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Previously classified MFAT files released to the public

Today sees the release of more than 400 previously classified Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) files held by Archives New Zealand’s Wellington office, in a joint process between the two organisations.

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8 February 2023

Making the files available to the public is part of MFAT’s regular declassification programme, which sees records 25 years and older reviewed and declassified, subject to a vetting process to ensure New Zealand’s interests are protected.

The many files opened for public access include records created by the Ministry’s head office in Wellington, as well as by New Zealand overseas posts in Apia, Noumea, Hong Kong, and Saigon.

The files released date from the 1930s to the 1990s, and cover a wide variety of topics. Many relate to the Pacific, particularly the South Pacific Forum and South Pacific Bureau for Economic Cooperation (SPEC), which have evolved into the Pacific Islands Forum. These files cover a broad range of subject matter, including transportation, communications, fisheries and the environment, as well as economic, development, and cultural issues. Other historical files in the release relate to diverse countries and topics including China (1970s), Viet Nam (1960s-1970s), sporting tours (1960s), and Chile (1970s-1980s).

Interested to know more about the records?

  • You can view the official MFAT media statement, and a list of the files released, on the MFAT website. The list includes the full Archives New Zealand reference for each file.

  • You can request the files for viewing in our Wellington Reading Room. Use the release list on the MFAT website to identify files of interest, and their Archives references. The files can then be requested using the pre-order form available on the Archives New Zealand website, and viewed at Archives House, 10 Mulgrave Street, Wellington.

  • If you have any queries about requesting or viewing the files, please contact the Archives Research Services team using the ' Ask an archivist' form on the Archives New Zealand website, or telephone them at Archives New Zealand Wellington on +64 4 499 5595.