MFAT documentation regarding the United States recognition of Cook Islands and Niue as sovereign independent states
Tim Herewini made this Official Information request to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
This request has an unknown status. We're waiting for Tim Herewini to read recent responses and update the status.
From: Tim Herewini
Dear Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
Regarding the United States Government issuance of two statements from President Biden on 25 September 2023 which appear on the whitehouse.gov website:
'On the Recognition of the Cook Islands and the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations'
[https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room... and 'On the Recognition of Niue and the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations'
[https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room... and noting the seeming absence of any official public response in writing from MFAT or from the beehive.govt.nz website either before of after those statements were made, and noting those statements do not contain any reference to New Zealand or any constitutional relationship whatsoever; and further noting the responses from Prime Minister Hipkins quoted in an RNZ news item of 26 September 2023 inter alia: "So in order to recognise those specific countries, the wording that they use is they recognise their sovereignty but actually they also recognise, through diplomatic channels, the unique constitutional relationship that those countries have with New Zealand as well," [https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/paci... please provide the following information:
All material to, from or within MFAT that touches on this matter of US recognition, including:
a. public statements,
b. correspondence,
c. advice from other government departments,
d. diplomatic channels through which the unique constitutional relationship has been articulated,
and in particular documentation to establish when MFAT knew of the matter.
Yours faithfully,
Tim Herewini
From: ENQUIRIES
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Kia ora Tim Herewini
Thank you for your OIA request received on 15 January 2024 for:
All material to, from or within MFAT that touches on this matter of US recognition, including:
a. public statements,
b. correspondence,
c. advice from other government departments, d. diplomatic channels through which the unique constitutional relationship has been articulated, and in particular documentation to establish when MFAT knew of the matter.
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 note that our response letter to you (with your personal details redacted), and any enclosed documents, may be published on the Ministry’s website.
Please also note that your request is formally due after the OIA summer holiday period (25 December 2023 to 15 January 2024), which are not considered working days as set out in section 2(1) of the OIA, however the Ministry will seek to provide you with a decision on your request as soon as possible.
Ngâ mihi
Executive Services Division
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatû Aorere
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From: ESD
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Tçnâ koe Tim Herewini
I am writing concerning your Official Information Act request below, to
advise that responding to your request as currently framed would capture a
significant volume of information. As such, it is likely that your request
will be refused under section 18(f) of the OIA, as it would require
substantial collation and research.
Accordingly, I am seeking your agreement to refine your request to be for:
1. Public statements made by MFAT on the issue of the United States
recognition of Cook Islands and Niue in the period 1 February 2023 to
30 September 2023.
2. Correspondence to the US Embassy in New Zealand from MFAT on the issue
of the United States recognition of Cook Islands and Niue and NZ’s
constitutional relationship with the Cook Islands and Niue in the
period 1 February 2023 to 30 September 2023.
3. Advice received by MFAT from other New Zealand Government Agencies on
the issue of the United States recognition of Cook Islands and Niue in
the period 1 February 2023 to 30 September 2023.
4. The explanation of the constitutional relationship between New Zealand
and Cook Islands and Niue provided to the US Embassy in New Zealand by
MFAT.
5. Information that establishes the date on which MFAT was made aware of
the United States intention to recognise Cook Islands and Niue.
Please note, it is likely that we will need to withhold information from
documents in scope of your request.
Please confirm if you are happy to proceed with the refined request above,
by Monday 12 February 2024. If we do not hear from you, we will proceed
with your original request.
Please note, any clarification or amendment of a request is considered to
be a new request for the purpose of calculating the maximum statutory
timeframe for response (section 15(1AA) of the OIA refers).
Ngâ mihi
Whatupûaho | Executive Services Division
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatû Aorere
---------------------------------
195 Lambton Quay, Private Bag 18901, Wellington 5045, New Zealand
[1]www.mfat.govt.nz | [2]www.safetravel.govt.nz
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From: ESD
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Kia ora Tim Herewini
Please see attached our response to your OIA request of 15 January 2024.
Ngā mihi
Whatupūaho | 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@01D762BA.46DA26E0
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From: Tim Herewini
Dear ESD,
I note your response dated 13 February 2024 refusing my request for the reason there will be excessive material. I wish this request to proceed, therefore please refine the request as you have suggested, ie:
1. Public statements made by MFAT on the issue of the United States recognition
of Cook Islands and Niue in the period 1 February 2023 to 30 September 2023.
2. Correspondence to the US Embassy in New Zealand from MFAT on the issue of
the United States recognition of Cook Islands and Niue and NZ’s constitutional
relationship with the Cook Islands and Niue in the period 1 February 2023 to 30
September 2023.
3. Advice received by MFAT from other New Zealand Government Agencies on the
issue of the United States recognition of Cook Islands and Niue in the period 1
February 2023 to 30 September 2023.
4. The explanation of the constitutional relationship between New Zealand and
Cook Islands and Niue provided to the US Embassy in New Zealand by MFAT.
5. Information that establishes the date on which MFAT was made aware of the
United States intention to recognise Cook Islands and Niue.
Yours sincerely,
Tim Herewini
From: ESD
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Tēnā koe Tim Herewini
I am writing concerning your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request of 13 February 2024 which asks for:
1. Public statements made by MFAT on the issue of the United States recognition of Cook Islands and Niue in the period 1 February 2023 to 30 September 2023.
2. Correspondence to the US Embassy in New Zealand from MFAT on the issue of the United States recognition of Cook Islands and Niue and NZ’s constitutional relationship with the Cook Islands and Niue in the period 1 February 2023 to 30 September 2023.
3. Advice received by MFAT from other New Zealand Government Agencies on the issue of the United States recognition of Cook Islands and Niue in the period 1 February 2023 to 30 September 2023.
4. The explanation of the constitutional relationship between New Zealand and Cook Islands and Niue provided to the US Embassy in New Zealand by MFAT.
5. Information that establishes the date on which MFAT was made aware of the United States intention to recognise Cook Islands and Niue.
This email is to advise that we will need to extend the time limit for responding to you by 20 working days, to 11 April 2024.
This is because the consultations necessary to make a decision on your request are such that a proper response cannot reasonably be made within the original time frame (section 15A(1)(b) of the OIA refers).
However, if this process is completed before 11 April 2024, the response will be sent to you as soon as possible.
If you have any questions, you can contact us by email at: DM [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.
Ngā mihi
Whatupūaho | Executive Services Division New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Manatū Aorere
195 Lambton Quay, Private Bag 18901, Wellington 5045, New Zealand www.mfat.govt.nz | www.safetravel.govt.nz
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From: ESD
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Kia ora Tim Herewini
Please see attached our response to your OIA request of 13 February 2024.
Ngā mihi
Whatupūaho | 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
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