[UNCLASSIFIED]

UNCLASSIFIED

Kia ora James,

 

Thank you for your OIA request received on 10/11/25 for:

 

o Copies of all communications, correspondence, briefing notes, or
reports between: The New Zealand Government (including the Prime
Minister, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade), and The Office of the
President of the United States (specifically President Donald J. Trump
or President Joseph R. Biden Jr.), during the period 1 January 2021 to
the present.

 

o All copies of all email correspondence (including attachments) between
the above offices from 1 January 2021 to 31 January 2021, where either
“Donald Trump” or “Joe Biden” is mentioned in the subject line or
body.

 

 

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

 

The information contained in this email message is intended only for the
addressee and is not necessarily the official view or communication of the
Ministry. It may be legally privileged. If you are not the intended
recipient you must not use, disclose, copy or distribute this message or
the information in it as this may be unlawful. If you have received this
message in error, please email or telephone the sender immediately ..

UNCLASSIFIED

[UNCLASSIFIED]

UNCLASSIFIED

Tēnā koe James Hurt,

 

We refer to your official information request of 10 November for
communications between the NZ Government and the Office of the US
President since 2021.  

 

We have transferred part of your request to the Department of the Prime
Minister and Cabinet. Part of the information to which your request
relates is not held by us but is believed to be held by DPMC (section
14(b)(i) of the OIA refers). In these circumstances, we are required by
section 14 of the Official Information Act to transfer your request.

 

You will hear further from DPMC concerning your request for information
held by that agency.

 

Kind regards,

 

Executive Services Division
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatū Aorere

 

The information contained in this email message is intended only for the
addressee and is not necessarily the official view or communication of the
Ministry. It may be legally privileged. If you are not the intended
recipient you must not use, disclose, copy or distribute this message or
the information in it as this may be unlawful. If you have received this
message in error, please email or telephone the sender immediately ..

UNCLASSIFIED

[IN-CONFIDENCE]

Kia ora,

 

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA)
partially transferred from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 19
November 2025. You requested:

 

1. Copies of all communications, correspondence, briefing notes, or
reports between: The New Zealand Government (including the Prime Minister,
the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade), and The Office of the President of the United
States (specifically President Donald J. Trump or President Joseph R.
Biden Jr.), during the period 1 January 2021 to the present.

2. I request all copies of all email correspondence (including
attachments) between the above offices from 1 January 2021 to 31 January
2021, where either “Donald Trump” or “Joe Biden” is mentioned in the
subject line or body.

 

Your request will be managed by the Ministerial Services Team within DPMC.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact us at
[1][email address].

 

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
Corporate
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E    [2][email address]
 
 
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: [3]File-List
Link: [4]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [5]themeData
Link: [6]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:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. file:///tmp/Signature_files/filelist.xml
4. file:///tmp/Signature_files/editdata.mso
5. file:///tmp/Signature_files/themedata.thmx
6. file:///tmp/Signature_files/colorschememapping.xml
7. file:///tmp/Signature_files/filelist.xml
8. file:///tmp/Signature_files/editdata.mso
9. file:///tmp/Signature_files/themedata.thmx
10. file:///tmp/Signature_files/colorschememapping.xml

[UNCLASSIFIED]

UNCLASSIFIED

Dear James Hart,

 

I am writing concerning your OIA request of 10 November 2025. This email
is to advise that we will need to extend the time limit for responding to
you by four working days, to 12 December 2025. This is because the
consultations necessary to make a decision on your request are such that a
proper response cannot reasonably be made within the original time frame
(section 15A(1)(b) of the OIA refers).

 

However, if this process is completed before 12 December 2025, the
response will be sent to you as soon as possible.

 

If you have any questions, you can contact us by email at:
[1]DM‑[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and
review by the Ombudsman of this decision by contacting
[2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

 

Kind regards,

 

Tom Turnbull (he/him/ia)

 

Senior Advisor
Executive Services Division
Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatū Aorere

 

The information contained in this email message is intended only for the
addressee and is not necessarily the official view or communication of the
Ministry. It may be legally privileged. If you are not the intended
recipient you must not use, disclose, copy or distribute this message or
the information in it as this may be unlawful. If you have received this
message in error, please email or telephone the sender immediately ..

UNCLASSIFIED

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

[UNCLASSIFIED]

UNCLASSIFIED

Dear James Hart,

Thank you for your email. The Ministry apologises for the delay in providing you with our response.

We have a response ready, but our Americas Division has asked for clarification on the scope of your request. Could you confirm whether you are seeking:

1. Only communications between the Prime Minister of New Zealand and the US President since 2021, or
2. All working-level communications related to the Prime Minister and the US President, including arrangements for meetings since 2021?

If it is the first option, those records are held entirely by DPMC, and MFAT would not hold additional information. If it is the second option, MFAT may hold relevant communications.
Please let us know which option applies.

Thank you for your patience, and please be assured that we are treating this matter as a priority.

Ngaa mihi,
Tom

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

show quoted sections

[UNCLASSIFIED]

 

Kia ora

 

Please find attached a letter regarding your recent OIA request.

 

Ngā mihi

 

Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial Services
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E [1][email address]
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:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
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