Tēnā koe Mohammed,

 

Thank you for your email dated 16/05/2022 requesting information about
Mayor of Wellington's decision to oppose the commemoration of Nakba Day.

 

Our team will manage your request under the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987 which requires us to provide a decision
as soon as possible, but no later than 14/06/2022, being 20 working days
of receipt.

 

The reference number for your request is IRC-3351.

 

Please contact us if you have any further questions.

 

Kind regards

 

The Assurance Team

Email: [1][email address]

Wellington City Council | W [2]Wellington.govt.nz | [3]Facebook|
[4]Twitter

The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and
intended for the addressee only.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that
confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its contents.
If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the
sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.

 

[5]http://wellington.govt.nz/~/media/Images...

 

 

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Kia ora Mohammed,

Thank you for your recent LGOIMA request.

The information you have requested relates to a text exchange between Mayor Andy Foster and a representative from MFAT. In these circumstances, we are required under section 12 of the Act to transfer your request. As the information requested is believed to be more closely connected with them. We have formally transferred your request to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade under section 12(b)(ii) of the LGOIMA.

As we have transferred this, you will hear further from MFAT concerning your request.

Ngā mihi
Claudia

Claudia Holgate
Senior Advisor | Official Information Team
Te Kaunihera o Pōneke | Wellington City Council

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[UNCLASSIFIED]

Kia ora Mohammed Khan

 

Thank you for your OIA request transferred from the Wellington City
Council on 30 May 2022 for:

Please provide all correspondence, emails, agendas, briefing notes, text
messages etc regarding the Mayor of Wellington's decision to oppose the
commemoration of Nakba Day, recognizing the ongoing campaign of ethnic
cleansing and genocide against the legitimate native population of
Palestine/'Israel'.

 

This should particularly include communications with the 'Israeli'
embassy, and its various subject organizations such as the American
embassy, the 'Israel Institute of NZ', the so-called 'Indigenous Coalition
for Israel.

 

This email confirms receipt of your request and advises that we will
respond to it as soon as reasonably practicable, and in terms of the
timeframes and requirements of the OIA.

 

Please also be advised that the organisational impacts of implementing the
COVID-19 Protection Framework, together with the Ministry’s leadership of
the Government's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, mean that we
may have reduced capacity to process OIA requests. We will do our best to
make decisions on your OIA request as soon as practicably possible, and to
keep you informed of progress if there are likely to be delays.

 

For your information, the Chief Ombudsman has published updated guidance
on OIA requests during this time:

·       [1]Chief Ombudsman's statement on official information response
times during implementation of the COVID-19 Protection Framework

·       [2]FAQs about official information requests during COVID-19

 

Please note that our response letter to you (with your personal details
redacted), and any enclosed documents, may be published on the Ministry’s
website.

 

Ngâ mihi

 

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

 

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Tēnā koe Mohammed Khan

 

Thank you for your email dated 31/05/2022 requesting information regarding
the Mayor and the Palestinian people.

 

Our team will manage your request under the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987 which requires us to provide a decision
as soon as possible, but no later than 30/06/2022, being 20 working days
of receipt.

 

The reference number for your request is IRC-3425.

 

Please contact us if you have any further questions.

 

Kind regards

 

The Assurance Team

Email: [1][email address]

Wellington City Council | W [2]Wellington.govt.nz | [3]Facebook|
[4]Twitter

The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and
intended for the addressee only.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that
confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its contents.
If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the
sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.

 

[5]http://wellington.govt.nz/~/media/Images...

 

 

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Kia ora Mohammed,

In regards to the wording of your LGOIMA request, the mayor's office have advised that at no time has Mayor Andy Foster supported genocide of Palestinians.

There was no communication with other groups, embassies, or individuals regarding the Mayor’s decision.

The only other communication was by phone from the mayor to both the Chief Executive and Wellington NZ (who operate the Michael Fowler Centre) to convey the advice received from MFAT and that the event would not be taking place.

In terms of it being requested, Councillors were approached by the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa directly and Councillor Paul arranged the Michael Fowler Centre projection. This was not a decision that went through Council.

I hope this clarifies the response for you.

Ngâ mihi
Claudia

Claudia Holgate
Senior Advisor | Official Information Team
Te Kaunihera o Pôneke | Wellington City Council

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Kia ora Mohammed,

Could you please specify what you're after? For privacy reasons we would not disclose any phone numbers the Mayor has called, or received calls from.

Ngā mihi
Claudia

Claudia Holgate
Senior Advisor | Official Information Team

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Kia ora Mohammed,

A previously advised, the mayor was not in discussions with any other groups or individuals regarding this decision. Following text advice from MFAT (Lisa White, Deputy Chief of Protocol), the Mayor relayed the advice via phone call to Wellington NZ (John Allan), who manages the Michael Fowler Centre. The mayor also contacted the WCC Chief Executive, Barbara McKerrow as well as Councillor Paul via phone call to convey the advice and decision not to proceed. The mayor does not support genocide.

Ngā mihi
Claudia

Claudia Holgate
Senior Advisor | Official Information Team

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[UNCLASSIFIED]

Tēnā koe Mohammed Khan

Please see the attached letters concerning your OIA request.

Ngā mihi

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

195 Lambton Quay, Private Bag 18901, Wellington 5045, New Zealand
www.mfat.govt.nz | www.safetravel.govt.nz

Kia ora Mohammed,

Thank you for your recent LGOIMA request.

The information you have requested relates to a text exchange between Mayor Andy Foster and a representative from MFAT. In these circumstances, we are required under section 12 of the Act to transfer your request. As the information requested is believed to be more closely connected with them. We have formally transferred your request to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade under section 12(b)(ii) of the LGOIMA.

As we have transferred this, you will hear further from MFAT concerning your request.

Ngā mihi
Claudia

Claudia Holgate
Senior Advisor | Official Information Team Te Kaunihera o Pōneke | Wellington City Council

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