“Friend” who contacted Travis Kelce
Aaron W made this Official Information request to Christopher Luxon
Response to this request is delayed. By law, Christopher Luxon should normally have responded promptly and by (details and exceptions)
From: Aaron W
Dear Christopher Luxon,
You were recently quoted as saying (in response to the social media video you made about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce) that:
“One of my best friends in America is actually in business with Travis, so he actually got a reply back from Travis.
He loved the offer and asked jokingly whether he could get a passport.”
Please provide evidence to support this statement. I would expect this would include either the correspondence from your “friend” or a record noting when and how your “friend” corresponded with you. I’d also like to know the name of this “friend”.
Thank you
Yours faithfully,
Aaron W
From: Christopher Luxon (MIN)
Christopher Luxon
Kia ora Aaron,
Thank you for your email received 6th September 2025, in which you submitted an Official Information Act request as follows:
You were recently quoted as saying (in response to the social media video you made about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce) that:
“One of my best friends in America is actually in business with Travis, so he actually got a reply back from Travis.
He loved the offer and asked jokingly whether he could get a passport.”
Please provide evidence to support this statement. I would expect this would include either the correspondence from your “friend” or a record noting when and how your “friend” corresponded with you. I’d also like to know the name of this “friend”.
Your request is being considered in accordance with the Act, and you can expect a response by 3rd October 2025 (date determined by the OIA calculator).
Ngā mihi nui
Sonya Ford
Correspondence Lead Advisor | Office of Rt Hon Christopher Luxon
Prime Minister
Minister for National Security and Intelligence
Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
-----Original Message-----
From: Aaron W <[FOI #32249 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 6 September 2025 6:32 PM
To: Christopher Luxon (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - “Friend” who contacted Travis Kelce
Dear Christopher Luxon,
You were recently quoted as saying (in response to the social media video you made about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce) that:
“One of my best friends in America is actually in business with Travis, so he actually got a reply back from Travis.
He loved the offer and asked jokingly whether he could get a passport.”
Please provide evidence to support this statement. I would expect this would include either the correspondence from your “friend” or a record noting when and how your “friend” corresponded with you. I’d also like to know the name of this “friend”.
Thank you
Yours faithfully,
Aaron W
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From: Sarah Boyle
MOIA Reply PMO OIA 548 2025 26 OIA 2025 26 0180 W Communication with a friend who conta 5110558.1.pdf
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From: Aaron W
Dear Sarah Boyle,
Thank you for the reply. I wonder whether the answer could be reconsidered in light of the following:
- the Prime Minister made a public video in which he asked Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift to come to NZ. This was on his Facebook page (and other social media) used for public, official purposes. This was not a private message.
-he then shared the reply in a public forum (if I recall it was on a stage). Again, this was while he was appearing as the Prime Minister and very clearly not in his personal capacity. If such correspondence was in his personal capacity then it seems odd that he would reference it such a public forum, seemingly for positive news stories but unable to back up his claim when asked.
I also note there is some precedent here. Prime Minister John Key claimed to have received a text message in his personal capacity, but the ombudsman disagreed. In that case Mr Key did not publicly tout that he had received correspondence as has the prime Minister did here. The text message was (eventually) released.
There is also a worrying trend of Ministers in this coalition government making statements and then, under any scrutiny, claiming that such statements were personal and therefore not subject to the legislation, therefore exempting them from further questioning.
Regardless, thank you in advance for your reconsideration.
Yours sincerely,
Aaron W
From: Sarah Boyle
Dear Aaron
Yes the Prime Minister made a video asking Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift to come to New Zealand. However, his communications with a friend, following that video, were not in his capacity as Prime Minister and therefore are not official information.
You have the right to complain to the Ombudsman.
Yours sincerely
Sarah Boyle
-----Original Message-----
From: Aaron W <[FOI #32249 email]>
Sent: Monday, 22 September 2025 3:09 PM
To: Sarah Boyle <[email address]>
Subject: Re: MOIA Reply (PMO OIA 548-2025-26) (OIA-2025_26-0180)_ _W_ Communication with a friend who conta(5110558.1)
Dear Sarah Boyle,
Thank you for the reply. I wonder whether the answer could be reconsidered in light of the following:
- the Prime Minister made a public video in which he asked Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift to come to NZ. This was on his Facebook page (and other social media) used for public, official purposes. This was not a private message.
