Official Information Act 1982 request — NZTE content and analysis on India manufacturing and the NZ–India FTA
Joshua Riley made this Official Information request to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
Response to this request is delayed. By law, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise should normally have responded promptly and by (details and exceptions)
From: Joshua Riley
I am making this request under the Official Information Act 1982.
I request the following information held by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), covering the period 1 January 2025 to the date of this request:
1. All content published on the myNZTE portal (my.nzte.govt.nz) and on nzte.govt.nz relating to:
a. Manufacturing in India, offshoring or outsourcing manufacturing to India, or sourcing design, engineering, or technical services from India;
b. The New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement, its negotiation, signing, or implementation;
c. Setting up business operations, hiring, or establishing a presence in India.
For each item, please provide the URL, the date first published, the dates of any material amendments, and the substantive content of each version (current and prior). For the avoidance of doubt, this includes content currently behind the myNZTE login.
2. All drafts, editorial notes, review comments, sign-off records, and internal communications relating to the development, approval, and publication of the content described in (1), including any decisions about how to characterise India's labour market, labour costs, workforce, or manufacturing environment.
3. All briefings, instructions, communications plans, content strategies, talking points, or correspondence provided to NZTE by, or exchanged between NZTE and:
a. The Office of the Prime Minister;
b. The Office of the Minister for Trade and Investment;
c. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade;
d. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet;
e. Any other government agency, Minister's office, or political staffer;
in relation to NZTE's India-facing or FTA-related exporter content, communications, or promotional activity.
4. All economic modelling, analysis, briefings, advice, or commissioned research held by NZTE concerning the likely impact of the NZ–India FTA on:
a. New Zealand-based manufacturing employment;
b. The outsourcing or offshoring of design, engineering, or production work by New Zealand firms to India;
c. Wage effects in New Zealand sectors exposed to the agreement;
d. Job creation or displacement attributable to the agreement.
5. Any correspondence, contracts, statements of work, or financial records relating to external consultants, agencies, or contractors engaged by NZTE in connection with India-facing content, communications, or promotional activity relating to the FTA, including any social media or influencer engagement.
6. Any internal correspondence (including on personal devices and non-government accounts where relating to official business, consistent with the Ombudsman's guidance on the OIA) concerning editorial or strategic decisions about NZTE's India and FTA content.
If any part of this request is considered too broad or would require substantial collation under section 18(f), I would appreciate the opportunity to refine the scope through consultation rather than have the request refused. Please contact me before invoking that section.
I note that there is a strong public interest in understanding (a) the basis on which a Crown entity has characterised a partner country's labour market in published material, and (b) what analysis the government holds about the domestic employment effects of a Free Trade Agreement signed prior to Parliament's treaty examination process. Where withholding grounds are considered, I ask that the public interest test under section 9(1) be applied with that context in mind.
I would prefer to receive the information by email, in its original electronic format where possible.
I note the statutory timeframe of 20 working days under section 15(1) of the Act and look forward to your response.
From: Ministerials
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
Kia ora Joshua,
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 request (the Act) to NZTE, received 28 April 2026 requesting:
1. All content published on the myNZTE portal (my.nzte.govt.nz) and on nzte.govt.nz relating to:
a. Manufacturing in India, offshoring or outsourcing manufacturing to India, or sourcing design, engineering, or technical services from India; b. The New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement, its negotiation, signing, or implementation; c. Setting up business operations, hiring, or establishing a presence in India.
For each item, please provide the URL, the date first published, the dates of any material amendments, and the substantive content of each version (current and prior). For the avoidance of doubt, this includes content currently behind the myNZTE login.
2. All drafts, editorial notes, review comments, sign-off records, and internal communications relating to the development, approval, and publication of the content described in (1), including any decisions about how to characterise India's labour market, labour costs, workforce, or manufacturing environment.
3. All briefings, instructions, communications plans, content strategies, talking points, or correspondence provided to NZTE by, or exchanged between NZTE and:
a. The Office of the Prime Minister;
b. The Office of the Minister for Trade and Investment; c. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; d. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; e. Any other government agency, Minister's office, or political staffer; in relation to NZTE's India-facing or FTA-related exporter content, communications, or promotional activity.
