Ministerial Overseas Travel 04-12-2023 to 06-12-2023

The pack comprises the following documents:

• the December 2023 Cabinet paper and associated minute of decision Proposed Overseas Travel: Hon Judith Collins KC [CAB-23-SUB-0475 and CAB-23-MIN-0475]
• the January 2024 Cabinet paper and associated minute of decision Report on Overseas Travel: Hon Judith Collins KC - December 2023 [CAB-24-SUB-0006 and CAB-24-MIN-0006]

Certain information is withheld, where the making available of the information would be likely to prejudice:

• the security or defence of New Zealand or the international relations of the Government of New Zealand [section 6(a)]; and
• the entrusting of information to the Government of New Zealand on the basis of confidence by the Government of any other country [section 6(b)(i)].

In addition, certain information has been withheld in order to:

• maintain the constitutional conventions for the timing being which protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials [section 9(2)(f)(iv)]; and

• to 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 department or organisation in the course of their duty [section 9(2)(g)(i)].

Where information is withheld pursuant to section 9(2), it is not considered that the public interest in this information outweighs the need to protect it.