Climate efforts
Jeremy Puger made this Official Information request to Ministry of Social Development
The request was successful.
From: Jeremy Puger
Dear Ministry of Social Development,
Hello
I will be making this request of all major government departments. I am starting with five in the first instance so that their answers will help me to refine my questions going forward.
I am seeking information for the last five years about government activity that relates to climate change. I am wanting to find out for each year:
Air Travel
(please do domestic and international air travel separately)
A). How many of your staff has travelled by air (obviously with all of these I mean where the agency has paid for it) and how many the total flights were and how much it cost all up.
B). What was the purpose and benefit to the taxpayer of each trip
C). For each trip why was a remote alternative not used? Like for conferences a lot of them have remote viewing dial ins so you don’t have to travel to attend. Meetings can usually be done by conference call or skype. Things like that. So there are very few situations where staff would actually have to travel by air. So in cases where you have could you explain if there was no remote alternative available? And if there was why was it not used?
D). When staff are travelling there are extra expenses too. How much has been spent on accommodation and for how many people and nights in these times too?
E). As per D but how much on other expenses like meals and allowances?
F). Do staff of different jobs/ranks/levels get different types or levels of accommodation. If so can you explain why?
G). Going into the future do you have plans to reduce air travel? If you do could you explain these plans and if you have set any targets for it and things
Packaging and Recycling
A). Do you have recycling facilities in all of your premises? If you do not please explain why
B). Do you actively encourage or make your staff recycle? If you do please explain how
C). Do you have rules aimed at encouraging other staff environmentally friendly behaviour such as banning staff from bringing disposable cups onto the premises?
D). If you have cafes or similar things in your premises do you require them to use environmentally healthy options such a re usable cutlery and recyclable packaging?
Encouraging Good Behaviour and Attunement with the natural world
A). Do all of your offices have plants? If so, what is the ratio of plants to workers? Do you ensure that providers that look after the plants use sustainable and environmentally friendly options in their practices (for example pesticide choices)?
B). Do you have programmes for encouraging your staff to make more environmentally friendly choices outside of work?
C). Do you encourage your staff to be more interconnected with the natural world by hosting or promoting practices such as mindfulness, meditation, earthing or Tai Chi?
E). Do you take any steps to increase staff knowledge and awareness of environmental issues in general?
Yours faithfully,
Jeremy Puger
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
Tēnā koe Jeremy Puger
Thank you for your email received 03 October 2019, under the Official
Information Act 1982. Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate
officials at National Office to respond. You may expect a decision
regarding your request to be sent to you as soon as possible.
Nā mātou noa, nā
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and
Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whānau
------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
Tēnā koe Jeremy Puger
Thank you for your email received 3 October 2019, under the Official
Information Act 1982. I would like to contact you and discuss your
request.
Could you please email [1][email address] so we can get in touch.
Nā mātou noa, nā
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and
Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whānau
------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
From: Jeremy Puger
Dear OIA_Requests (MSD),
Hi. You have attempted to provide an email address but it shows as being redacted (as you can see in your reply above). I suspect that this is an automatic feature of FYI. If i were to post mine, I expect the same would happen,
Easier (and more transparent) if we discuss the request here publicly anyway
Yours sincerely,
Jeremy Puger
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
Tēnā koe Jeremy
Please find attached a letter advising you of the need to extend the
timeframe for a decision on your Official Information Act request.
Nā mātou noa, nā
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and
Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whānau.
------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
Jeremy Puger
Dear Jeremy Puger
On 3 October 2019 you emailed the Ministry requesting, under the Official
Information Act 1982, the following information:
Air Travel (please do domestic and international air travel separately):
· How many of your staff has travelled by air (obviously with all
of these I mean where the agency has paid for it) and how many the total
flights were and how much it cost all up.
· What was the purpose and benefit to the taxpayer of each trip
· For each trip why was a remote alternative not used? Like for
conferences a lot of them have remote viewing dial ins so you don’t have
to travel to attend. Meetings can usually be done by conference call or
skype. Things like that. So, there are very few situations where staff
would actually have to travel by air. So, in cases where you have could
you explain if there was no remote alternative available? And if there was
why was it not used?
· When staff are travelling there are extra expenses too. How much
has been spent on accommodation and for how many people and nights in
these times too?
· As per question 4 but how much on other expenses like meals and
allowances?
· Do staff of different jobs/ranks/levels get different types or
levels of accommodation. If so can you explain why?
· Going into the future do you have plans to reduce air travel? If
you do could you explain these plans and if you have set any targets for
it and things.
Packaging and Recycling:
· Do you have recycling facilities in all of your premises? If you
do not please explain why
· Do you actively encourage or make your staff recycle? If you do
please explain how
· Do you have rules aimed at encouraging other staff
environmentally friendly behaviour such as banning staff from bringing
disposable cups onto the premises?
· If you have cafes or similar things in your premises do you
require them to use environmentally healthy options such a re-usable
cutlery and recyclable packaging?
Encouraging Good Behaviour and Attunement with the natural world:
· Do all of your offices have plants? If so, what is the ratio of
plants to workers? Do you ensure that providers that look after the plants
use sustainable and environmentally friendly options in their practices
(for example pesticide choices)?
· Do you have Programmes for encouraging your staff to make more
environmentally friendly choices outside of work?
· Do you encourage your staff to be more interconnected with the
natural world by hosting or promoting practices such as mindfulness,
meditation, earthing or Tai Chi?
o Do you take any steps to increase staff knowledge and awareness of
environmental issues in general?
The Ministry has decided to grant your request. However, it will take some
time to prepare the information for release. The information will be sent
to you by 22 January 2020, or earlier if possible.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
[1][MSD request email]
If you are not satisfied with this decision, you have the right to seek an
investigation and review by the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a
complaint is available at [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and
Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whānau.
------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[MSD request email]
2. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
Tçnâ koe Jeremy Puger
Please find attached the Ministry’s response to your Official Information
Act request.
Nâ mâtou noa, nâ
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and
Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whânau.
------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------
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