4. All economic modelling, analysis, briefings, advice, or commissioned research held by NZTE concerning the likely impact of the NZ–India FTA on:
a. New Zealand-based manufacturing employment; b. The outsourcing or offshoring of design, engineering, or production work by New Zealand firms to India; c. Wage effects in New Zealand sectors exposed to the agreement; d. Job creation or displacement attributable to the agreement.
5. Any correspondence, contracts, statements of work, or financial records relating to external consultants, agencies, or contractors engaged by NZTE in connection with India-facing content, communications, or promotional activity relating to the FTA, including any social media or influencer engagement.
6. Any internal correspondence (including on personal devices and non-government accounts where relating to official business, consistent with the Ombudsman's guidance on the OIA) concerning editorial or strategic decisions about NZTE's India and FTA content.
If any part of this request is considered too broad or would require substantial collation under section 18(f), I would appreciate the opportunity to refine the scope through consultation rather than have the request refused. Please contact me before invoking that section.
I note that there is a strong public interest in understanding (a) the basis on which a Crown entity has characterised a partner country's labour market in published material, and (b) what analysis the government holds about the domestic employment effects of a Free Trade Agreement signed prior to Parliament's treaty examination process. Where withholding grounds are considered, I ask that the public interest test under section 9(1) be applied with that context in mind.
I would prefer to receive the information by email, in its original electronic format where possible.
I note the statutory timeframe of 20 working days under section 15(1) of the Act and look forward to your response.
In accordance with the Act, NZTE will make a decision on your request as soon as reasonably practicable and within 20 working days of 28 April 2026. The latest date for a decision on your request is 26 May 2026.
We note your preference to refine the scope of your request should it require substantial collation under section 18(f), and will be in touch shortly regarding potential scope refinement and clarification.
Ngâ mihi,
Tosca
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From: Tosca Pasquale - WLG
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
12 May 2026
Joshua Riley [1][FOI #34552 email]
Dear Joshua,
Official Information Request for NZTE content and analysis on India
manufacturing and the NZ–India FTA.
I refer to your official information request received 28 April 2026 for
NZTE content and analysis on India manufacturing and the NZ–India FTA.
We have transferred part of your request to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade. Namely, question 4:
4. All economic modelling, analysis, briefings, advice, or commissioned
research held by NZTE concerning the likely impact of the NZ–India FTA on:
a. New Zealand-based manufacturing employment; b. The outsourcing or
offshoring of design, engineering, or production work by New Zealand firms
to India; c. Wage effects in New Zealand sectors exposed to the agreement;
d. Job creation or displacement attributable to the agreement.
This part of your request is believed to be more closely connected with
the functions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In these
circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the Official Information
Act to transfer your request.
You will hear further from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
concerning that part of your request.
Your contact at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is: Tom Turnball
([2][email address])
Yours sincerely,
Tosca Pasquale
Tosca Pasquale +64 21 225 0360
Ministerial Advisor +64 48 168 123
W [3]nzte.govt.nz
Board, Governance and Level 15, The Majestic Centre, 100 Willis
Ministerial Street, Wellington 6011
PO Box 2878, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is New
Zealand’s international business
development agency. Our role is to help New
Zealand businesses grow into international
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2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.nzte.govt.nz/
From: Joshua Riley
Thank you for your reply of 12 May 2026.
I'd like to raise a concern about the basis for that transfer and ask NZTE to reconsider.
Question 4 was expressly limited to information "held by NZTE". Section 14 permits transfer where the information is more closely connected with the functions of another agency, or where the receiving agency does not hold it but believes another does. Neither limb supports transferring a request for NZTE's own holdings to MFAT on the basis that MFAT may also hold related material. The Ombudsman's guidance is clear that where an agency holds information within scope, it should process that information itself rather than transfer.
