Inspection of Embassy Wellington and Constituent Post, New Zealand, Cook Islands, and Niue

Date Issued

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Submitting OIG

Department of State OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

Department of State

Report Number

ISP-I-26-08

Report Description

What OIG Inspected

OIG inspected the executive direction, policy and program implementation, resource management, and information management operations of Embassy Wellington. This inspection included Consulate General Auckland.

What OIG Found

Mission New Zealand’s Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim, and acting Deputy Chief of Mission generally complied with Department of State standards for tone at the top and standards of conduct, execution of foreign policy goals and objectives, adherence to internal management controls, security and emergency planning, and equal employment opportunity. The Front Office emphasized professionalism in the workplace and fostered employee resiliency.
The delineation of Embassy Wellington’s responsibilities for the U.S. Antarctic Program was unclear. Specifically, mission staff did not have clarity on who was responsible for emergency response and assistance, and law enforcement or security support if a disaster or crime occurs involving U.S. citizens in the Antarctic region.
The mission had deficiencies related to public diplomacy, consular, resource management, and information management operations.

What OIG Recommends

OIG made 19 recommendations to Embassy Wellington. In its comments on the draft report, the embassy concurred with all 19 recommendations. OIG considers all 19 recommendations resolved. The embassy’s formal response is reprinted in its entirety in Appendix B.

Report Type

Inspection / Evaluation

Location

Wellington
New Zealand

Cook Islands

Niue

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Report updated under NDAA 5274

External Link

https://www.stateoig.gov/report/isp-i-26-08

Open Recommendations

This report has 19 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
1	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington, in coordination with the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, should work with the National Science Foundation to clarify Mission New Zealand's responsibilities for U.S. government employees and U.S. citizens stationed in the Antarctic.
2	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington, in coordination with the Office of Policy, Planning, and Resources for Public Diplomacy, should review the Public Diplomacy Sections' organizational structures and position elements to optimize section effectiveness.
3	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington should document and close out public diplomacy grants in accordance with Department standards.
4	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington should manage and retire immigrant visa cases in accordance with Department standards.
5	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington should maintain the Consular Section's cashier records according to Department standards.
6	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington, in coordination with the Bureau of Personnel and Training, the Bureau of Global Acquisitions, and the Office of the Legal Adviser, should consult legal counsel in New Zealand to determine if its alternate pension plan complies with local law, and whether the obligating documents of the plan are adequate and in compliance with Department and other federal guidance.
7	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should evaluate all residential properties for seismic risk in accordance with Department standards.
8	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should bring the mission's fire protection and safety, health, and environmental management programs into compliance with Department standards.
9	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington should bring the mission's contract files into compliance with Department and federal requirements.
10	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington should bring the mission's contracting officer's representative program into compliance with Department standards.
11	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington should bring the mission's property management program into compliance with Department standards.
12	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington should manage the mission's mail and pouch operations in accordance with Department standards.
13	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington should require the Information Systems Security Officer to perform all duties in accordance with Department standards.
14	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington should manage the mission's mobile device program in accordance with Department standards.
15	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington should create budget and training plans for the mission's Diplomatic Technology units.
16	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington should bring the mission's emergency communications operations into compliance with Department standards.
17	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington should bring the mission's Sensitive But Unclassified server rooms and private branch exchange rooms into compliance with Department standards.
18	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington should manage the mission's non-enterprise networks in accordance with Department standards.
19	No	$0	$0
Embassy Wellington should bring the mission's telephone use accounting process into compliance with Department standards.