State Service Commissioner's statement on MFAT

The State Services Commissioner, Mr Michael Wintringham, commented today on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's involvement in Dr Brash's meeting with a group of United States senators.

"The Ministry has noted that it is normal practice of staff to attend official meetings and to keep a record, which is often circulated on a classified basis."

"In light of this, the public servants involved were obviously acting appropriately and were operating within the scope of the normal bounds of their duties."

"I do not comment on Ministers' use of the information provided by public servants," Mr Wintringham said.

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