URGENT — s9(2)(f)(iv) redactions in proactive release on English Language Bill 198-1 — submissions close 27 March 2026
Lance D. Lavery made this Official Information request to Ministry of Justice
The request was refused by Ministry of Justice.
From: Lance D. Lavery
Dear Ministry of Justice,
I request the following information under the Official Information Act 1982 relating to the English Language Bill 198-1, currently before the Justice Committee.
The proactive release published on 17 February 2026 by the Minister of Justice contains seven documents relating to this Bill. Multiple passages have been withheld under section 9(2)(f)(iv) to protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers and officials. I request the release of the specific redacted material identified below.
From Document 1 — "Declaring English an Official Language" (Cabinet paper, Minister of Justice):
1. The content of paragraph 20, withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv), within the Legislative Implications section.
2. The content of recommendation 4, withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv).
From Document 2 — CBC-25-MIN-0029 (Cabinet Business Committee minute, 30 June 2025):
3. The content of paragraph 4, withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv).
From Document 4 — "English Language Bill: Approval for introduction" (Cabinet paper, Minister of Justice):
4. The content of recommendation 1, withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv).
From Document 5 — LEG-25-MIN-0155 (Cabinet Legislation Committee minute, 14 August 2025):
5. The content of paragraph 1, withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv).
From Document 7 — "Draft Cabinet paper: Declaring English an Official Language" (Briefing to Minister of Justice, 11 June 2025):
6. All content withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv), including but not limited to the redacted passage at paragraph 26 and any redacted content in annexed material.
I ask that this request be treated as urgent. The Justice Committee has set a submission deadline of 11:59 pm on Friday 27 March 2026. The redacted material relates directly to the confidential advice that shaped this Bill — advice that submitters and the Committee need in order to scrutinise the legislation meaningfully. Release after the submission deadline would defeat the purpose of the request and undermine the select committee process.
I note that the s9(2)(f)(iv) withholding ground requires a public interest balancing test under section 9(1) of the Act. The Bill is now before a select committee receiving public submissions. The public interest in informed scrutiny of this legislation is high and, I submit, outweighs the interest in continued confidentiality of advice that has already been partially released and overtaken by Cabinet decisions.
All responses to this request must be sent via the FYI.org.nz platform through which this request has been submitted.
Yours faithfully,
Lance D. Lavery
From: OIA@justice.govt.nz
Ministry of Justice
Tēnā koe,
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Ministry of Justice.
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Ngā mihi,
Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services
Ministry of Justice
Justice Centre I Aitken Street
DX Box SX 10088 I Wellington
[2]www.justice.govt.nz
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From: OIA@justice.govt.nz
Ministry of Justice
Tēnā koe Lance,
Thank you for emailing the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry).
We acknowledge receipt of your request under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act).
This has been forwarded onto the relevant business unit to respond to.
The Ministry may publish the response to your request on our website, you
can expect that if your OIA is to be published that this will take place
at least 10 working days after the response has been sent you. Your name
and any other personal information will be withheld under Section 9(2)(a)
(protect the privacy of natural persons) of the Act.
You can expect a response by 14 April 2026.
Ngā mihi nui,
Ministerial Services
Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services
Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture [1]justice.govt.nz
show quoted sections
From: OIA@justice.govt.nz
Ministry of Justice
Tēnā koe Lance
Thank you for your email of 16 March 2026 to the Ministry of Justice (the
Ministry), requesting under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act),
removal of redactions in relation to the English Language Bill.
On 17 March 2026, the Ministry transferred your request in full under
section 14 of the Act to the Minister of Justice, Hon Paul Goldsmith, as
the information requested is believed to be more closely connected with
the functions of the Minister of Justice’s office.
You will hear further from the Minister’s office concerning your request.
They can be contacted on [1][email address]
If you are not satisfied with the way your request is being managed, you
have the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman under section 28 of
the Act. The Office of the Ombudsman may be contacted by phone on 0800 802
602, by email at: [2][email address], or via the webform:
[3]Make a complaint (for members of the public) | Ombudsman New Zealand.
