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DX SX10088 | Wel ington
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[email address] | www.justice.govt.nz
15 August 2025
David Farrar
[FYI request #31673 email]
Our ref: OIA 123985
Tēnā koe David
Official Information Act request: Appointment of Fale Andrew Lesā
Thank you for your email of 21 July 2025, requesting under the Official Information Act 1982
information regarding the appointment of Fale Andrew Lesā as a Justice of the Peace (JP)
and Visiting Justice. Specifically, you requested:
Al information and documents you hold concerning the appointment of Fale Andrew
Lesā:
1. As a Justice of the Peace in 2021
2. As a Visiting Justice in 2025
The Associate Minister of Justice, Hon Nicole McKee, has asked the Ministry of Justice to
investigate and report back to her in respect of Mr Lesā’s statutory appointments as a JP
and Visiting Justice. While this process is ongoing, I am withholding information about Mr
Lesa’s appointments under the following sections of the Act:
• Section 6(c) – as its release would likely prejudice the maintenance of the law; and
• Section 9(2)(a) – to protect the privacy of natural persons.
Once the investigation is concluded, I wil revisit whether and what information should be
withheld in respect of any new requests for information.
In withholding information under section 9 of the Act, the Ministry has considered the public
interest and does not consider that it outweighs withholding the information at this time.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry’s website at:
Of icial Information Act responses | New Zealand Ministry of Justice.
If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the
Ombudsman under section 28 of the Act. The Office of the Ombudsman may be contacted
by phone on: 0800 802 602, by email at: [email address], or via the
webform:
Make a complaint (for members of the public) | Ombudsman New Zealand.
Nāku noa, nā
Edrick Child
Chief Legal Counsel
