2 April 2024
John Luke
[FYI request #26017 email]
REF: DOIA-2324-0702
Tēnā koe John
Response to your Official Information Act 1982 request
Thank you for your fol ow up email of 6 March 2024 to the Ministry for Ethnic Communities
(the Ministry) requesting the following information under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act):
1) What database you are referring to and are you able to share this data base to me?
2) what criteria has been provided by the Minister in this event- Lunar New Year
event.
3) May I also request the draft list you have sent to the Minister office.
4) With regards to the official invitation, how do you send them out? by email or post,
can you please show me a sample invitation that you have sent out…
In response to your request, the database is a list of external stakeholders that the Ministry
has previously engaged with and/or wish to be updated about its happenings. The database
contains the names and other identifying information of members of the public. As such, the
database is withheld in full under section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the privacy of natural
persons.
The criteria provided by the Minister for Ethnic Communities endeavoured to ensure
balanced representation of ethnic community groups, associations, and individuals at the
event. Consideration was also given to key community demographics especially those who
celebrate Lunar New Year traditionally, including women, youth, faith communities, and
regional locations. A smaller set of invitations were also extended to groups that may not
traditionally and/or previously participated to encourage dialogue, understanding, and
connections. Additional y, Minister Lee changed the name of the event from Chinese New
Year to Lunar New Yar to reflect and include the diversity of communities that observe and
celebrate the event in New Zealand.
The draft invitee’s list contains personal information of external stakeholder. Therefore, this
information has been withheld in full under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect the privacy
of natural persons.
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There were two types of invitations sent out for the Parliamentary Lunar New Year event.
One for the public (this includes diplomats) sent by the Ministry, and one for al Members of
Parliament sent by Minister Lee. RSVPS were managed by the Ministry and all invitations
were sent by email. Example templates for these invitations are included within this
response.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of our response
to your request. Information about how to contact the Ombudsman’s office is available at:
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone: 0800 802 602.
Please note, due to the public interest in our work, the Ministry may publish responses to
requests for official information on our website, shortly after the response has been sent. If
you have any queries about this, please feel free to contact our Ministerial Services team:
[email address].
Ngā mihi
Edward Firth
Director of Ministerial Services
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