20 May 2025
between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the following media
outlets relating to Israel, Palestine and Gaza:
a. RNZ (Radio New Zealand)
b. TVNZ
c. Stuff
d. NZ Herald
e. Newshub (Warner Bros. Discovery)
2. Any directives, guidance, or suggestions provided to these
outlets by government officials or agencies about terminology, framing, or
narrative emphasis in reporting on the conflict (e.g., use of "terrorist"
vs. "militant," "genocide" vs. "war").
3. Records of complaints or pressure from external entities
(e.g., foreign governments, lobby groups, or advocacy organisations) that
were forwarded to or discussed with NZ media outlets by government
agencies.”
To speed up this process, grateful if you are able to confirm we can
exclude names of staff and journalists from the scope of this request as
well.
Please confirm if you are happy to proceed with the refined request above,
by 3 June 2025. If we do not hear from you, we will proceed with your
original request.
Please note, any clarification or amendment of a request is considered to
be a new request for the purpose of calculating the maximum statutory
timeframe for response (section 15(1AA) of the OIA refers).
Ngâ mihi
Executive Services Division
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatû Aorere
UNCLASSIFIED
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From: Will Bruce
Tēnā koe,
Thank you for your email of 27 May 2025 regarding my OIA request. I appreciate your efforts to process this request efficiently and acknowledge the challenges of collating information across a broad timeframe.
While I understand the volume of material involved, I wish to retain the original date range (1 October 2023 – present) to ensure a comprehensive understanding of communications during critical periods of the Israel-Palestine conflict. However, in the interest of proportionality, I propose the following refinements:
1. Limit the scope to MFAT-only records (excluding other agencies, given the partial transfer from DPMC).
2. Exclude names of staff and journalists (as suggested), provided substantive content (e.g., institutional positions, policy guidance) is retained.
3. Focus on high-level correspondence (e.g., ministerial briefings, policy directives, or external complaints) rather than routine administrative exchanges.
This approach balances the public interest in transparency with the practical constraints of retrieval. Should MFAT still consider this scope unworkable, I would appreciate clarification on:
* The estimated volume of records requiring review.
* Whether a staggered release (e.g., by time period or theme) could mitigate resourcing concerns.
Please confirm whether this adjusted framework is acceptable. If not, I reserve the right to pursue the original request, noting that a refusal under section 18(f) may warrant review by the Ombudsman.
Ngā mihi,
Will Bruce
Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence
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