By email
Shed 39,
2 Fryatt Quay
Pipit
ea, Wellington 6011
PO Box 1
1646
11 September 2019
Manners St
reet
Wellingt
on 6142
T 04 384 5708
File Ref: OIAP-7-12392
F 04 385 6960
www.gw.govt.nz
Hugh Davenport
[FYI request #10836 email]
Dear Mr Davenport
Request for information 2019-256
I refer to your request for information dated 29 July 2019, which was received by Greater
Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) that day. You have requested the following information:
“I would like to know:
1) When each route 24 bus was seen going northbound for the morning of 2 May 2019, between
7:30am and 8:30am.
2) For each route 24 bus viewed on the footage, either (in order of preference):
a) A video of the bus going through the intersection from both cameras of Jacob’s
b) A still photo of the bus going through the intersection at the moment it crosses the intersection
line (the end of the advanced cycle box) from both cameras of Jacob’s. Blurs can be applied quite
easily for these still images to protect Privacy.
c) A description of whether the light was green, amber, or red at the time the bus crosses the
intersection line. Please note that I would expect either a or b to be provided instead of this. A very
good reason for refusing a or b would be required.
3) In order to correlate with actual traffic and to make sure that GWRC is not purposefully
withholding results that show safety concerns, I would like to get the actual times that each route 24
was in that area during that time period by using the real time information.
4) If there are any buses shown as travelling in the area on the real time information, but were not
found in the footage provided by Jacob's, then I would like:
a) a photo of the rear advertisement on all the missing buses that were not found on video. The point
of this is to match it with the video I have
b) I would also like a brief explanation on why the bus was shown to be travelling on real time
information, but was not found on the high definition camera feed that Jacob’s had used for the
report.
OIA 2019-256 HUGH DAVENPORT
5) If any of the route 24’s in 2) were found to be crossing the intersection line on a red light, then:
a) An explanation of why the Jacob’s report did not contain that incident in their report
b) An explanation of why both the General Manager of Public Transport (Greg Pollock) and the
Manager of Bus Operations (Matthew Lear, previously Health and Safety Manager) did not find this
when requested earlier and both responded that there was nothing of concern with the report.
c) An explanation of why multiple managers (Bruce Horsefield, Greg Pollock and Matthew Lear)
have insisted there is no concern for safety after a large amount of evidence to the contrary.
d) What actions GWRC will take to ensure the reliability of the Jacob’s report
e) What actions GWRC will take to ensure that their Management team take safety reports seriously
in the future.
f) What actions GWRC will take to ensure that their Management team react quickly to safety
reports in the future.”
On 26 August 2018 we advised you that we were extending the timeframe to respond to your
request to 10 October 2019.
GWRC’s response follows:
Parts 1, 2 & 3 of your request
GWRC has decided to grant these elements of your request for information. However, given the
amount of additional costs that GWRC will incur to process your information request, GWRC has
decided to charge for making the requested information available.
To respond to part 3 of your request a technical officer is required to search and retrieve detailed
tracking information from Real Time Information (RTI) records and compare this detail with the
Metlink bus timetable to accurately determine the bus and service number for each number 24 bus.
We estimate that the work to research, retrieve and collate this information will take three hours.
This information will also respond to part 1 of your request and should help you to ascertain “When
each route 24 bus was seen going northbound for the morning of 2 May 2019, between 7:30am and
8:30am”.
In response to part 2 of your request, GWRC would like to provide you with an opportunity to view
the requested footage (route 24 buses on 2 May 2019 between 7.30 am and 8.30 am – travelling in
both directions) under the supervision of a GWRC officer at our office on Level 2, 15 Walter Street
at a mutually suitable time. Please let us know if you wish to take up this offer.
We estimate that it could take up to three hours to review the footage in both directions (northbound
and southbound), and allowing time for you to select the still images that you are interested in. If,
after reviewing the footage, there are images of which you would like a copy, we would need to
pixilate or obscure identifiable individuals, in order to meet our obligations under the Privacy Act
1993. The time taken to process this part of your request would be charged in accordance with the
Ombudsman’s guidance on charging and at the standard rate of $38.00 per half hour or part thereof.
OIA 2019-256 HUGH DAVENPORT
PAGE 2 OF 5
A summary of the above identified charges is provided below. GWRC believes that this charging
proposal is consistent with the Ombudsman’s charging guide (June 2017).
