Cost of upcoming royal visit
LJ Holden made this Official Information request to Department of Internal Affairs
The request was refused by Department of Internal Affairs.
From: LJ Holden
Attn: Ministerial Services
PO Box 805
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
Dear Department of Internal Affairs,
3 July 2012
RE: REQUEST UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT 1981
We hereby request the following information under the Official Information Act 1981:
- The Revenue and Output expenses table of the estimated costs under Vote Ministerial Services, administered by the Department of Internal Affairs, associated with hosting, transporting and protecting Royal visitors to New Zealand for the period 2012 - 2013;
- The Revenue and Output expenses table of the costs associated with hosting, transporting and protecting Royal visitors to New Zealand for the period 2012 - 2013 already incurred by the department;
I look forward to hearing from you within the time frame allocated by the Act.
Yours faithfully,
Lewis Holden
From: Telephon Telephon
Department of Internal Affairs
Hi Lewis,
Thank you for your enquiry. I have forwarded it through to the correct department who can help you with this. You should hear from her soon.
Kind Regards,
Zowie Heywood
Customer Services Team
Shared Services Branch
Department of Internal Affairs - Te Tari Taiwhenua
Phone: (+64 4) 495 7200
www.dia.govt.nz
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From: Katrina Taylor (MIN)
Dear Mr Holden,
this email is to acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act
request (below).
Yours sincerely,
Katrina Taylor
Business Services Unit
Ministerial and Secretariat Services
Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua
Bowen House, Parliament Buildings
Wellington, New Zealand
[1]www.dia.govt.nz
==========================================================================
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of the intended recipient(s) only and
is not necessarily the official view or communication of the Department of Internal Affairs. If you are not
the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute this message or the information in it. If
you have received this message in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
==========================================================================
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From: Katrina Taylor (MIN)
Dear Mr Holden,
please find attached the response to your Official Information Act request
of 3 July 2012 regarding royal visitors.
Kind regards,
Katrina Taylor
Business Services Unit
Ministerial and Secretariat Services
Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua
Bowen House, Parliament Buildings
Wellington, New Zealand
[1]www.dia.govt.nz
References
Visible links
1. http://www.dia.govt.nz/
From: LJ Holden
Dear Katrina,
Thank you for your letter dated 30 July 2012 in response to my request under the Official Information Act 1982 (incorrectly cited as 1981 in my original request, mea culpa!).
The letter states "It is the Department's intention that the cost of the Diamond Jubilee Royal visit will be publicly released after the visit has occurred."
My request specifically asked for both the actual costs incurred and an estimate of the costs to be incurred under Vote Ministerial Services. When the department intends to release this information is irrelevant to both my request and the law.
Section 5 of the Official Information Act 1982 states:
"The question whether any official information is to be made available, where that question arises under this Act, shall be determined, except where this Act otherwise expressly requires, in accordance with the purposes of this Act and the principle that the information shall be made available unless there is good reason for withholding it."
The Department must either provide a reason for withholding the official information requested or preferably provide it. The Official Information Act 1982 is clear that the public has a right to know - especially where their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent. The Department cannot set its own arbitrary timetable to release the requested information.
I ask that you either provide a reason for withholding the information or provide the estimated costs of the Royal visit under the Vote Ministerial Services budget.
I await your speedy response.
Yours sincerely,
Lewis Holden
From: Katrina Taylor (MIN)
Dear Mr Holden,
please find attached a response to your email of 30 July.
Kind regards,
Katrina Taylor
Business and Secretariat Support
Ministerial and Secretariat Services
Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua
Bowen House, Parliament Buildings
Wellington, New Zealand
[1]www.dia.govt.nz
==========================================================================
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of the intended recipient(s) only and
is not necessarily the official view or communication of the Department of Internal Affairs. If you are not
the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute this message or the information in it. If
you have received this message in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
==========================================================================
From: LJ Holden [mailto:[OIA #378 email]]
Sent: Monday, 30 July 2012 21:06 p.m.
To: Katrina Taylor (MIN)
Subject: Internal review of Official Information Act request - Cost of
upcoming royal visit
Dear Katrina,
Thank you for your letter dated 30 July 2012 in response to my
request under the Official Information Act 1982 (incorrectly cited
as 1981 in my original request, mea culpa!).
The letter states "It is the Department's intention that the cost
of the Diamond Jubilee Royal visit will be publicly released after
the visit has occurred."
My request specifically asked for both the actual costs incurred
and an estimate of the costs to be incurred under Vote Ministerial
Services. When the department intends to release this information
is irrelevant to both my request and the law.
Section 5 of the Official Information Act 1982 states:
"The question whether any official information is to be made
available, where that question arises under this Act, shall be
determined, except where this Act otherwise expressly requires, in
accordance with the purposes of this Act and the principle that the
information shall be made available unless there is good reason for
withholding it."
The Department must either provide a reason for withholding the
official information requested or preferably provide it. The
Official Information Act 1982 is clear that the public has a right
to know - especially where their hard-earned tax dollars are being
spent. The Department cannot set its own arbitrary timetable to
release the requested information.
I ask that you either provide a reason for withholding the
information or provide the estimated costs of the Royal visit under
the Vote Ministerial Services budget.
I await your speedy response.
Yours sincerely,
Lewis Holden
show quoted sections
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Luke C left an annotation ()
I don't agree with the decision to withhold the information on the bases that the agency would pubicly release it after the visit, to protect advice between officials, and the free and frank expression of opinions.
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