EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
8 April 2024
Amy Taylor
[FYI request #25647 email]
Ref: OIA-2023/24-0506
Dear Amy Taylor
Official Information Act request relating to information about King Charles III
Coronation Medal
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on
7 February 2024. You requested:
“I am writing to submit an Official Information Act request seeking access to any and al
correspondence related to the decision-making process regarding the issuance or non-
issuance of the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Specifical y, I am requesting access to al emails, letters, memoranda, meeting
minutes, reports, or any other forms of correspondence exchanged between officials,
departments, or any involved parties concerning the decision-making process
regarding the creation, approval, or rejection of the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Please include any discussions, deliberations, considerations, recommendations,
objections, or endorsements related to the establishment of this medal, as wel as any
factors, criteria, or policies that were taken into account during the decision-making
process.“
The time frame for responding to your request was extended under section 15A of the Act by
28 working days because it necessitated a search through a large quantity of information
before a decision could be made on the request. Thank you for your patience as we
processed your request. We are now in a position to respond.
Information being released
We have interpreted your request as relating to the decision-making process regarding the
issuance or non-issuance of a New Zealand medal recognising The King’s coronation.
We have decided to release the relevant parts of the attached document. Some information
has been withheld under the fol owing section for the Act:
section 9(2)(g)(i), to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and
frank expression of opinion.
4851983
CABINET OFFICE, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON 6011, NEW ZEALAND
Telephone: +64 (4) 830 5010. Email: [email address]
www.dpmc.govt.nz
The United Kingdom (UK) also issued a King Charles III Coronation Medal. Decisions in
relation to the creation of this medal were taken by the United Kingdom. Eligibility criteria is
available here:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64cb653b2322ce000dcd23b7/Coronation_Me
dal_eligibility_criteria.docx.
Some New Zealanders were granted approval to accept and wear the UK medal as a foreign
honour. The process of approving foreign honours is set out in the Rules relating to the
acceptance and wearing of Commonwealth, foreign and international Honours by
New Zealand citizens available on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
(DPMC) website here:
https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zealand-royal-honours/new-zealand-royal-
honours-system/rules-relating-to-acceptance-and-wearing.
In making my decision, in accordance with section 9(1) of the Act I have considered whether
the public interest in disclosure outweighs the need to withhold the information, and I have
concluded that it does not.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
This response wil be published on DPMC’s website during our regular publication cycle.
Typical y, information is released monthly, or as otherwise determined. Your personal
information including name and contact details wil be removed for publication.
Yours sincerely
Rachel Hayward
Clerk of the Executive Council
4851983
CABINET OFFICE, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON 6011, NEW ZEALAND
Telephone: +64 (4) 830 5010. Email: [email address]
www.dpmc.govt.nz