Information requested
Details of process to retrieve
Estimate of office time involved
information
in processing request
3) The actual times that each Search and retrieve detailed
We estimate that the work to
route 24 was in that area during
information for Route 24
research, retrieve and collate this
that time period by using the real
Northbound services (for
information will take a maximum
time information.
buses that tracked in the RTI
of three hours.
system).*Note that in some
circumstances a bus may not
be logged into and therefore
tracked in the RTI system.
Provide details of schedule
and deviation times when the
Vehicle passed Stop 5006 at
Manners Street and Willis St.
Provide details of schedule
and deviation times when the
vehicle passed Stop 5008 at
Willis Street, Grand Arcade.
Provide Fleet # details.
2) For each route 24 bus viewed Access to the requested footage
on the footage.
will be made available for viewing
b) A still photo of the bus going at the GWRC office at 15 Walter
through the intersection at the street. The following charges are
moment it crosses the intersection estimated in connection with
line (the end of the advanced viewing the requested footage:
cycle box) from both cameras of Supervising access (where the View footage for 2 May 2019,
Jacob’s. Blurs can be applied
information at issue is made
between 7:30am and 8:30am
quite easily for these still images
available for inspection)
(northbound and southbound
to protect Privacy.
Pixilate or obscure images of directions), and identify still
identifiable individuals within
images for capture. We estimate
any still images selected by
three hours for this task.
you in order to protect their
The time taken to complete the
privacy.
pixilate or obscure the images will
* Note we estimate that it will
vary depending on the number of
take approximately five
images required. All charges will
minutes per photo to prepare
be made in accordance with the
it for release.
Ombudsman’s charging
guidelines.
OIA 2019-256 HUGH DAVENPORT
PAGE 3 OF 5
TOTAL STAFF TIME
Estimated six hours plus any
additional charges for preparing
still captured images for release.
Our charges are set as follows:
An initial charge of $76 for the first chargeable hour; and
Then $38 for each additional half hour or part thereof.
These charges are inclusive of GST.
GWRC has elected not to charge you for the first hour of officer time spent processing your request.
Estimated
time 6
hours
One hour free of charge
1 hour
Hours
charged
5
hours
Charge
per
hour
$76
($76
x
5)
$380
Total
$380
Deposit required (2 x hr min)
$152
To confirm your decision to proceed with this request can you please confirm in writing to Nichola
Powell, email: [email address] and arrange to make the required deposit of $152 using
the details set out below. We ask that you advise us of your decision by 18 September 2019, to
enable your request to be met by the extended due date of 10 October 2019; please refer to our letter
to you of 26 August 2019.
The payment, including the initial deposit for $152, can be made to: GWRC bank account number:
ANZ: 06-0582-0104781-00
Particulars column:
2019-256
Reference column:
A/c 16734
email confirmation of payment to [email address]
Please also contact Nichola Powell, at the above email address, to arrange a suitable time to view the
requested footage.
Note that GWRC is unable to commence any further work on this request until we hear from you
and receive the required deposit.
OIA 2019-256 HUGH DAVENPORT
PAGE 4 OF 5
Part 4) a)
The Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (the Act) enables people to
request official information from GWRC. However, the Act only applies to information that is
already held by GWRC. There is no obligation on GWRC to create information in order to respond
to a request.
The information you are seeking is not currently held by GWRC. I am therefore refusing your
request under section 17(g) of the Act, because GWRC does not hold the requested information.
GWRC believes that this refusal is consistent with the Ombudsman’s guide
Information not held (November 2018).
Part 4) b)
Your request cannot be fulfilled as GWRC does not hold this information. This part of your request
is for an explanation.
I am therefore refusing your request under section 17(g) of the Act because GWRC does not hold
any official information in this regard.
Part 5
Similarly, the requests in parts 5a to 5c cannot be fulfilled as GWRC does not hold this information.
This part of your request is for an explanation.
Your requests under parts 5d – 5f cannot be fulfilled as GWRC does not hold this information, as
this is a request concerning future actions.
I am therefore refusing your request under section 17(g) of the Act, because GWRC does not hold
any official information relating to these parts.
If you have any concerns with the decision(s) referred to in this letter, you have the right to request
an investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 27(3) of the Act.
Yours sincerely
Greg Pollock
General Manager, Public Transport
OIA 2019-256 HUGH DAVENPORT
PAGE 5 OF 5
