UNCLASSIFIED
New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
195 Lambton Quay
22 December 2025
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
T +64 4 439 8000
F +64 4 472 9596
Jeremy Nimmo
OIA 30574
[FYI request #33011 email]
Tēnā koe Jeremy Nimmo
Thank you for your email of 26 November 2025, in which you request the following
under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA):
“1. I am requesting the full contents of the email in which "Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade officials were first advised by the US government of Ms Shaw’s
detention was August 11 2025 (Washington time)", redacted of Ms. Shaw's
personal details of course, and
2. any emails which MFAT may have sent to the US government to prompt the
sending of said email.”
Your request has been number for ease of reference.
Attached are the emails in scope of part one of your request. Some information is
withheld under the following sections of the OIA:
•
6(a): to avoid prejudicing the security or defence of New Zealand or the
international relations of the New Zealand Government,
•
6(b)(i): to protect the passing of information from another government on a
confidential basis, and;
•
9(2)(a): to protect individuals’ privacy.
Where the information has been withheld under section 9 of the OIA, no public interest
in releasing the information has been identified that would override the reasons for
withholding it.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (the Ministry) holds no information relevant to
part two of your request. Accordingly, this part of your request is refused under section
18(e) of the OIA, because the document alleged to contain the information requested
does not exist.
Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official
information requests where possible. Therefore, our response to your request (with your
personal information removed) may be published on the Ministry website:
www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/contact-us/official-information-act-responses/
UNCLASSIFIED
Page 2 of 2
If you have any questions about this decision, you can contact us by email at:
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman of this decision by contacting
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone
0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Sarah Corbett
for Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
