[IN-CONFIDENCE]

Kia ora Barry,

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 which was received on 14 November 2019, copied below. A response will be provided in accordance with the Act (please see the Office of the Ombudsman Website for more details -  http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/).

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) may publish the response to your Official Information Act (OIA) request.

When you are provided with a response to this request, you will be informed about whether the response to your OIA request will be published. If DPMC does publish the response to your OIA request, personal information, including your name and contact details, will be removed. This publication process does not apply to extension letters or transfers.

Ngā mihi,
Anna.

Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

E    [DPMC request email]

The information contained in this email message is for the attention of the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute this message or the information in it. If you have received this message in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.

-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Brill <[FYI request #11649 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 14 November 2019 1:08 PM
To: Information [DPMC] <[DPMC request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Cabinet Paper for satellite investment

Dear Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet,

The MBIE has announced an investment of $26 million in a satellite to detect methane emissions, in a joint venture with the Environmental Defence Society of the USA. Please provide a copy of any cabinet papers in support of this investment, including the treasury Report.

Yours faithfully,

Barry Brill

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hide quoted sections

 

 

[IN-CONFIDENCE]

 

Kia ora Barry,

 

Please see the attached letter regarding your recent OIA request.

 

Ngā mihi,

Anna.

 

Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
 
E    [1][DPMC request email]
 
[2]cid:image002.png@01D43609.296F69C0
 
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.

 

 

References

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Ref: 1920-0808

 

Dear Barry Brill,

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 14 November 2019 requesting under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:

 

“The MBIE has announced an investment of $26 million in a satellite to
detect methane emissions, in a joint venture with the Environmental
Defence Society of the USA. Please provide a copy of any cabinet papers in
support of this investment, including the treasury Report.”

 

Your request has been transferred to the Ministry from the Department of
the Prime Minister and Cabinet on 19 November 2019 and is being processed
in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982. A response will be
sent to you in due course. If you have any enquiries regarding your
request feel free to contact us via email [1][email address] or using
the contact details below.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

MINISTERIAL SERVICES

 

Corporate, Governance and Information

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

Level 4, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140

[2]mbie-logo

 

[3]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

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Any opinions expressed in this message are not necessarily those of the
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. This message and any
files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the
intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient or the person
responsible for delivery to the intended recipient, be advised that you
have received this message in error and that any use is strictly
prohibited. Please contact the sender and delete the message and any
attachment from your computer.

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[UNCLASSIFIED]

 

Kia ora Barry

 

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 which
was transferred to Treasury from DPMC on 19 November 2019. A response will
be provided in accordance with the Act (please see the Office of the
Ombudsman Website for more details -
 [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/).

 

Regards

 

 

Emma Davey | Ministerial Advisor | Te Tai Ôhanga – The Treasury

Tel: +64 4 917 6897 |  Email/IM: [email address]

Visit us online at [2]https://treasury.govt.nz/ and follow us on
[3]Twitter, [4]LinkedIn and [5]Instagram

Please note I do not work Wednesdays

 

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only for the addressee(s), and may also be legally privileged. If you are
not an intended addressee:
a. please immediately delete this email and notify the Treasury by return
email or telephone (64 4 472 2733);
b. any use, dissemination or copying of this email is strictly prohibited
and may be unlawful.

References

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hide quoted sections

[IN-CONFIDENCE]

 

Good morning Barry,

 

We hope this email finds you well.

 

I am contacting you regarding your OIA request for MBIE’s Cabinet paper in
support of the $26 investment in a satellite to detect methane emissions,
including the Treasury Report. We have been transferred the portion of
your OIA request relating to the Treasury Report by DPMC.

 

We would like to clarify with you what you were after in regards to the
Treasury Report: there was not a separate Treasury Report on the satellite
investment, but we do have a very short briefing as part of a wider
Cabinet briefing. Would this be within scope of what you are after?

 

We would be grateful if you could please let us know. Please feel free to
contact me by email or phone (my details are below) if you have any
questions or would like any further information.

