Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street
DX SX10088 | Wel ington
T 04 918 8800 |
F 04 918 8820
[email address] | www.justice.govt.nz
9 May 2024
New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties
[FYI request #26410 email]
Our ref: OIA 111348
Tēnā koe
Official Information Act request: Open Government Partnership National Action Plan
Thank you for your email of 11 April 2024 requesting, under the Of icial Information Act 1982
(the Act), information relating to New Zealand's Open Government Partnership Fourth
National Action Plan. Specifically, you requested:
1) Ministry of Justice internal guidance and standards for consultation exercises,
including any forms that must be completed by officials deciding whether to consult the
public or a more limited number of people or organisations, and whether to use the
Ministry's online consultation tools.
2) Any advice, briefings or completed forms in relation to deciding on the form and
scope of consultation regarding Commitment 7 of New Zealand's fourth National
Action Plan as a member of the Open Government Partnership.
3) A copy of all submissions received in response to the Ministry's recent consultation
on Commitment 7 of New Zealand's fourth National Action Plan as a member of the
Open Government Partnership.
4) A copy of all correspondence and meetings notes and presentations shared with or
received from: the Ombudsman, the Legislative Design Advisory Committee, the
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Parliamentary Counsel Office, and the
Office of the Clerk regarding Commitment 7 of New Zealand's fourth National Action
Plan as a member of the Open Government Partnership.
In response to part 1 of your request, the information sought does not exist. Therefore, I am
refusing this part of your request under section 18(e) of the Act.
In response to part 2, please refer to table 1 below, which details the document in scope of
this part of your request and my decisions on its release. Some information has been
withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the privacy of natural persons.
In response to part 3, I can advise that this information wil soon be published online. I am,
therefore, refusing this part of your request under section 18(d) of the Act. Please refer to
ogp.org.nz/new-zealands-plan/fourth-national-action-plan, where the information wil be
published in due course.
In response to part 4, please refer to table 2 below, which details the documents in scope
and my decisions on their release. Some information has been withheld under the following
provisions of the Act:
• section 9(2)(a) to protect privacy of natural persons and
• section 9(2)(g)(i) to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free
and frank expression of opinions.
In withholding information under section 9 I have considered the public interest and do not
consider it outweighs withholding the information at this time.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website at: justice.govt.nz/about/official-information-act-requests/oia-responses/.
If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the
Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the Act. The Office of the Ombudsman may be
contacted by email to [email address] or by phone on 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Emily Douglas
General Manager (Acting), Civil & Constitutional
Table 1: Documents in scope of part 2 of your request
Document
Number
Title
Document type
Date
Comments on
release
Some information
1
Draft Engagement
Internal Working
Plan - Civil Society
Draft Document
19/12/2023 withheld under
s9(2)(a).
Table 2: Documents in scope of part 4 of your request
Document
Number
Title
Document type
Date
Comments on
release
Email with Office
Some
1
OIA exceptions in legislation
of the
9/06/2023 information
Ombudsman
withheld under
s9(2)(a).
Some
2
A query - research around
Email with Office
information
exemptions to the OIA
of the Clerk
11/12/2023 withheld under
s9(2)(a).
Some
3
Meeting with Ombudsman
Draft Meeting
information
Notes
13/12/2023 withheld under
s9(2)(g)(i).
Assistance with CabGuide
Some
4
connection - Open
information
Government Partnership
Email with DPMC 20/12/2023 withheld under
NAP4
s9(2)(a).
Meeting with Jenny Vickers,
5
DPMC to discuss Cabinet
Draft Meeting
Guide
Notes
17/01/2024 Released in full.
Some
6
Meeting with Office of the
Draft Meeting
information
Clerk
Notes
30/01/2024 withheld under
s9(2)(a). *
Open Government
Partnership Fourth National
7
Action Plan: Commitment 7 – Draft document
15/02/2024 Released in full.
OIA exemptions research
summary
Some
8
LDAC meeting notes
Draft Meeting
information
Notes
15/02/2024 withheld under
s9(2)(g)(i).
Potential for Discussion? -
Open Government
Some
9
Partnership - Commitment
Email with PCO
8/03/2024 information
within the Fourth National
withheld under
Action Plan
s9(2)(a).
Update around Commitment 7 Email with the
Some
10
of the Open Government
Office of the
3/04/2024 information
Partnership
Ombudsman
withheld under
s9(2)(a).
*Please note: In document number 6 (highlighted), the notes taken by Justice at the meeting suggest that a
potential reduction to the Office of the Clerk’s budget “could result in the scrutiny initiative being stopped”.
However, it is important that we clarify that what was actually meant was that a potential budget reduction “could
affect capacity for legislative scrutiny advice”.
