OIAD-3916
1 May 2024
Stephen Prendergast
[FYI request #26232 email]
Tēnā koe Stephen
Thank you for your request to the Department of Conservation, received on 26 March 2024,
in which you asked for:
‘advice given to the Minister on the role of the decision maker and the options for
delegation generally, and specifically in the Turoa Concession Application.’
We have considered your request under the Official Information Act (OIA) 1982.
On 26 April 2024 we made a decision on your request and noted that additional time was
required to prepare material for release. We also stated that this documentation (the first
tranche) would be provided to you no later than 1 May 2024.
Three documents have been identified as within scope of your request (outlined below). Two
of these documents are provided and accompany our response as Attachment 1 (items 1 &
3).
Please note that additional time is required to prepare Item 2 for release (23-B-0344). As such
this material wil be provided in the second tranche of our release. We expect to provide this
document to you in the coming days once material is finalised.
Item
Date
Document description
Decision
1
30
22-B-0761 – Briefing - Delegating
Released in part –
November
decision making for transfer of Ruapehu
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(i) and
2022
Alpine Lift’s concessions
9(2)(j)
2
8 August
23-B-0344 – Principles for Delegation of
To be released in part
2023
Ministerial powers to DOC officials
via tranche 2 of our
response
3
21 February 24-B-0073 - Briefing - Mt Ruapehu Tūroa Released in part –
2024
concession – Decision making
section 9(2)(a), 9(2)(h)
I have decided to release relevant parts of the documents listed above, subject to
information being withheld under the following sections of the OIA:
• personal contact details of officials, under section 9(2)(a) – to protect the privacy of
natural persons, including deceased people,
National Office, 18-22 Manners Street, Box 10420, Wellington 6143Page 1 of 2
• free and frank expression under section 9(2)(g)(i) – to maintain the effective conduct
of public affairs,
• advice subject to legal privilege, under section 9(2)(h) - to maintain legal professional
privilege,
• confidential information, under section 9(2)(j) – to enable the Crown to negotiate
without disadvantage or prejudice.
In making my decision, I have considered the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of
the OIA and determined there are no public interests that outweigh the grounds for withholding.
You are entitled to seek an investigation and review of my decision by writing to an
Ombudsman as provided by section 28(3) of the OIA.
Please note that this letter (with your personal details removed) and attached documents
may be published on the Department’s website.
Nāku noa, nā
Stacey Wrenn
Director, Regulatory Delivery
Department of Conservation
Te Papa Atawhai
National Office, 18-22 Manners Street, Box 10420, Wellington 6143 Page 2 of 2
