20 June 2023
Ref: DOIA 2223-2482
Liz Blue
[FYI request #22611 email]
Tēnā koe Liz
Thank you for your email of 28 April 2023 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the fol owing information:
• Any advice provided by MBIE to Ministers in the last five years on the cost and benefits of
hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2034.
• Any documents provided to Ministers in the last five years which reference potentially hosting
the Commonwealth Games in 2034.
Please find attached the documentation relevant to your request. 12 documents have been identified in
scope of your request. I am releasing 11 of these documents to you in this response. I am refusing one
document under section 18(d) of the Act, as it has already been made publicly available. This document
can be accessed from the following link:
Oral Item: Update on Commonwealth Games 2034 Process – Minute of Decision (mbie.govt.nz)
The documents, and the decisions as to their release, are outlined in the following table:
#
Date
Description/Title
Withholding grounds
1
21 Jul 2022
Email: 2223-0240 Commonwealth Games scoping report
s 9(2)(a)
2
20 Jul 2022
Briefing: 2223-0240 Commonwealth Games scoping report
s 9(2)(a);
s 9(2)(ba)(i);
s 9(2)(f)(iv); &
s 9(2)(g)(i)
3
21 Jul 2022
Email: Final Scope Report
s 9(2)(a)
4
Jul 2022
Scope Investigation
s 9(2)(ba)(i);
s 9(2)(d)
s 9(2)(f)(iv); &
s 9(2)(g)(i)
5
27 Jul 2022
Email: Stuff media enquiry CGF
Release in full
6
21 Dec 2022 FW: FYI: Commonwealth Games update
s 9(2)(a);
s 9(2)(f)(iv) &
s 9(2)(g)(i)
7
19 Dec 2022 NZOC Comm Games Letter- Dec 2022
Release in full
8
20 Feb 2023 Email: ODEV email update
Some information
withheld as out of
scope
9
21 Feb 2023 Email: RE ODEV email update
Some information
withheld as out of
scope
10 6 Apr 2023
Email: 2223-3329 Proactive release Comm Games Cabinet
s 9(2)(a)
Minute
11 22 Feb 2023 DEV-23-MIN-0009 Minute
Refused under section
18(d)
12 13 Apr 2023 Email: Re: 2223-3329 Proactive release Comm Games
s 9(2)(a)
Cabinet minute
Please note some information has been withheld under the following sections of the Act:
9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural persons;
9(2)(ba)(i), to protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence or which any
person has been or could be compelled to provide under the authority of any enactment, where
the making available of the information would be likely to prejudice the supply of similar
information, or information from the same source, and it is in the public interest that such
information should continue to be supplied;
9(2)(d), to avoid prejudice to the substantial economic interests of New Zealand;
9(2)(f)(iv), to maintain the constitutional conventions for the time being which protect the
confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials;
9(2)(g)(i), to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression
of opinions by or between or to Ministers of the Crown or members of an organisation or officers
and employees of any public service agency or organisation in the course of their duty;
I do not consider that the withholding of this information is outweighed by public interest considerations
in making the information available.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further assistance,
please contact
[email address].
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.
Nāku noa, nā
Kylie Hawker Green
Manager, Major Events
Labour, Science, and Enterprise