Dear Harwood Wilson
Thank you for your email on 21st Jan 2023.
Firstly I would like to apologise for not responding within the required timeframe. There has been a significant
change in my office due to recent events, and your request was not processed as it should have been.
In your email you requested the following information.
I request information as below for all records between 1 Sept 2022 to 22 January 2023:
1.
All email records between the office of Nanaia Mahuta and the Office of PM.
2.
All email records between the office of Nanaia Mahuta and her family members (at all known
levels of relation) that have government or local body roles.
3.
All email records between the office of Nanaia Mahuta and Jacinda Ardern.
4.
All text phone messages between the office of Nanaia Mahuta and Jacinda Ardern.
For the first request “All email records between the office of Nanaia Mahuta and the Office of PM” your
request is refused under Section 18(f) of the Act, on the grounds that it would take substantial collation by my
available office staff.
On the second request for “All email records between the office of Nanaia Mahuta and her family members (at
all known levels of relation) that have government or local body roles” I am refusing your request under
section 18(g) of the Act, on the grounds that the information does not exist.
On the third request, “All email records between the office of Nanaia Mahuta and Jacinda Ardern.” I consider
that the proceeding request covers this request for “All email records between the office of Nanaia Mahuta
and the Office of PM”, and therefore, the decision for that initial request would also apply.
Finally, on the remaining request, “All text phone messages between the office of Nanaia Mahuta and Jacinda
Ardern”, this is refused under section 9(2)(g)(i) of the ACT, as I consider these to be free and frank expressions
of opinion in nature.
You have the right, under section 28(3) of the Act, to seek an review by the Office of the Ombudsman. The
postal address of the Office of the Ombudsman is PO Box 10152, Wellington. Alternatively, you can phone
0800 802 602 or email [email address].
Yours faithfully,
Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control
Associate Minister for Māori Development