-he then shared the reply in a public forum (if I recall it was on a stage). Again, this was while he was appearing as the Prime Minister and very clearly not in his personal capacity. If such correspondence was in his personal capacity then it seems odd that he would reference it such a public forum, seemingly for positive news stories but unable to back up his claim when asked.
I also note there is some precedent here. Prime Minister John Key claimed to have received a text message in his personal capacity, but the ombudsman disagreed. In that case Mr Key did not publicly tout that he had received correspondence as has the prime Minister did here. The text message was (eventually) released.
There is also a worrying trend of Ministers in this coalition government making statements and then, under any scrutiny, claiming that such statements were personal and therefore not subject to the legislation, therefore exempting them from further questioning.
Regardless, thank you in advance for your reconsideration.
Yours sincerely,
Aaron W
-----Original Message-----
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[FOI #32249 email]
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From: Aaron W
Dear Sarah Boyle,
Thank you for your replies this far. I appreciate it.
Here’s how I see it. The Prime Minister spoke about this exchange publicly, at a forum where he was appearing as Prime Minister. Surely once he mentions something publicly as Prime Minister, it is far harder to justify that this was a private discussion. I note he did not reply to the question about the video in the forum by saying “I’m sorry that’s private” he answered the question and provided detail.
Is the office of the Prime Minister really saying that his “friend” showed a video to a famous athlete from a random private citizen (just a random New Zealander called Chris) and then famous athlete Travis Kelce was so moved by this random private individual from New Zealand that not only replied, but replied asking for a passport, something that private individuals can famously do….
The ombudsman guidance is to encourage requesters to try to seek a resolution before making a complaint so I am just making triple sure that the Office of the Prime Minister stands by this answer.
Thanks
Yours sincerely,
Aaron W
From: Sarah Boyle
Hi Aaron
We have nothing further to add to our previous communications with you.
Sarah
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From: Aaron W <[FOI #32249 email]>
Sent: Friday, September 26, 2025 6:44:09 PM
To: Sarah Boyle <[email address]>
Subject: RE: MOIA Reply (PMO OIA 548-2025-26) (OIA-2025_26-0180)_ _W_
Communication with a friend who conta(5110558.1)
Dear Sarah Boyle,
Thank you for your replies this far. I appreciate it.
Here’s how I see it. The Prime Minister spoke about this exchange
publicly, at a forum where he was appearing as Prime Minister. Surely once
he mentions something publicly as Prime Minister, it is far harder to
justify that this was a private discussion. I note he did not reply to the
question about the video in the forum by saying “I’m sorry that’s private”
he answered the question and provided detail.
Is the office of the Prime Minister really saying that his “friend” showed
a video to a famous athlete from a random private citizen (just a random
New Zealander called Chris) and then famous athlete Travis Kelce was so
moved by this random private individual from New Zealand that not only
replied, but replied asking for a passport, something that private
individuals can famously do….
The ombudsman guidance is to encourage requesters to try to seek a
resolution before making a complaint so I am just making triple sure that
the Office of the Prime Minister stands by this answer.
Thanks
Yours sincerely,
Aaron W
-----Original Message-----
Dear Aaron
Yes the Prime Minister made a video asking Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift
to come to New Zealand. However, his communications with a friend,
following that video, were not in his capacity as Prime Minister and
therefore are not official information.
You have the right to complain to the Ombudsman.
Yours sincerely
Sarah Boyle
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #32249 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[2]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
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From: Aaron W
Dear Sarah Boyle,
Thank you for your reply and the efforts made. I have made a complaint with the Ombudsman
Yours sincerely,
Aaron W
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Hannah left an annotation ()
I am the person who took John Key to the Ombudsman to get his text message exchange (with Ritchie McCaw at the time of the flag referendum. If the Prime Minister used his work phone for the communication then it’s likely considered Official Information. I hope you will pursue this with the Ombudsman!
Link to this