UNCLASSIFIED
 
New Zealand Ministry of 
 
Foreign Affairs and Trade 
Manatū Aorere   
 
195 Lambton Quay 
5 February 2026 
Private Bag 18−901 
Wellington 6160 
 
New Zealand 
 
 
T    +64 4 439 8000 
F    +64 4 472 9596 
John Wilson 
 
OIA 30629 
[FYI request #33413 email] 
 
 
Tēnā koe John Wilson 
 
Thank you for your email of 3 January 2026, in which you request the following under 
the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA): 
 
Please provide any legal advice, internal assessments, briefing notes, cables, or 
correspondence held by MFAT that relate to the legality under international law of 
actions taken by the United States against Venezuela, including but not limited to 
military strikes, naval blockades, vessel seizures, sanctions measures, or any other 
coercive measures, from January 2024 to the present. 
 
On 14 January 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (the Ministry) contacted 
you to discuss the scope of your request because as it was originally framed it captured 
a significant volume of information. On 22 January 2026, you agreed to refine the scope 
of your request to be for: 
 
1.  Formal advice to Ministers since January 2024 relating to US actions  against 
Venezuela 
2.  Situation reports since 1January 2024 relating to US actions against   
3.  Legal advice held by MFAT since January 2024 relating to US actions  against 
Venezuela 
 
The Ministry has released information relating to the US actions towards Venezuela. 
Therefore, the remainder of your request is refused under section 18(d) of the OIA, as 
the information is publicly available. These documents are accessible via the following 
link: www.mfat.govt.nz/en/media-and-resources/proactive-release-united-states-
actions-toward-venezuela. 
 
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

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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 
 

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