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2 September 2025
By email:
[FYI request #32010 email]
Tēnā koe Liam
Official information request for advice to the Attorney-General regarding the Gangs
Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Our Ref: OIA-2526021
1.
I refer to your official information request dated 14 August 2025 for:
Any official advice received by the Attorney-General during the process of
drafting her “Section 7 report” on the Gangs Legislation Amendment Bill
2024.
2.
The Ministry of Justice transferred your request to the Crown Law Office for
response on 21 August 2025.
3.
The information you request relates to the Attorney-General’s constitutional role
as senior law officer of the Crown. The Attorney-General is not subject to the
Official Information Act 1982 in this capacity
.1 The work that the Crown Law Office
does to assist the Attorney-General with her law officer role is also not subject to
the Official Information Act
.2
4.
The information you request is also covered by legal professional privilege.
Therefore, if it were subject to the Official Information Act, we would decline your
request under s 9(2)(h) on the basis that the public interest in maintaining legal
professional privilege outweighs any public interest in its release.
5.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this
decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
6.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
[email address].
Nāku noa, nā
Crown Law
Abbey Lawson
Crown Counsel
1
Sir Brian Elwood
Request for legal advice provided to the Attorney-General by Ministry of Justice—Attorney-General not subject
to Act (January 2019, Case No W41067). This can be accessed by visiting:
Request for legal advice provided to the
Attorney-General | Ombudsman New Zealand.
2
Ombudsman Cases W41067 and W44062; and
Berryman v Solicitor-General [2005] NZAR 512 (HC) at [44].
Level 2 Justice
Centre, 19 Aitken Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box 2858 or DX SP20208, Wellington 6140, New Zealand | +64 4 472 1719 | crownlaw.govt.nz
8773349
