5 July 2024
James Webb
[FYI request #27355 email]
Ref: PMO OIA 297-2023-24
Dear James
Official Information Act request: Delegation and advice for visit to Japan
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request, received on 24 June 2024.
You requested:
“1. How were the NZ delegation to Japan in June 2024 chosen? Please provide any
criteria that was used and/or considered.
2. Can you also provide a copy of all advice you received regarding the trip to Japan
and the delegation.”
This office wrote advising you that question one of your request has been partially
transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and New Zealand Trade and
Enterprise (NZTE). MFAT and NZTE will respond to you directly in relation to question one
with any information they may hold.
Identified as relevant to question two of your request are some briefings provided by the
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Policy Advisory Group to the Prime Minister.
These briefings are provided to the Prime Minister in confidence to support him in his role as
leader of the Government and chair of Cabinet. These briefings are withheld in their entirety
under the following sections of the Act:
• section 6(a), to protect the security or defence of New Zealand or the international
relations of New Zealand.
• section 9(2)(f)(iv), to maintain the confidentiality of advice tendered by or to Ministers
and officials.
• section 9(2)(g)(i), to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free
and frank expression of opinion.
In making my decision, I have considered the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of
the Act. No public interest has been identified that would be sufficient to outweigh the
reasons for withholding that information.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
Yours sincerely
Cameron Burrows
Chief of Staff