UNCLASSIFIED
New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
195 Lambton Quay
17 April 2026
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
T +64 4 439 8000
F +64 4 472 9596
T Hayden
OIA 30767
[FYI request #33908 email]
Tēnā koe T Hayden
Thank you for your email of 2 March 2026 in which you request the following under the
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA):
I would like to request the number of staff in public relations or communications
roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Travel for 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022,
and 2021.
On 4 March 2026, you contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (the Ministry)
to rescope your request to be for:
1. I would like to request the number of staff in public relations or communications
roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for:
a. 2026
b. 2025
c. 2024
d. 2023
e. 2022, and
f. 2021.
2. I would also like to request the number of contractors in public relations or
communications roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for:
a. 2026
b. 2025
c. 2024
d. 2023
e. 2022, and
f. 2021.
Your request has been numbered for administrative convenience.
On 1 April 2026, the timeframes for responding to your request were extended by an
additional 10 working days because responding to your request necessitated the review
of a large quantity of information (section 15A(1)(a) of the OIA refers).
Response to your request
To support the response to your request, the Ministry has interpreted the scope to be for
the number of full time equivalent (FTE) staff employed in public relations or
UNCLASSIFIED
Page 2 of 2
communications roles for the financial years between 2020/2021 and 2024/2025, and
through to 4 March 2026 for the 2025/2026 financial year.
The following table responses to parts 1a and 1b of your request:
FTE Employees in public relations or communications roles by Financial Year
Financial Year
FTE Employees in public relations or communications roles
2025/2026
14.2
2024/2025
14.92
Parts 1c to 1f of your request are refused under section 18(d) of the OIA, as the
information is publicly available on the New Zealand Parliament website, specifically
page 37 of this document:
https://www3.parliament.nz/resource/en-
NZ/54SCFADT_EVI_b6328bb6-20a3-4752-6501-
08dcfd0f043f_FADT1009/0430abfe26644853e9c0767a00521183293685d3. In response to parts 2a and 2b of your request, there have been no contractors
employed by the Ministry in public relations or communications roles for the 2024/2025
financial year, or for the 2025/2026 financial year through to 4 March 2026.
Parts 2c to 2f of your request are refused under section 18(d) of the OIA, as the
information is publicly available on the New Zealand Parliament website, specifically
page 50 of this document:
https://www3.parliament.nz/resource/en-
NZ/54SCFADT_EVI_b6328bb6-20a3-4752-6501-
08dcfd0f043f_FADT1010/ca258cf403445c4f0e88a86587a0a1491f2b543e. 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/ 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
