15 May 2024
Ref: DOIA 2324-2301
J Beddeck
Ema
il: [FYI request #26478 email] Dear Mr Beddeck
Thank you for your email of 19 April 2024 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment (MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following
information:
I am interested in New Zealand’s position regarding the International Lunar Research Station
(ILRS), a panned lunar installation led by the China Natoinal Space Administration (CNSA).
I note that New Zealand has signed the Artemis Accords, a similar program for lunar exploration
led by the United States. If you could please give the following information.
•
Has the New Zealand Space Agency ever had plans to insquire about signing an MoU with
the CNSA as it relates to space policy? Please release all records mentioning and relating
to the ILRS including documents, email chains, minutes, etc.
•
Please provide this information in an accessible, searchable format without a watermark.
If any information needs to be withheld from a document, please ensure this is not done
in a way that makes the surrounding content (such as other content on the same page)
inaccessible.
•
Please provide both the reason for removal of information as well as the grounds in
support of that reason as outlined by section 17(2)(b) of the Act.
I attach the following information that is within scope of the request:
A table setting out the documents containting information that is within scope of your request is
attached as Annex One. Part of the information has been withheld under the following sections
of the Act:
• Section 6(a): Prejudice the security or defence of New Zealand or the international
relations of the Government of New Zealand.
• Section 9(2)(b)(a): Protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence or
which any person has been or could be compelled to provide under the authority of any
enactment, where the making available of the information – Would be likely to prejudice
the supply of similar information, or information from the same source, and it is in the
public interest that such information should continue to be supplied; or would be likely
otherwise to damage the public interest.
• Section 9(2)(g)(i): Maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through – The free and
frank expression of opinions by or between or to Ministers of the Crown or members of
an organisation or officers and employees of any public service agency or organisation in
the course of their duty; or the protection of such Ministers, members of organisations,
officers, and employees from improper pressure or harassment.
We have considered the public interest test under section 9(1) in respect of the information
withheld under section 9(2), and do not consider that withholding this information is outweighed
by other considerations that render it desirable, in the public interest, for the information to be
released.
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.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Johnson
Manager Space Policy and Sector Development
Science, Innovation and International
Annex One: Documents released
No.
Title
Decision
OIA Section/s or
Previously
reason for
Released
redactions
1
[Title withheld] meeting email,
Withheld
6(a), 9(2)(b)(a)
No
agenda and minutes of meeting
2
Lunar Policy Priorities Draft
Withheld
6(a), 9(2)(b)(a)
No
Report and email
3
Lunar Policy Priorities Final
Release in full
Not applicable
No
Report
4
New Zealand Science &
Release in part Out of scope
No
Technology Quarterly Roundup
– Issue 13, September 2022
5
Exploration of Moon and Mars
Release in part 6(a) and out of
No
presentation
scope
6
Wider context analysis of
Release in part 6(a), 9(2)(g)(i)
Yes
signing Accords
7
A business case for space debris Release in full
Not applicable
No
