11 December 2025
James
v
ia www.fyi.org.nz
Tēnā koe James
Official Information Act request
I refer to your official information request dated 21 November 2025.
We’ve considered your request under the provisions of the Official Information Act 1982
(‘the Act’), which is based on the principle that information held by government agencies should
be made available on request unless there is good reason for withholding it.
You requested the following information.
1. All communications if any relating to an alleged social media post allegedly by Lead
Advisor Kereama Te Ua in which he allegedly stated “Hitler was right about the evil
Jews”.
2. All communications to/from if any, from Helen Klisser During relating to the alleged
email above.
3. All communications to/from if any, from Minister Paul Goldsmith or his office relating to
the alleged email above.
4. The exact date the Creative NZ X account was deleted and al communications if any,
regarding this decision.
5. A copy of any apology or statement made by Creative NZ regarding this alleged social
media post by a Creative NZ Advisor.
6. Please provide the details of any action Creative NZ has taken on this matter.
Requests 1, 2, 3 and 6
Creative New Zealand is authorised to say that Kereama Te Ua has now resigned from Creative
New Zealand.
Creative New Zealand is withholding al other information relating to the requests in Requests 1,
2, 3 and 6 in full under the following sections of the Act:
• Sections 9(2)(a) – to protect the privacy of a natural person.
• Section 9(2)(ba)(i) – to protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence,
where the making available of the information would be likely to prejudice the supply of
similar information, or information from the same source, and it is in the public interest that
such information should continue to be supplied.
• Section 9(2)(ba)(i ) – to protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence,
where the making available of the information would be likely otherwise to damage the
public interest.
The information requested relates to a personal matter in relation to (now) a former employee.
The matter has been the subject of a Creative New Zealand investigation.
The investigation has been conducted in accordance with best practice, which includes the
understanding between the parties that information that is the subject of the investigation is
held and remains in confidence.
Request 4
The Creative New Zealand X account was deleted on 19 November 2025. Creative New Zealand
was not actively using its X account and had not posted on X since November 2023.
Communications regarding the decision to delete this X account are attached. Material in the
emails attached has been withheld (redacted) where it is irrelevant to the request and/or on the
same withholding grounds as for Requests 1, 2, 3 and 6 – see above.
Request 5
Creative New Zealand has stated that the organisation does not tolerate hate speech, racism,
antisemitism or any other prejudices in any form. This statement has recently been added to
Creative New Zealand’
s Making a complaint page on our website.
On 5 December 2025, the Chief Executive of Creative New Zealand made the following apology
to three organisations in response to concerns that they had raised about the alleged social
media post made by a Creative New Zealand staff member (acting in his personal capacity):
On behalf of Creative New Zealand, I apologise for the distress this situation has caused,
and I assure you that we, as an organisation, are committed to upholding our values of
inclusivity, respect, and integrity.
General
If you wish to discuss this information request, please get in touch with Pip O’Flaherty (Senior
Adviser, Organisational Performance) at
: pip.o’[email address]
You have the right under section 28(3) of the Act 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.
Ngā mihi nui, nā
David Pannett
Senior Manager, Strategy & Engagement
Pou Whakahaere Matua, Rautaki me te Tūhono
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Document Outline
