Disposal or sale of NZ embassy in Moscow, known as Mindovsky House

dukeofurl made this Official Information request to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The request was successful.

From: dukeofurl

Dear Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade,

I understand the Moscow embassy is no longer located in the building known as Mindovsky House, a local landmark being an Art Deco design dating from before the revolution, around 1903.

1)Could you please advise on the date the Embassy vacated this building

2)Regarding the Mindovsky House if the property was NZ owned, if it has been sold and to whom it was sold to, when and if possible the sale price.

3)Has the sale been settled in full ?

4)What was the time difference between moving to the current Embassy on the Moscow river and the sale agreement being signed.

5)With the new location, has the building been bought or is it on a long term lease.
If it was bought, for how much and if on lease what are the terms including monthly rent ( or other period in the lease?)

Yours faithfully,

dukeofurl

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From: ENQUIRIES
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[UNCLASSIFIED]

Thank you for your enquiry.

 

·         For urgent consular issues, or if you are a New Zealand citizen
overseas needing assistance, please email [1][email address]

 

·         For enquiries regarding New Zealand Scholarships, please use the
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Please see their website for more information: [5]www.passports.govt.nz

 

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For all other enquiries you can expect a response in due course.

 

Kind regards,

 

 

MFAT ENQUIRIES
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatū Aorere

  

 

195 Lambton Quay, Private Bag 18901
Wellington 6160

New Zealand

[7]www.mfat.govt.nz | [8]www.safetravel.govt.nz

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From: ENQUIRIES
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[UNCLASSIFIED]

Thank you for your request.

As we have further questions regarding your Official Information Request would you please provide a direct email address that we can contact you on to discuss further.

Kind regards

MFAT ENQUIRIES
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatū Aorere

195 Lambton Quay, Private Bag 18901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
www.mfat.govt.nz | www.safetravel.govt.nz

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From: dukeofurl

Dear ENQUIRIES,
Thank you for your reply.
Regarding your request for a private email address, this is unusual and unnecessary.
Therefore I request I be contacted via the email given

Yours sincerely,

dukeofurl

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From: ESD
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade


Attachment image001.jpg
4K Download


[UNCLASSIFIED]

Dear dukeofurl

 

Thank you for your emails of 26 April 2017 and 1 May 2017. It has been
referred to the Executive Services Division to manage.

 

The provision of information relating to the work of New Zealand
Government agencies, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is
governed by the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The purpose of the
OIA, amongst other things,  is to progress the availability of information
to the people of New Zealand to enable effective participation in the
making and administration of laws and to hold Ministers and civil servants
accountable. The OIA specifies who can rely on its provisions and seek
information from government agencies. This criteria is found in section
12(1) of the OIA and provides:

 

Any person, being-

 

(a)          A New Zealand citizen; or

(b)          A permanent resident of New Zealand; or

(c)          A person who is in New Zealand; or

(d)          A body corporate which is incorporated in New Zealand; or

(e)          A body corporate which is incorporated outside New Zealand
but which has a place of business in New Zealand.

 

Could you please confirm that you fulfil one of the criteria as outlined
in section 12(1) of the OIA?”

 

Kind regards

 

 

Executive Services Division
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatû Aorere

  

 

195 Lambton Quay, Private Bag 18901
Wellington 6160

New Zealand

[1]www.mfat.govt.nz | [2]www.safetravel.govt.nz

  

 

[3]cid:image001.jpg@01CDF8B8.6EB9E580

 

 

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From: dukeofurl

Dear ESD,

I can confirm that I am A NZ Citizen by birth.
Yours sincerely,
Steve
dukeofurl

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From: ESD
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade


Attachment image001.jpg
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[UNCLASSIFIED]

Dear Steve

 

Thank you for your OIA request, this email confirms receipt as of 1 May
2017, and advises that your request has been sent to the appropriate
division for response.

 

Kind regards

 

Executive Services Division
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatū Aorere

  

 

195 Lambton Quay, Private Bag 18901
Wellington 6160

New Zealand

[1]www.mfat.govt.nz | [2]www.safetravel.govt.nz

  

 

[3]cid:image001.jpg@01CDF8B8.6EB9E580

 

 

 

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From: ESD
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[UNCLASSIFIED]

Dear Steve

 

Thank you for your email of 1 May 2017 requesting information under the
Official Information Act (1982).

