New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
10 April 2024
195 Lambton Quay
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
Adam M
T +64 4 439 8000
F +64 4 472 9596
[FYI request #26009 email]
OIA 29248
Tēnā koe Adam M
I refer to Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request of 6 March 2024 to the Prime Minister for:
“- the number of tickets purchased for you and your delegation to fly to Australia
that day
- the ticket class: whether economy (the works etc,), premium, business
- the cost of these tickets
- information of those who had a ticket purchased to them: title, are they your office,
etc
- the names of those in your office who went: (precedence set by Simon Watts who
revealed the name and title of staffer who went to UAE with him :
https://fyi.org.nz/request/25237-cop-28-expenditure#incoming-97041 )
- were individuals airpoints numbers given during the ticket purchasing
- and any correspondence on the day of booking tickets to and from you/your office
staff.”
On 20 March 2024, part of your request was transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade (the Ministry) as one Ministry staff member travelled with the Prime Minister’s party to
Australia on 5 March 2024.
The Ministry purchased one plane ticket for travel to support the Prime Minister’s meetings with
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders on 5 March 2024. This fully refundable
contingency flight was booked on 28 February 2024.
The outwards ticket was for a works, flexi economy fare and the return ticket was for a business
class fare.
The total cost of the ticket, including fees was NZ$1508.82.
The ticket was for the Deputy Chief Executive (Policy).
Airpoints numbers were not specifically given during the ticket purchasing process. However,
Ministry staff airpoints numbers are held on file by the travel agent and routinely added to
bookings. Please note, as per Ministry policy, staff cannot use airpoints earned while travelling on
Ministry business for personal travel or to upgrade to a standard of travel for which they do not
otherwise meet the criteria. Airpoints earned on Ministry travel are only able to be used to offset
further Ministry-related travel costs.
e [email address]
w www.mfat.govt.nz
Page 2 of 2
There was no correspondence on the day of booking tickets to or from the office of the Prime
Minister. Therefore this part of your request is refused under section 18(e) of the OIA, as the
information you requested does not exist.
Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official information
requests where possible. Therefore, our response to your request (with your personal information
removed) may be published on the Ministry website: www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/contact-
us/official-information-act-responses/
If you have any questions about this decision, you can contact us by email at:
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman of this decision by contacting www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone
0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Sarah Corbett
for Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