As the Crown entity responsible for supporting New Zealand exporters into India, NZTE is very likely to hold at least some material within scope of question 4 — for example, internal analysis or briefings informing the exporter-facing India content covered by questions 1 and 2, advice prepared for the Minister or Board on FTA implications for New Zealand manufacturers, or analysis commissioned to support communications activity. Question 4 is also closely connected with questions 1 and 2, since the published characterisations of India's labour market and manufacturing environment must have been informed by some underlying view or analysis.
I would be grateful if NZTE could:
1. Confirm whether it holds any information within scope of question 4, and if so, process that information itself rather than transferring it; and
2. If NZTE holds no information within scope of question 4, say so expressly (for example under section 18(e)) rather than by transfer, so that the answer is clear on the record.
I am happy to discuss scope refinement if that would assist. As noted in my original request, I would prefer that to a refusal or a transfer that may obscure what NZTE itself holds.
For completeness, I note that I have separate requests on foot with MFAT, the Minister for Trade and Investment, the Prime Minister, and DPMC covering their respective holdings. The transfer of NZTE's question 4 to MFAT therefore risks NZTE-held material falling between the cracks rather than being captured by either response.
From: Ministerials
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
21 May 2026
Joshua Riley [1][email address]>
Dear Joshua,
OIA 25-26-27: NZTE content and analysis on India manufacturing and the
NZ–India FTA
I am writing in reference to your OIA request (OIA 25-26-27) regarding
NZTE content and analysis on India manufacturing and the NZ–India FTA. On
14 May 2026, we sent a letter requesting refinement of your original
request. In order for us to proceed with your request, could you please
let us know if the proposed refinements are acceptable to you.
Kind regards,
Tosca
This e-mail message, together with any attachments, is for the intended
recipient only and may not be disclosed to any other person. If you are
not the intended recipient and you have received or seen this message
through an error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the
email from your system. Unauthorised use or disclosure of the message, or
the information it contains, may be unlawful. New Zealand Trade and
Enterprise accepts no responsibility for changes made to this email or to
any attachments after transmission from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
The information contained in this email, together with any attachments,
does not necessarily represent the official view of New Zealand Trade and
Enterprise. It is your responsibility to check this email and any
attachments for viruses.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
From: Joshua Riley
The thread of our OIA request conversation is recorded here:
https://fyi.org.nz/request/34552-officia...
I note that this thread does not contain the 14 May 2026 clarification request you reference. Prior to your message today, the last correspondence in this thread was my push back to your reply of 12 May 2026, in which I wrote on 13 May 2026 the following and for which a response from NZTE is still outstanding...
"Thank you for your reply of 12 May 2026.
I'd like to raise a concern about the basis for that transfer and ask NZTE to reconsider.
Question 4 was expressly limited to information "held by NZTE". Section 14 permits transfer where the information is more closely connected with the functions of another agency, or where the receiving agency does not hold it but believes another does. Neither limb supports transferring a request for NZTE's own holdings to MFAT on the basis that MFAT may also hold related material. The Ombudsman's guidance is clear that where an agency holds information within scope, it should process that information itself rather than transfer.
As the Crown entity responsible for supporting New Zealand exporters into India, NZTE is very likely to hold at least some material within scope of question 4 — for example, internal analysis or briefings informing the exporter-facing India content covered by questions 1 and 2, advice prepared for the Minister or Board on FTA implications for New Zealand manufacturers, or analysis commissioned to support communications activity. Question 4 is also closely connected with questions 1 and 2, since the published characterisations of India's labour market and manufacturing environment must have been informed by some underlying view or analysis.
I would be grateful if NZTE could:
1. Confirm whether it holds any information within scope of question 4, and if so, process that information itself rather than transferring it; and
2. If NZTE holds no information within scope of question 4, say so expressly (for example under section 18(e)) rather than by transfer, so that the answer is clear on the record.
I am happy to discuss scope refinement if that would assist. As noted in my original request, I would prefer that to a refusal or a transfer that may obscure what NZTE itself holds.
For completeness, I note that I have separate requests on foot with MFAT, the Minister for Trade and Investment, the Prime Minister, and DPMC covering their respective holdings. The transfer of NZTE's question 4 to MFAT therefore risks NZTE-held material falling between the cracks rather than being captured by either response."
