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This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Official Information request 'Trade relations with Israel.'.


 
 
New Zealand Ministry of 
 
Foreign Affairs and Trade 
Manatū Aorere   
12 January 2024 
195 Lambton Quay 
Private Bag 18−901 
 
Wellington 6160 
 
New Zealand 
 
Jake Benge 
T    +64 4 439 8000 
[FYI request #24785 email] 
F    +64 4 472 9596 
 
OIA 28907 
 
Tēnā koe Jake Benge 
 
I refer to your email of 19 November 2023 in which you request the following under the Official 
Information Act 1982 (OIA): 
‘all information and documentation pertaining to trade with Israel. This encompasses any 
and all communications with the Israeli Government and lobby groups, both within New 
Zealand and Israel. Additionally, I am seeking any correspondence between Members of 
Parliament and Israeli officials and/or business-related entities or individuals.’ 
 
On 27 November 2023, we emailed you to clarify and refine your request as follows: 
 
1. Will you accept a refinement for the first portion of your request to be for: 
Formal advice to Ministers predominantly regarding trade with Israel (i.e. where 50% 
or more of the item is on the topic or, the title of the item includes the term that was 
asked for). 
 
2. Will you accept a refinement for the second portion of your request to be for: 
Formal communication between MFAT and the Israeli Government that predominately 
relates to trade with Israel. 
 
3. You asked for communications between MFAT and lobby groups relating to trade 
with Israel. Please list the organisations that you define as lobby groups. 
 
4. Will you accept a refinement of the timeframe of all portions of your request to be 
for 1 calendar year. Please specify which year you would like? 
 
On 28 November 2023 you responded and clarified: 
 
I am happy with what you've stated in 1, 2 and 4. 
 
For 4, may I please date it from one year today (28th of November 2022 - 28th 
November 2023) 
 
The lobby groups (3) I am interested in are the Israeli Business Innovation Hub, Israel 
Institute of New Zealand and although not a lobby group in Israel, may I also include 
the Auckland Chamber of Commerce (pertaining to Israel only)? 
 
 
 
e   [MFAT request email]  
w   www.mfat.govt.nz 
 
Page 2 of 3
 
 
As such your request has been refined to: 
 
1.  Formal advice to Ministers predominantly regarding trade with Israel (i.e. 
where 50% or more of the item is on the topic or, the title of the item includes 
the term that was asked for). 
2.  Formal communication between MFAT and the Israeli Government that 
predominately relates to trade with Israel 
3.  communications between MFAT and Israeli Business Innovation Hub, Israel 
Institute of New Zealand and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce relating to 
trade with Israel 
4.  The timeframe of this request is from 28 November 2022 to 28 November 
2023. 
 
In response to part one of your request, no formal advice has been provided to Ministers on 
trade with Israel in this timeframe. Therefore, this part of your request is refused under section 
18(e) of the OIA, as the information requested does not exist. 
 
Regarding part two of your request, there has been no formal communication between the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (the Ministry) and the Israeli Government that 
predominately relates to trade with Israel in this timeframe. Therefore, this part of your request 
is refused under section 18(e) of the OIA, as the information requested does not exist.  
 
However, on 19 March 2023, Ministry officials had formal consultations with Israeli officials in 
which trade was a small part of the agenda. This information is contained within the following 
two documents: 
 
1.  The technology, science, innovation, trade and economic relations briefing contained 
within the briefing pack titled; Foreign Ministry Consultations, New Zealand – Israel, 
17 March 2023; and 
 
2.  FORMAL MESSAGE: ISRAEL: FOREIGN MINISTRY CONSULTATIONS, TEL-AVIV, 19 
MARCH is a post-meeting email that contains some information in scope of your 
request. 
 
Please find the documents listed above attached. We have withheld some information under the 
following sections of the OIA:  
 
6(a): to avoid prejudicing the security or defence of New Zealand or the international 
relations of the New Zealand Government;  
 
6(b)(i): to protect the passing of information from another government on a confidential 
basis; 
 
9(2)(g)(i): to protect the free and frank expression of opinions by departments; and 
 
9(2)(j): to avoid prejudice to negotiations. 
 
Regarding part three of your request, there have been no communications between the Ministry 
and the Israeli Business Innovation Hub, the Israel Institute of New Zealand, or the Auckland 
Chamber of Commerce relating to trade with Israel in this timeframe. Therefore, this part of 
your request is refused under section 18(e) of the OIA, as the information requested does not 
exist. 
 
 

 
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Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official information 
requests where possible. Therefore, our response to your request (with your personal information 
removed) may be published on the Ministry website: www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/contact-
us/official-information-act-responses/  
 
If you have any questions about this decision, you can contact us by email at: 
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the 
Ombudsman of this decision by contacting www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 
0800 802 602. 
 
Nāku noa, nā 
 
Sarah Corbett 
for Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade