133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
12 June 2023
James
By email: [FYI request #22944 email]
Ref:
H2023026131
Tēnā koe James
Response to your request for official information Thank you for your follow-up request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to Manatū
Hauora (the Ministry of Health) on 29 May 2023. You requested:
“…Does Mr Tukaki hold all of the above mentioned tertiary qualifications which are listed
in the Suicide Prevention Australia Annual Financial Report 2022. A simple Yes or No is
all that is required.”
While it is permissible to seek information by asking questions under the Act, a distinction must
be drawn between questions which seek information that is ‘held’, and questions which seek to
elicit an opinion or enter into a debate.
The primary purpose of the Act is to allow requesters to seek information ‘held’ by agencies. It is
not a mechanism for requesters to seek an explanation or opinion from an agency. Rather than
refuse your request under section 18(g)(i) of the Act at this stage, I am again referring you to the
responses you have been previously given on this matter:
• 6 March 2023: H2023019104
• 9 May 2023: H2023021713, H2023023611, H2023022483
As you have been advised on several occasions, the Ministry considers the requested
information as subject to confidentiality in accordance with the Ministry’s recruitment
process, and privacy requirements associated with that process. There is not considered to be a
countervailing public interest in the release of further information, given the information already
released and having regard to the interests of preservation of personal privacy as
acknowledged in the purposes of the Act.
Further, please note a repeat request for the same information that has been sought previously
could potentially be regarded as frivolous or vexatious, in certain circumstances. Should you
continue to ask for this information, the Ministry may use section 18(h) of the Act to decline your
request in the future.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this decision, please feel
free to contact the OIA Services Team on: [email address].
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Manatū Hauora website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-
official-information-act-requests. Nāku noa, nā
Robyn Shearer
Deputy Chief Executive and Deputy Director-General
Te Pou Mahi Pūnaha | System Performance and Monitoring
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