Information about differential hut fees for International Visitors

As DoC has only received and responded to one FYI request in the past (in 2010), I'm sending the following directly to enquiries@doc.govt.nz, in case there have been issues with something like a spam filter.

=====

Hello.

On 28th May 2012 I sent an OIA request to the Department of Conservation via http://www.fyi.org.nz, which forwards requests to this address which is also advertised on the DoC website and in various publications. The request was for Information about differential hut fees for International Visitors.

I think the final response was due yesterday according to the Official Information Act, but so far I've not received anything. I've also not received any acknowledgement that the request was received. I sent a follow-up query last night, also via the site, but I thought I should also query this more directly in case something's being caught in a spam filter or the like.

The original request should be in DOC's records somewhere as having been sent to the Enquiries address on 28th May, but it can also be viewed online at http://fyi.org.nz/request/information_ab...

Could you please update me as to the status of this request?

My request is not urgent and I'm flexible with waiting longer within reason if there's been a mix-up, but if there has been an issue with emails from the FYI website being lost or ignored, it may be something that needs addressing in the near future as the website is already often used for making OIA requests to other departments and entities, although DOC itself has only had and successfully responded to one such request prior to mine.

Thanks very much.
Mike.

Through a direct email received this morning, I've been advised that "We received your request and it is currently under action".

I've just emailed the following to the DOC staff member who notified me the request had been actioned:

=====

Sorry to be a bother again, but as the response was due on 25th June and is now already 6 working days late (going on 7) under the OIA, would it be possible to please get an estimation of how long it might take?

I certainly don't want to work someone into the ground and I'm still happy to wait, but it'd be good to have an idea so I can plan around it.

Cheers.
Mike.

Response: Should be 'early next week'.

After another week of having no acknowledgement to my query, I emailed DoC directly on July 16th to ask for a status of my question. On July 18th I was informed "The Department has received your follow up query of 9 July. You will receive a reply shortly."

This morning I received a PDF response to my follow-up query via direct email, from Grant Baker (Deputy Director General, Business Services, who wrote (not very usefully but oh well):

=====

"Dear Mike

I refer to your email of 9 July 2012 querying the Department's response to your request for a decision on differential charging between tourists and New Zealand citizens for staying in backcountry huts.

The information your (sic) requested does not exist because the status quo is that 'the Department fees system does not differentiate between national and international visitors'. This has been the case for the past 10 years during which time no papers have been prepared on the issue.

Yours Sincerely

Grant Baker
Deputy Director General, Business Services
For Director-General