UNCLASSIFIED
New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
55 Molesworth Street
27 May 2026
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
T +64 4 439 8000
F +64 4 472 9596
Matthew Tetley
OIA 30862
[FYI request #34181 email]
Tēnā koe Matthew Tetley
Thank you for your email of 24 March 2026, to the Office of the Prime Minister, Rt Hon
Christopher Luxon, in which you requested information under the Official Information Act
1982 (OIA). On 30 March 2026, the following parts of your request were transferred to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (the Ministry) for response, under section 14(b)
of the OIA:
[2] Specifically, I request information about the roles and communications of MFAT,
and the High Commissioner to Samoa concerning the initial Matai claim.
[3] Any documents, reports, minutes from meetings, or correspondence that relate
to the claim held by MFAT .
[4] Information regarding the decision-making processes by MFAT, and the High
Commissioner to Samoa concerning this claim, including any policies or guidelines
that were followed.
On 30 April 2026, the timeframes for responding to your request were extended by an
additional 20 working days because responding to your request necessitated the review
of a large quantity of information, and due to the consultations necessary to make a
decision on your request (section 15A(1)(a) and (b) of the OIA refers).
Response to your request
Your request are refused under section 18(d) of the OIA as the information requested
will be publicly available on the Ministry’s website before the end of this month, via the
following lin
k: https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/media-and-resources. The title of the document containing the information in scope of your request will contain
the term “matai title”, and will be searchable using the OIA number 30811.
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
