[UNCLASSIFIED]
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[UNCLASSIFIED]

Kia ora Andrew Li

 

Thank you for your OIA request received on 2 September 2022 for:

I am deeply interested in the process by which you selected the five
delegates, all supporters of the 'israeli' government's campaign against
the indigenous native population of Palestine who, unlike 'israelis', have
lived there since time immemorial, as 'expert delegates' to the
'International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance', a group that slanderously
declares that anyone, including many New Zealand Jews, who does not
support the 'israeli' government's crimes committed against the
Palestinian people is 'anti-semitic'.

 

I am particularly deeply interested in why Shoshana Maasland (nee Shoshan
Max, i.e. Dame Lesley Max's daughter), was considered an appropriate
'expert' to go on this junket for opponents of Palestinian
self-determination. She doesn't appear to have published any academic
research on the subject of the Holocaust (in common the case with the
majority of other 'experts' you selected). She hasn't even published
articles in non-academic publications supporting 'israel' against the
Palestinian people, which is the purpose of the IHRA, as is at least the
case for the likes of Paul Moon, so it is difficult to see what expert
knowledge she would provide besides carrying Dame Max's bags.

 

I am requesting all information held by MFAT in regards the selection of
these 'experts'. That should include information that MFAT employees
recall from in-person or phone/internet conversations with outside groups
such as the NZJC, who one presumes made the actual selection, rather than
our elected government or independent public servants.

 

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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[UNCLASSIFIED]

Tēnā koe Andrew Li

 

Please see the attached information concerning your OIA request received
on 2 September 2022.

 

Ngā mihi

 

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

-------------------------------------------------

195 Lambton Quay, Private Bag 18901, Wellington 5045, New Zealand

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

[3]cid:image001.png@01D77329.069A7C40

 

 

From: ESD <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 5 September 2022 12:10 pm
To: [FOI #20449 email]
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Selection of MFAT delegation
to anti-semitic organization

 

[UNCLASSIFIED]

Kia ora Andrew Li

 

Thank you for your OIA request received on 2 September 2022 for:

I am deeply interested in the process by which you selected the five
delegates, all supporters of the 'israeli' government's campaign against
the indigenous native population of Palestine who, unlike 'israelis', have
lived there since time immemorial, as 'expert delegates' to the
'International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance', a group that slanderously
declares that anyone, including many New Zealand Jews, who does not
support the 'israeli' government's crimes committed against the
Palestinian people is 'anti-semitic'.

 

I am particularly deeply interested in why Shoshana Maasland (nee Shoshan
Max, i.e. Dame Lesley Max's daughter), was considered an appropriate
'expert' to go on this junket for opponents of Palestinian
self-determination. She doesn't appear to have published any academic
research on the subject of the Holocaust (in common the case with the
majority of other 'experts' you selected). She hasn't even published
articles in non-academic publications supporting 'israel' against the
Palestinian people, which is the purpose of the IHRA, as is at least the
case for the likes of Paul Moon, so it is difficult to see what expert
knowledge she would provide besides carrying Dame Max's bags.

 

I am requesting all information held by MFAT in regards the selection of
these 'experts'. That should include information that MFAT employees
recall from in-person or phone/internet conversations with outside groups
such as the NZJC, who one presumes made the actual selection, rather than
our elected government or independent public servants.

 

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:

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

·         [5]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.

 

Ngā mihi

 

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

 

show quoted sections