On behalf of PHANZA, Susan Butterworth recently wrote to the Hon. Nathan Guy, Minister of Internal Affairs and minister responsible for the National Library and Archives NZ, asking him to release (under the Official Information Act) documents relating to the planned merger of these agencies. The Minister's reponse is included here. Also attached is PHANZA's letter to the Office of the Ombudsmen asking that body to investigate and review the Minister's refusal to release this infomation.

PHANZA encourages concerned members to write to the Ombudsmen's Office to add their voices to the campaign for transparency on this issue. Members are welcome to use Susan's letter as a model, and guidance on how to make a complaint is also available from the Office of the Ombudsmen website. Useful information on official information can also be found on the Ministry of Justice website.