Ngā mihi
Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services
Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture [4]justice.govt.nz
From: [Ministry of Justice request email] <[Ministry of Justice request email]>
Sent: Monday, 16 March 2026 10:14 am
To: Lance D. Lavery <[FOI #34091 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request (ref: 130975)
Tēnā koe Lance,
Thank you for emailing the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry).
We acknowledge receipt of your request under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act).
This has been forwarded onto the relevant business unit to respond to.
The Ministry may publish the response to your request on our website, you
can expect that if your OIA is to be published that this will take place
at least 10 working days after the response has been sent you. Your name
and any other personal information will be withheld under Section 9(2)(a)
(protect the privacy of natural persons) of the Act.
You can expect a response by 14 April 2026.
Ngā mihi nui,
Ministerial Services
Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services
Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture [5]justice.govt.nz
show quoted sections
From: Paul Goldsmith (MIN)
Good morning Lance,
On behalf of Hon Paul Goldsmith, I acknowledge receipt of your official
information request dated 15 March, where you requested the following:
The proactive release published on 17 February 2026 by the Minister of
Justice contains seven documents relating to this Bill. Multiple passages
have been withheld under section 9(2)(f)(iv) to protect the
confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers and officials. I request
the release of the specific redacted material identified below.
From Document 1 — "Declaring English an Official Language" (Cabinet paper,
Minister of Justice):
1. The content of paragraph 20, withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv), within the
Legislative Implications section.
2. The content of recommendation 4, withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv).
From Document 2 — CBC-25-MIN-0029 (Cabinet Business Committee minute, 30
June 2025):
3. The content of paragraph 4, withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv).
From Document 4 — "English Language Bill: Approval for introduction"
(Cabinet paper, Minister of Justice):
4. The content of recommendation 1, withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv).
From Document 5 — LEG-25-MIN-0155 (Cabinet Legislation Committee minute,
14 August 2025):
5. The content of paragraph 1, withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv).
From Document 7 — "Draft Cabinet paper: Declaring English an Official
Language" (Briefing to Minister of Justice, 11 June 2025):
6. All content withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv), including but not limited to
the redacted passage at paragraph 26 and any redacted content in annexed
material.
We received your request on 17 March. We will endeavour to respond to your
request as soon as possible and in any event no later than 16 April, being
20 working days after the day your request was received.
If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of
an extension of that timeframe.
Kind Regards,
Office of Hon Paul Goldsmith
Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage | Minister of Justice
Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations | Minister for Media and
Communications
Website: [1]www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
From: [2][Ministry of Justice request email] <[3][Ministry of Justice request email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 17 March 2026 12:52 PM
To: Lance D. Lavery <[4][FOI #34091 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request (ref: 130975)
Tēnā koe Lance
Thank you for your email of 16 March 2026 to the Ministry of Justice (the
Ministry), requesting under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act),
removal of redactions in relation to the English Language Bill.
On 17 March 2026, the Ministry transferred your request in full under
section 14 of the Act to the Minister of Justice, Hon Paul Goldsmith, as
the information requested is believed to be more closely connected with
the functions of the Minister of Justice’s office.
You will hear further from the Minister’s office concerning your request.
They can be contacted on [5][email address]
If you are not satisfied with the way your request is being managed, you
have the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman under section 28 of
the Act. The Office of the Ombudsman may be contacted by phone on 0800 802
602, by email at: [6][email address], or via the webform:
[7]Make a complaint (for members of the public) | Ombudsman New Zealand.
Ngā mihi
Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services
Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture [8]justice.govt.nz
From: [9][Ministry of Justice request email] <[10][Ministry of Justice request email]>
Sent: Monday, 16 March 2026 10:14 am
To: Lance D. Lavery <[11][FOI #34091 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request (ref: 130975)
Tēnā koe Lance,
Thank you for emailing the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry).
We acknowledge receipt of your request under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act).
This has been forwarded onto the relevant business unit to respond to.
The Ministry may publish the response to your request on our website, you
can expect that if your OIA is to be published that this will take place
at least 10 working days after the response has been sent you. Your name
and any other personal information will be withheld under Section 9(2)(a)
(protect the privacy of natural persons) of the Act.
You can expect a response by 14 April 2026.
