12 February 2020
Chris Johnston
By em
ail: [FYI request #11355 email] Dear Chris
Official information request for information mentioning scientists Ned
Nikolov, Karl Zeller, and Roy Spencer
I refer to your request for information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act)
dated 5 January 2020:
“Please provide any information/records (including but not limited to
internal/external: documents, emails, notes, minutes, text messages, or social
media messages) mentioning scientists Dr Ned Nikolov and/or Dr Karl Zeller
and/or Dr Roy Spencer…”
Dr Ned Nikolov
A search of the University’s Office365 system for information and records mentioning
scientist Dr Ned Nikolov was completed. This search yielded a small number of results.
These results consisted of emails sent to and from yourself questioning whether the
University had received this request at an earlier date. Please find these emails attached.
Please note, the University has no way of easily searching for other records to identify
those that mention “Dr Ned Nikolov” outside of the Office365 system.
Dr Karl Zeller
Again, a search of the University’s Office365 system for information and records
mentioning scientist Dr Karl Zeller was completed. This search also yielded a small
number of results which consisted of emails sent to and from yourself, questioning the
date on which the University received this request. Please also find these emails attached.
The University has no way of easily searching for other records to identify those that
mention “Dr Karl Zeller” outside of the Office365 system.
Dr Roy Spencer
A search of the University’s Office365 systems alone for “Dr Roy Spencer” discovered 708
documents and/or email threads. While not all of this information may be relevant to
your request, the University would be required to search through all 708 documents
and/or email threads to identify those which are relevant.
We have decided to grant this part of your request. However, given the amount of
resource required to process these documents and/or email threads, we have decided to
charge for making the requested information available.
We estimate that the maximum charge will be
$1,320.00.
Any unused component of the
maximum charge will be refunded to you.
Before we proceed further with your request, please confirm your agreement to the
charge and pay the full amount. The payment can be deposited in to the following account
with reference ‘Chris Johnston OIA request’:
ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited
Account number: 06-0606-0100241-oo
Victoria University of Wellington
Please note that if you pay the charge an email must be sen
t to [VUW request email]
confirming the time and date on which the payment was made.
We will send you the
information within 40 working days of your payment.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact me at
[VUW request email]. I will be able to assist you should you wish to change or refine
your request to reduce or remove the need to charge.
Outside of the Office365 system, the University has no way of easily searching for other
records to identify those that mention “Dr Roy Spencer”. Due to the substantial amount
of work that would be required to research and collate the requested information not held
in the Office365 system, we are refusing your request under section 18(f) of the Act on the
basis that information cannot be made available without substantial collation and
research.
The University considered whether charging or extending the timeframe for responding
to your request would help, as required by section 18A of the Act, and also whether
consulting with you would help, as required by section 18B of the Act. However, neither
of these things would help given that the University has no way of easily searching
records to identify those that mention “Dr Roy Spencer” outside of the Office365 system.
The University believes that any records relevant to your request could also be withheld
under sections 9(2)(g)(i) of the Act (on the basis that withholding is necessary to
maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of
opinions by or between (University staff) in the course of their duty) and/or section
9(2)(a) of the Act (on the basis that withholding is necessary to protect individual
privacy).
In relation to section 9(2)(g)(i) of the Act, I note in particular that the Education Act 1989
sets out the unique role of a university to be critic and conscience of society and also
enshrines the statutory protection of academic freedom. Among other things, academic
freedom includes “the freedom of academic staff and students, within the law, to question
and test received wisdom, to put forward new ideas and to state controversial or
unpopular opinions”.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of the
University’s decision on your request. Information about how to make a complaint is
availabl
e at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Georgia Tawharu
Adviser, Information Access and Copyright