From: Ministerials
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
Dear Joshua,
Thank you for your reply.
Please see letter dated 14 May seeking refinement of request and acknowledgment of request not to transfer in this thread: https://fyi.org.nz/request/34551-officia...
For your convenience, please see copy of letter dated 14 May below:
14 May 2026
Joshua Riley [1][FOI #34551 email]>
Dear Joshua,
OIA 25-26-27: NZTE content and analysis on India manufacturing and the
NZ–India FTA
Thank you for your email dated 12 May 2026 to New Zealand Trade and
Enterprise (NZTE). We acknowledge your request that question 4 not be
transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). We will
respond to question 4 together with the other parts of your request.
After reviewing your request, NZTE considers that, as currently framed,
aspects of it would require substantial collation and research across
multiple systems and business units.
To enable us to respond efficiently to your request, we suggest refining
the scope in two ways:
1. Subject matter refinement: Limit the scope to material specifically
relating to the New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement, rather than
“India”, noting that references to India arise broadly across NZTE’s
day-to-day work; and
2. Timeframe refinement: Applying a timeframe of 22 December 2025 to 28
April 2026 (the date request was received). The reason for this is
that:
MFAT was the lead agency during New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement
negotiations and NZTE’s involvement was limited until negotiations
substantively concluded on 22 December 2025.
We propose applying this refined scope to all questions set out below:
1. All content published on the myNZTE portal (my.nzte.govt.nz) and on
nzte.govt.nz relating to:
a. Manufacturing in India, offshoring or outsourcing manufacturing to
India, or sourcing design, engineering, or technical services from India;
b. The New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement, its negotiation, signing,
or implementation; c. Setting up business operations, hiring, or
establishing a presence in India.
For each item, please provide the URL, the date first published, the dates
of any material amendments, and the substantive content of each version
(current and prior). For the avoidance of doubt, this includes content
currently behind the myNZTE login.
2. All drafts, editorial notes, review comments, sign-off records, and
internal communications relating to the development, approval, and
publication of the content described in (1), including any decisions about
how to characterise India's labour market, labour costs, workforce, or
manufacturing environment.
3. All briefings, instructions, communications plans, content strategies,
talking points, or correspondence provided to NZTE by, or exchanged
between NZTE and:
a. The Office of the Prime Minister;
b. The Office of the Minister for Trade and Investment; c. The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade; d. The Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet; e. Any other government agency, Minister's office, or political
staffer; in relation to NZTE's India-facing or FTA-related exporter
content, communications, or promotional activity.
4. All economic modelling, analysis, briefings, advice, or commissioned
research held by NZTE concerning the likely impact of the NZ–India FTA on:
a. New Zealand-based manufacturing employment; b. The outsourcing or
offshoring of design, engineering, or production work by New Zealand firms
to India; c. Wage effects in New Zealand sectors exposed to the agreement;
d. Job creation or displacement attributable to the agreement.
5. Any correspondence, contracts, statements of work, or financial records
relating to external consultants, agencies, or contractors engaged by NZTE
in connection with India-facing content, communications, or promotional
activity relating to the FTA, including any social media or influencer
engagement.
6. Any internal correspondence (including on personal devices and
non-government accounts where relating to official business, consistent
with the Ombudsman's guidance on the OIA) concerning editorial or
strategic decisions about NZTE's India and FTA content.
Please confirm whether you are willing to amend your request on this
basis. If helpful, we would be happy to discuss this with you.
Ngâ mihi,
Tosca
Apologies for any miscommunication. I look forward to your reply.
Kind regards,
Tosca
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From: Joshua Riley
Thank you for the refinement proposal of 14 May 2026 regarding OIA 25-26-27, which I received via the thread for my separate request (34551) and which was drawn to my attention on 21 May. I appreciate NZTE's willingness to engage on scope, and I note with thanks NZTE's decision to retain question 4 rather than transferring it to MFAT.
I am willing to accept some of the proposed refinements, but not all of them as currently framed.