Ngā mihi nui,
Ministerial Services
Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services
Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture [12]justice.govt.nz
show quoted sections
From: Paul Goldsmith (MIN)
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Tēnā koe Lance
Please see attached the response from Hon Paul Goldsmith, Minister of
Justice, to your OIA request transferred to our office on 17 March 2026.
Ngā mihi
Office of Hon Paul Goldsmith
Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage | Minister of Justice
Minister for Media and Communications | Minister for Treaty of Waitangi
Negotiations
Ministerial Email: [1][email address] | Web:
[2]www.beehive.govt.nz
Freepost Parliament: Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
6160, New Zealand
Authorised by Hon Paul Goldsmith, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
From: Paul Goldsmith (MIN) <[3][email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, 18 March 2026 10:39 AM
To: [4][FOI #34091 email]
Subject: RE: OIAPG841 / FW: Official Information request (ref: 130975)
Good morning Lance,
On behalf of Hon Paul Goldsmith, I acknowledge receipt of your official
information request dated 15 March, where you requested the following:
The proactive release published on 17 February 2026 by the Minister of
Justice contains seven documents relating to this Bill. Multiple passages
have been withheld under section 9(2)(f)(iv) to protect the
confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers and officials. I request
the release of the specific redacted material identified below.
From Document 1 — "Declaring English an Official Language" (Cabinet paper,
Minister of Justice):
1. The content of paragraph 20, withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv), within the
Legislative Implications section.
2. The content of recommendation 4, withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv).
From Document 2 — CBC-25-MIN-0029 (Cabinet Business Committee minute, 30
June 2025):
3. The content of paragraph 4, withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv).
From Document 4 — "English Language Bill: Approval for introduction"
(Cabinet paper, Minister of Justice):
4. The content of recommendation 1, withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv).
From Document 5 — LEG-25-MIN-0155 (Cabinet Legislation Committee minute,
14 August 2025):
5. The content of paragraph 1, withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv).
From Document 7 — "Draft Cabinet paper: Declaring English an Official
Language" (Briefing to Minister of Justice, 11 June 2025):
6. All content withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv), including but not limited to
the redacted passage at paragraph 26 and any redacted content in annexed
material.
We received your request on 17 March. We will endeavour to respond to your
request as soon as possible and in any event no later than 16 April, being
20 working days after the day your request was received.
If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of
an extension of that timeframe.
Kind Regards,
Office of Hon Paul Goldsmith
Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage | Minister of Justice
Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations | Minister for Media and
Communications
Website: [5]www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
From: [6][Ministry of Justice request email] <[7][Ministry of Justice request email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 17 March 2026 12:52 PM
To: Lance D. Lavery <[8][FOI #34091 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request (ref: 130975)
Tēnā koe Lance
Thank you for your email of 16 March 2026 to the Ministry of Justice (the
Ministry), requesting under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act),
removal of redactions in relation to the English Language Bill.
On 17 March 2026, the Ministry transferred your request in full under
section 14 of the Act to the Minister of Justice, Hon Paul Goldsmith, as
the information requested is believed to be more closely connected with
the functions of the Minister of Justice’s office.
You will hear further from the Minister’s office concerning your request.
They can be contacted on [9][email address]
If you are not satisfied with the way your request is being managed, you
have the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman under section 28 of
the Act. The Office of the Ombudsman may be contacted by phone on 0800 802
602, by email at: [10][email address], or via the webform:
[11]Make a complaint (for members of the public) | Ombudsman New Zealand.
Ngā mihi
Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services
Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture [12]justice.govt.nz
From: [13][Ministry of Justice request email] <[14][Ministry of Justice request email]>
Sent: Monday, 16 March 2026 10:14 am
To: Lance D. Lavery <[15][FOI #34091 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request (ref: 130975)
Tēnā koe Lance,
Thank you for emailing the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry).
We acknowledge receipt of your request under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act).
This has been forwarded onto the relevant business unit to respond to.
The Ministry may publish the response to your request on our website, you
can expect that if your OIA is to be published that this will take place
at least 10 working days after the response has been sent you. Your name
and any other personal information will be withheld under Section 9(2)(a)
(protect the privacy of natural persons) of the Act.
You can expect a response by 14 April 2026.
Ngā mihi nui,
Ministerial Services
Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services
Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture [16]justice.govt.nz
show quoted sections
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