1 �:-� .,1 Te Tari Taiwhenua
� .. ::· Internal Affairs
23 November 2023
Ministerial Services
45 Pipitea St, Thorndon
PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Phone +64 4 495 7200
Website: www.dia.govt.nz
John Luke
fyi-reg uest-24 716-eca le [email address]
Dear John Luke
Official Information Act request {OIA 2324-0318)
Thank you for your request for information dated 12 November 2023 made under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Department of Internal Affairs (the Department). You requested
the following information:
Dear Department of Internal Affairs,
I noted,
National wreath laying ceremony to commemorate Armistice Day I Ministry for
Culture and Heritage (mch.govt.nz)
For seating purposes, please RSVP to the Visits and Ceremonials Office at [email address].
May I kindly request how many people (general public) did actually RSVP to the Visits and
Ceremonials Office.
Also, may I kindly ask what other events are out there that you have invite (via public domain
like the one I noted above) the public to attend and ask them to RSVP. Please supply the list of
events from 1st Jan 2023 to 12 Nov 2023.
Response to your request
1. Mav I kindlv request how manv people (general public) did actuallv RSVP to the Visits and
Ceremonials Office.
The Department can confirm that no individual from the public RSVP'd to the Visits and Ceremonial
Office (VCO) for the national wreath laying ceremony on 11 November 2023 to commemorate
Armistice Day 2023.
Invitations were sent to specific individuals to RSVP as there was limited seating available. The public
were still notified that they could attend the event through public advertising (such as the link you
provided in your request). However, there was no requirement for them to RSVP as organised seating
was not available, except to those who were sent an invitation. If there were extra seats available due
to invited individuals not attending, then those seats could be filled by the public who attended.
The link you have provided for the article posted on the Ministry for Culture and Heritage website
states:
"For seating purposes, please RSVP to
the Visits and Ceremonials Office at
[email address]". It could be inferred from this that the public could RSVP for a seat. However,
the Department can confirm this was not the case.
2. Also, may I kin div ask what other events are out there that you have invite (via public domain
like the one I noted above) the public to attend and ask them to RSVP. Please supplv the list of
events from 1st Jan 2023 to 12 Nov 2023.
The following events were organised by VCO across New Zealand and were open for the public to
attend, however there was no requirement for them to RSVP:
• Anzac Day (Dawn Service) -25 April 2023
• Anzac Day (National Commemoration Service) -25 April 2023
• Atati.irk Memorial Wreath laying-25 April 2023
• He Ra Rakau Titapu, King Charles Ill Coronation Tree Planting -7 May 2023
• National Commemoration of Armistice Day -11 September 2023
We may publish this OIA response on www.dia.govt.nz (with your personal details having been
removed). Publishing responses to OIA requests increases the availability of information to the public
and is consistent with the purpose of the Act to enable effective participation in the making and
administration of laws and policies, and to promote the accountability of Ministers and officials.
If you have any concerns with the information in this response, you have a right to request an
investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the Act. Information on how to do
this is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or free phone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Briget Ridden
General Manager -Ministerial Services
Te Haumi -Enterprise Partnerships
Te Tari Taiwhenua -The Department of Internal Affairs
Page2 of2