On timeframe
I do not accept a start date of 22 December 2025. The content and analysis covered by this request - particularly questions 1 and 2, which concern NZTE's published characterisations of India's labour market and manufacturing environment - may well have been in development before FTA negotiations formally concluded. Internal analysis, early drafting, and editorial decisions about how to present India to exporters would reasonably predate the formal conclusion date.
I note that in response to my parallel request (OIA-25-26-26), NZTE accepted a start date of 1 July 2025. I propose the same date here for consistency and because the two requests cover closely related subject matter. NZTE itself identified 11 November 2025 as the date its communications plan was created in that parallel negotiation, which confirms relevant activity was underway well before 22 December.
On subject matter
I accept narrowing the scope to material specifically relating to the New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement for questions 3, 4, 5, and 6. These questions concern inter-agency communications, economic modelling, external contractors, and internal strategic correspondence, all of which are inherently FTA-connected.
I do not accept this narrowing for questions 1 and 2. The purpose of these questions is to understand how NZTE characterised India's labour market, manufacturing environment, and business opportunities in its published exporter-facing content - and the editorial process behind those characterisations. That content may not use the words "Free Trade Agreement" while still being directly connected to the FTA context. For example, guidance on setting up manufacturing operations in India, or content promoting India as a low-cost production destination, is squarely within scope of questions 1 and 2 even if it does not reference the FTA by name. Narrowing the subject matter for these questions would exclude the material that is the central concern of the request.
To assist with search practicability, I am willing to accept the following refinement for questions 1 and 2: content published on myNZTE or nzte.govt.nz, and its associated development records, where the content relates to (a) the NZ–India FTA, or (b) manufacturing, offshoring, outsourcing, labour costs, or establishing business operations in India. This preserves the substantive scope while excluding unrelated India content (such as general market entry guides, tourism, or education).
Summary of proposed refined scope
- Timeframe: 1 July 2025 to 28 April 2026 (all questions)
- Subject matter for questions 1 and 2: FTA-related content, plus India content relating to manufacturing, offshoring, outsourcing, labour costs, or establishing business operations
- Subject matter for questions 3–6: material specifically relating to the NZ–India FTA
I would also note, for the record, that some administrative confusion has arisen from NZTE's refinement correspondence for this request (34552) being sent to the thread for my separate request (34551). I understand this was inadvertent, but I would appreciate future correspondence being directed to the correct thread to avoid further confusion.
Please confirm whether NZTE is willing to proceed on this basis. I remain happy to discuss further if needed.
From: Ministerials
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
25 May 2026
Joshua Riley [email address]>
Dear Joshua,
OIA 25-26-27: NZTE content and analysis on India manufacturing and the NZ–India FTA
Thank you for your considered response and for engaging constructively on potential refinements to your Official Information Act request OIA 25-26-27 NZTE content and analysis on India manufacturing and the NZ–India FTA. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) endeavour to refine the scope in a way that captures material that is meaningfully relevant, while remaining practicable to search and collate.
On timeframe: We agree to your proposed time frame of 1 July 2025 to 28 April for all the questions.
On subject matter: We note your confirmation to narrow the scope of questions 3 to 6 to material specifically relating to the New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement. For questions 1 and 2, we accept that the agreed scope includes both “India” and “NZ–India FTA
The Official Information Act requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no later than 20 working days after the day we received your request. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet that time limit, and we are therefore writing to notify you of an extension of the time to make our decision, to 27 July 2026.
The reason for this extension is because:
(a) Your request seeks a substantial quantity of information and necessitates a search across a broad range of materials.
(b) Internal consultation is required to confirm, to the extent practicable, whether this information is held.
In the meantime, I would like to notify you that content on the myNZTE portal (my.nzte.govt.nz), including content accessed via a myNZTE login, is publicly available. To create a myNZTE login, please: Select “Join NZTE” and follow the prompts to create an account. Any relevant material can be located using the search function on myNZTE and nzte.govt.nz, using keywords such as “India”, “trade”, “manufacturing in India”, or “exporting to India”.
I thank you for your request and NZTE will endeavour to respond sooner, if possible.
For administrative purposes, this reply and all subsequent correspondence will be maintained on this thread.
Yours sincerely,
Tosca
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