 

The provision of information relating to the work of New Zealand
Government agencies, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is
governed by the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The purpose of the
OIA, amongst other things,  is to progress the availability of information
to the people of New Zealand to enable effective participation in the
making and administration of laws and to hold Ministers and civil servants
accountable. The OIA specifies who can rely on its provisions and seek
information from government agencies. This criteria is found in section
12(1) of the OIA and provides:

 

Any person, being-

 

(a)          A New Zealand citizen; or

(b)          A permanent resident of New Zealand; or

(c)          A person who is in New Zealand; or

(d)          A body corporate which is incorporated in New Zealand; or

(e)          A body corporate which is incorporated outside New Zealand
but which has a place of business in New Zealand.

 

Could you please confirm that you fulfil one of the criteria as outlined
in section 12(1) of the OIA and please also provide evidence of your
eligibility?

 

We are more than happy to transact this query through a direct email
address.

 

Kind regards

 

Executive Services Division
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatū Aorere

 

T +64 4 439 8000   E  [1][email address]  

 

[2]www.mfat.govt.nz | [3]www.safetravel.govt.nz

 

[UNCLASSIFIED]

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From: ESD
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[UNCLASSIFIED]

Dear Steve

 

We are wondering if you have had a chance to consider our request below
regarding eligibility?  We would appreciate a response so we can ascertain
if we are able to progress your request.

 

Kind regards

Executive Services Division

 

From: ESD
Sent: Friday, 5 May 2017 12:12 p.m.
To: [FOI #5792 email]
Subject: OIA Request - Confirmation of Eligibility

 

[UNCLASSIFIED]

Dear Steve

 

Thank you for your email of 1 May 2017 requesting information under the
Official Information Act (1982).

 

The provision of information relating to the work of New Zealand
Government agencies, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is
governed by the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The purpose of the
OIA, amongst other things,  is to progress the availability of information
to the people of New Zealand to enable effective participation in the
making and administration of laws and to hold Ministers and civil servants
accountable. The OIA specifies who can rely on its provisions and seek
information from government agencies. This criteria is found in section
12(1) of the OIA and provides:

 

Any person, being-

 

(a)          A New Zealand citizen; or

(b)          A permanent resident of New Zealand; or

(c)          A person who is in New Zealand; or

(d)          A body corporate which is incorporated in New Zealand; or

(e)          A body corporate which is incorporated outside New Zealand
but which has a place of business in New Zealand.

 

Could you please confirm that you fulfil one of the criteria as outlined
in section 12(1) of the OIA and please also provide evidence of your
eligibility?

 

We are more than happy to transact this query through a direct email
address.

 

Kind regards

 

Executive Services Division
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatū Aorere

 

T +64 4 439 8000   E  [1][email address]  

 

[2]www.mfat.govt.nz | [3]www.safetravel.govt.nz

 

[UNCLASSIFIED]

[UNCLASSIFIED]

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From: dukeofurl

Dear ESD,

I replied on May 1 to your request with my status, and you confirmed my reply on that date.
I have the email chain to verify this.
Im sure you do as well , if you check your records

Yours sincerely,
Steve
dukeofurl

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From: dukeofurl

Dear ESD,

I replied on May 1 to your request with my status, and you confirmed my reply on that date.
I have the email chain to verify this.
Im sure you do as well , if you check your records

Yours sincerely,
Steve
dukeofurl

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From: ESD
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[UNCLASSIFIED]

Dear Steve

Thank you for your response. I apologise for the duplication of our request. I refer to our email of 5 May 2017, and ask if you could provide proof of your eligibility to request information under the Official Information Act 1982. We appreciate your assistance in the matter.

Kind Regards
ESD

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From: dukeofurl

Dear ESD,

Regarding the status of an OIA requester , being a person in NZ or a NZ citizen. As I said I have confirmed my eligibility.

You should be mindful of the Ombusdmans directions on this matter
"Agencies are entitled to make reasonable enquiries to satisfy themselves that a requester is
eligible to make a request under the OIA. "

"However, the eligibility requirement is not about imposing unnecessary barriers to legitimate requests."

"Agencies should only query eligibility if there is a genuine need to do so, and they should be mindful of their obligation to provide reasonable assistance to requesters".

"Time taken to confirm eligibility may mean less time is available for processing a request that is subsequently confirmed to be valid. "

There doesnt seem to be a genuine need to keep returning to this theme, especially since 15 days have been wasted by not keeping track of my previous response.

Reference http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/syste...

Yours sincerely,
Steve

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From: ESD
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade


Attachment OIA 25680 response 18 May 2017.pdf
248K Download View as HTML


[UNCLASSIFIED]

Please find attached, a response to your OIA request of 1 May 2017.

 

Kind regards,

 

Executive Services Division

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade 

[UNCLASSIFIED]

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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
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