IR-01-24-9838
27 March 2024
Mark Brown
[FYI request #26070 email]
Tēnā koe Mark
Request for information
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request dated 21 March 2024. You
requested:
It has been reported in the Media that when past Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
has returned to New Zealand, she had six body guards with her.
1) We assume these body guards are some type of Police protection offered to
past Prime Ministers. Would you confirm if the body guards are that provided
via a government department?
2) If they are government provided, please provide;
i.
the number of persons (bodyguards/police etc) used per time,
ii.
how many times they have been used,
iii.
and the cost for this services per use.
3) In comparison, please outline the same details for the other past Prime
Ministers; Chris Hipkins, Bill English, and John Key.
4) For how long is this service made available to past Prime Ministers?
Police does not release any information about the protection services that may or may not
be provided for any individual, as doing so would be likely to endanger those under Police
protection. The information requested is withheld under the following sections of the OIA:
• section 6(c) as the making available of the information would be likely to prejudice
the maintenance of the law, including the prevention, investigation, and detection
of offenses, and the right to a fair trial.
• section 6(d) as the making available of the information would likely to endanger
the safety of any person.
• Section 9(2)(c) as withholding the information is necessary to avoid prejudice to
measures protecting the health or safety of members of the public.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this
decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Police National Headquarters
180 Molesworth Street. PO Box 3017, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
Telephone: 04 474 9499. Fax: 04 498 7400. www.police.govt.nz
Please note that as part of its commitment to openness and transparency, Police
proactively releases some information and documents that may be of interest to the
public. An anonymised version of this response may be publicly released on the New
Zealand Police website.
Ngā mihi
Superintendent Penelope Gifford
Director Tactical Operations