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MFAT leak inquiry widened

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MFAT leak inquiry widened

3News NZ

Prime Minister John Key has previously said around 20 people have access to the highly sensitive papers (Photo: AAP)

Prime Minister John Key has previously said around 20 people have access to the highly sensitive papers (Photo: AAP)

New information shows a Ministry of Foreign Affairs investigation has been widened to hunt out the person blamed for confidential leaks.

Three Cabinet papers, as well as internal memos and details of staff pay, were leaked to Labour's Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Phil Goff, earlier this year, when the Government started on plans to make cut-backs at the Ministry.

The leaks also included the future of overseas posts and the organisation’s financial position.

In a move that was previously unknown, instructions to investigator Paula Rebstock were changed only three weeks into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs probe, with an explicit request that she find the person responsible for the embarrassing leaks.

The letter, from State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie, released under the Official Information Act, also instructs Ms Rebstock to look into the environment within which MFAT was operating during the period the information was leaked.

Prime Minister John Key has previously said around 20 people have access to the highly sensitive papers.

It is still unknown when the investigation will be completed.

3 News/RadioLIVE

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Comments

5/08/2012 12:11:19 a.m.

maria wrote:

If around 20 people have access to highly sensitive papers as the prime minister thinks perhaps there could be more, or less. Please would the person/s stand up; Can this ever happen in a place like that?

4/08/2012 5:37:15 p.m.

Rob wrote:

So, MFAT people will be punished for having enough moral courage to expose the madness of our current government? Well, that's why it's called moral courage, I guess.