23 June 2022
Andrew Li
[FYI request #19199 email]
Tēnā koe Andrew Li
Thank you for your email of 23 April 2022 in which you request the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA):
On 0855 Friday, a disgusting message was publicly posted on Twitter by the official MFATNZ
Twitter account, suggesting that Palestinian victims were to blame for the repeated terrorist
attacks by the zionist entity on the al-Aqsa Mosque, and that Palestinians were somehow
morally obliged to refrain from responding against terror attacks launched by zionist invaders
on the third holiest site in Islam and the Gaza concentration camp.
https://twitter.com/MFATNZ/status/1517245771367673856
I am requesting:
1) All internal notes and communications made by Ms Mahuta and her office with MFAT and
other individuals and organizations which related to the production of this message.
2) All internal notes and communications made by Ms Mahuta and her office with MFAT and
other individuals and organizations which relate to the ongoing zionist terrorist attacks on the
Al Aqsa mosque and Gaza, which have escalated with the particularly disgusting April 15
attack on the mosque.
On 12 May 2022, the deadline to provide a decision on your request was extended to
23 June 2022.
A decision has been made on your request, and you can expect to receive the information in a
response letter within the next 5 working days.
Some portions of the response will be withheld under the following sections of the OIA:
6(a): to avoid prejudicing the security or defence of New Zealand or the international relations
of the New Zealand Government;
9(2)(a): to protect individuals’ privacy;
9(2)(g)(i): to protect the free and frank expression of opinions by departments; and
9(2)(g)(ii): to protect officers and employees from improper pressure or harassment.
Page 2 of 2
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision by
contactin
g www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa
Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Minita Take Aorere / Minister of Foreign Affairs
