Cost of sending lawyer to WestPoint and Thesis release .
John made this Official Information request to New Zealand Defence Force
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From: John
Dear New Zealand Defence Force,
A Naval lawyer was sent to WestPoint Military Academy in the United States for two years. Please provide the following :
1. The total cost involved including accommodation, allowances, travel and the cost of the any study. Please break the costs down by area (for example, study fees)? How were these costs funded?
2. What was the purpose of the time at WestPoint ? What duties did the officer undertake?
3. What value did it provide to the NZDF?
4. Is this a recurring position?
5. What was the criteria to be considered, how did this process occur? Please release all records relating to this.
6. What qualifications were obtained (our understanding was a Masters degree).
7. How has topics studied assisted the NZDF? Please provide evidence and examples of this such as policies or new training.
7. If a Thesis exists, please provide this.
8. Please provide all policy relating to lawyers continuing education in the NZDF, including what specific funding is provided to military lawyers for post graduate study.
9. Is it standard practice for military lawyers to have post graduate funded and if so - what is the policy around this?
Yours faithfully,
J. Anderson
From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Defence Force
Link: [1]File-List
Link: [2]Edit-Time-Data
Good morning John,
Your request below has been received and a decision on your request will
be provided as soon as possible and no later than 6 May 2026. Responses to
requests for information that are considered to be in the wider public
interest will be published on the New Zealand Defence Force website
([3]www.nzdf.mil.nz).
Regards
Corporate and Ministerial Services
OCDF, Office of Chief of Defence Force
New Zealand Defence Force
[4]www.nzdf.mil.nz
show quoted sections
From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Defence Force
Link: [1]File-List
Link: [2]Edit-Time-Data
Good afternoon John,
With respect to your request below, it will not be possible to provide a
decision by 6 May 2026. This email is to notify you of an extension to the
time to make a decision to 27 May 2026.
This extension is necessary because some of the information you have
requested is not readily retrievable and necessitates a search through a
large quantity of information. You retain the right, under section 28(3)
of the OIA, to ask an Ombudsman to review the decision to extend your
request.
Regards
Dominic Young
Mgr Corp & Ministerial Services - OCDF, Office of Chief of Defence Force
New Zealand Defence Force
T: (04) 496 0634 | Internal: (349) 7634
[3]www.nzdf.mil.nz
From: Ministerial Services
Sent: Tuesday, 7 April 2026 8:58 a.m.
To: 'John' <[FYI request #34404 email]>
Subject: [unclassified] RE: Official Information request - Cost of sending
lawyer to WestPoint and Thesis release .
Good morning John,
Your request below has been received and a decision on your request will
be provided as soon as possible and no later than 6 May 2026. Responses to
requests for information that are considered to be in the wider public
interest will be published on the New Zealand Defence Force website
([4]www.nzdf.mil.nz).
Regards
Corporate and Ministerial Services
OCDF, Office of Chief of Defence Force
New Zealand Defence Force
[5]www.nzdf.mil.nz
show quoted sections
From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Defence Force
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Link: [1]File-List
Link: [2]Edit-Time-Data
Good morning John,
Please find attached a response to your request.
Regards
Corporate and Ministerial Services
OCDF, Office of Chief of Defence Force
New Zealand Defence Force
[3]www.nzdf.mil.nz
From: Ministerial Services
Sent: Tuesday, 5 May 2026 1:25 p.m.
To: 'John' <[FOI #34404 email]>
Subject: RE: [unclassified] RE: Official Information request - Cost of
sending lawyer to WestPoint and Thesis release .
Good afternoon John,
With respect to your request below, it will not be possible to provide a
decision by 6 May 2026. This email is to notify you of an extension to the
time to make a decision to 27 May 2026.
This extension is necessary because some of the information you have
requested is not readily retrievable and necessitates a search through a
large quantity of information. You retain the right, under section 28(3)
of the OIA, to ask an Ombudsman to review the decision to extend your
request.
Regards
Dominic Young
Mgr Corp & Ministerial Services - OCDF, Office of Chief of Defence Force
New Zealand Defence Force
T: (04) 496 0634 | Internal: (349) 7634
[4]www.nzdf.mil.nz
From: Ministerial Services
Sent: Tuesday, 7 April 2026 8:58 a.m.
To: 'John' <[5][FOI #34404 email]>
Subject: [unclassified] RE: Official Information request - Cost of sending
lawyer to WestPoint and Thesis release .
Good morning John,
Your request below has been received and a decision on your request will
be provided as soon as possible and no later than 6 May 2026. Responses to
requests for information that are considered to be in the wider public
interest will be published on the New Zealand Defence Force website
([6]www.nzdf.mil.nz).
Regards
Corporate and Ministerial Services
OCDF, Office of Chief of Defence Force
New Zealand Defence Force
[7]www.nzdf.mil.nz
show quoted sections
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