Dear Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade,

In 1971, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 was passed, taking the China seat from the Republic of China and giving it to the People's Republic of China. New Zealand voted against this resolution.

I would like to request under the Official Information Act:

* any information (including Cabinet Papers, briefings, or correspondence) related to Resolution 2758, and the reasons why New Zealand voted the way it did. I am particularly interested in any correspondence New Zealand received or sent from/to other countries, such as the United States, the ROC, PRC, or USSR.

I am aware such information would usually be withheld under the 'prejudice international relations of NZ' exemption to the OIA, but I would request given the amount of time that has passed that the Ministry consider releasing any information that it has.

Although it is not required I understand it is often helpful to spell out the reason for a request. I am a student of Political Science and Law at the University of Canterbury, and when I was researching the United Nations I came across this piece of history. I am very interested and curious to know the reasons behind New Zealand's vote on the issue, given the Cold War context, and the massive amount of lobbying that must have occurred around this Resolution, given a Permanent Security Council seat was at stake.

I am aware that given the time that has passed information relevant to my request maybe difficult to find. Feel free to contact me if there is anyway I can be of assistance in clarifying my request.

Yours faithfully,

Joshua Grainger