Number of NZ businesses promoted overseas by Minister of Justice
M Keats made this Official Information request to Minister of Justice
The request was partially successful.
From: M Keats
Dear Minister of Justice,
I've recently read news articles regarding Justice Minister Judith Collins and her visit to the Chinese premises of Oravida Limited, an NZ company of which her husband is a director.
When a journalist queried whether this visit presented a conflict of interest, Justice Minister Judith Collins responded that she did not think this was the case, and that she saw her role, as a minister of the NZ government, as including promotion of NZ businesses overseas.
As such, I would like to request information from the Minister of Justice's office detailing the following:
1) Details of the name of each NZ company the Justice Minister has visited overseas during the term of the current NZ government;
2) Details of each product the Justice Minister has promoted from an NZ company operating overseas during the term of the current NZ government; and
3) Details of the types of promotional activities the Justice Minister conducts on behalf of NZ companies operating overseas during the term of the current NZ government.
Yours faithfully,
M Keats
From: J Collins (MIN)
Minister of Justice
Good afternoon
Please see the attached in regard to your request
Kind regards,
Office of the Hon Judith Collins MP|Minister of Justice|Minister for ACC|Minister for Ethnic Affairs | MP for Papakura
Tel: +64 4 817 6806 | Fax: +64 4 817 6506 | www.judithcollins.co.nz | Parliament Buildings | Private Bag 18041 Wellington 6160
-----Original Message-----
From: M Keats [mailto:[OIA #1537 email]]
Sent: Thursday, 13 March 2014 7:24 p.m.
To: J Collins (MIN)
Subject: Official Information Act request - Number of NZ businesses promoted overseas by Minister of Justice
Dear Minister of Justice,
I've recently read news articles regarding Justice Minister Judith Collins and her visit to the Chinese premises of Oravida Limited, an NZ company of which her husband is a director.
When a journalist queried whether this visit presented a conflict of interest, Justice Minister Judith Collins responded that she did not think this was the case, and that she saw her role, as a minister of the NZ government, as including promotion of NZ businesses overseas.
As such, I would like to request information from the Minister of Justice's office detailing the following:
1) Details of the name of each NZ company the Justice Minister has visited overseas during the term of the current NZ government;
2) Details of each product the Justice Minister has promoted from an NZ company operating overseas during the term of the current NZ government; and
3) Details of the types of promotional activities the Justice Minister conducts on behalf of NZ companies operating overseas during the term of the current NZ government.
Yours faithfully,
M Keats
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From: M Keats
Dear Minister of Justice,
Just dropping a quick line regarding my OIA request, Fyi advises that your response has been delayed.
Thought i'd ask what the delay is due to, and whether there is a more suitable timeframe?
Hope all is well at your end,
Yours faithfully,
M Keats
From: J Collins (MIN)
Minister of Justice
Good afternoon
Please see the attached in regard to your request.
Kind regards
Office of the Hon Judith Collins MP
Minister of Justice|Minister for ACC|Minister for Ethnic Affairs | MP for Papakura
Tel: +64 4 817 6806 | Fax: +64 4 817 6506 | www.judithcollins.co.nz | Parliament Buildings | Private Bag 18041 Wellington 6160
________________________________
From: M Keats
Good evening,
Um, sorry but your reply does not seem to have included the attached document,
...either that or I'm having issues navigating the FYI site :S
Are you able to resend it?
Yours sincerely,
M Keats
From: J Collins (MIN)
Minister of Justice
My apologies.
This should be the one. :)
Acting Ministerial Secretary for Hon Judith Collins
Minister of Justice, Minister for ACC, Minister for Ethnic Affairs
Level 6.6 EW
Parliament Buildings
Wellington 6160
04 817 6806
-----Original Message-----
From: M Keats [mailto:[OIA #1537 email]]
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2014 9:48 PM
To: J Collins (MIN)
Subject: Re: OIA Request
Good evening,
Um, sorry but your reply does not seem to have included the attached document,
...either that or I'm having issues navigating the FYI site :S
Are you able to resend it?
Yours sincerely,
M Keats
-----Original Message-----
Good afternoon
Please see the attached in regard to your request.
Kind regards
Office of the Hon Judith Collins MP
Minister of Justice|Minister for ACC|Minister for Ethnic Affairs | MP for Papakura
Tel: +64 4 817 6806 | Fax: +64 4 817 6506 | www.judithcollins.co.nz | Parliament Buildings | Private Bag 18041 Wellington 6160
________________________________
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Conor Whitten left an annotation ()
The Minister cites section 18(e) of the Official Information Act, which states that the documents do not exist or cannot be found.
But the Cabinet manual contains the following section regarding Ministerial travel:
"Reporting on overseas travel
2.112 Within a month of their return, Ministers must report to Cabinet on the achievements and outcomes of their overseas travel."
So while the Minister can contend that she's not engaged in any promotional activities, there WILL be a record of which companies she has visited while overseas. I suggest you pursue this.
Link to this