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Release of previously classified MFAT files to the public

Today sees the release of more than 500 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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30 August 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 process to ensure New Zealand’s interests are protected.

The files released date from the 1930s to the 1990s and relate primarily to Viet Nam, in addition to a variety of files opened following research requests from the public.

The Viet Nam files address topics covering the range of New Zealand’s involvement with this nation in addition to wider subject matter, such as the Viet Nam war, political affairs, external relations, aid, and technical and economic assistance. The release includes a variety of files of particular historical interest. These range from detailed New Zealand embassy reporting on the war, including the 1968 Tet Offensive; to papers about the full range of New Zealand economic and technical assistance during this period, including surgical and medical services teams; to papers about the New Zealand evacuation from Saigon.

Other historical files in the release were reviewed and declassified by MFAT in response to requests from members of the public. They cover a diverse range of countries, topics and periods, from Western Samoa’s independence celebrations in the 1960s, to Canadian and Chilean warship and aircraft visits from the 1950s to 1970s. Also included is a biographical file on New Zealand’s wartime prime minister the Rt. Hon. Peter Fraser, including messages of condolences on his death in 1950.

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. Researchers can also request files in person in the public reading room of Archives House.

  • 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.