 

Kind regards,

Ruohan

 

 

 

Ruohan Zhao (she/her) | Transitions, Regions and Economic Development| Te
Tai Ôhanga – The Treasury
DDI: +64 4 917 6087   Extn: 8087 | [1][email address]

 

[2]cid:image001.png@01D4D5DF.3583F250

 

 

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CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE

The information in this email is confidential to the Treasury, intended
only for the addressee(s), and may also be legally privileged. If you are
not an intended addressee:
a. please immediately delete this email and notify the Treasury by return
email or telephone (64 4 472 2733);
b. any use, dissemination or copying of this email is strictly prohibited
and may be unlawful.

References

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Kia ora Barry,

Thank you for confirming. I will let our Ministerial Advisor know and we will update this on our system.

Regarding information on investment returns, could I please clarify whether you mean investment returns specifically in relation to the satellite system?

Kind regards,
Ruohan

-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Brill <[FOI #11649 email]>
Sent: Monday, 25 November 2019 5:08 PM
To: Ruohan Zhao [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Clarification of your OIA Request: Cabinet Paper for Satellite Investment

Dear Ruohan,

Thanks for your email. Yes, the relevant section of the Treasury's briefing paper for Cabinet does fall within the scope of what I am seeking.

If the Treasury has any relevantadditional information regarding investment returns (IRR, NPV, payback, etc) I would be grateful if you could add that.

Yours sincerely,

Barry Brill

-----Original Message-----

[IN-CONFIDENCE]

 

Good morning Barry,

 

We hope this email finds you well.

 

I am contacting you regarding your OIA request for MBIE’s Cabinet paper in support of the $26 investment in a satellite to detect methane emissions, including the Treasury Report. We have been transferred the portion of your OIA request relating to the Treasury Report by DPMC.

 

We would like to clarify with you what you were after in regards to the Treasury Report: there was not a separate Treasury Report on the satellite investment, but we do have a very short briefing as part of a wider Cabinet briefing. Would this be within scope of what you are after?

 

We would be grateful if you could please let us know. Please feel free to contact me by email or phone (my details are below) if you have any questions or would like any further information.

 

Kind regards,

Ruohan

 

 

 

Ruohan Zhao (she/her) | Transitions, Regions and Economic Development| Te Tai Ôhanga – The Treasury
DDI: +64 4 917 6087   Extn: 8087 | [1][email address]

 

[2]cid:image001.png@01D4D5DF.3583F250

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #11649 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

--
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
The information in this email is confidential to the Treasury, intended only for the addressee(s), and may also be legally privileged. If you are not an intended addressee:
a. please immediately delete this email and notify the Treasury by return email or telephone (64 4 472 2733);
b. any use, dissemination or copying of this email is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.

hide quoted sections

[IN-CONFIDENCE]

Kia ora Barry,

Thank you for your clarification.

Regarding the first question, there is not a requirement that all investments be accompanied by a Treasury Report.

Regarding the second question, we have checked internally and we do not hold any further information about the methaneSAT investment. We would recommend asking MBIE for this information, as the policy lead for this initiative.

As requested, we will include the material from the Cabinet paper briefing for your OIA request.

Many thanks,
Ruohan

-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Brill <[FOI #11649 email]>
Sent: Monday, 25 November 2019 6:56 PM
To: Ruohan Zhao [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Clarification of your OIA Request: Cabinet Paper for Satellite Investment

Hi Ruohan

Yes.

In my experience, any proposal for a multi-million-dollar investment by the Government would require a Treasury report. Can you explain why that was not required for the methane-sniffing satellite investment?

As no report was prepared by Treasury, I assume the figures (ie the business case for the investment) were provided to Treasury by MBIE or some other source.

I would like a copy of whatever figures of this nature are held on Treasury's file.

Barry

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora Barry,

Thank you for confirming. I will let our Ministerial Advisor know and we will update this on our system.

Regarding information on investment returns, could I please clarify whether you mean investment returns specifically in relation to the satellite system?

Kind regards,
Ruohan

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #11649 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

--
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
The information in this email is confidential to the Treasury, intended only for the addressee(s), and may also be legally privileged. If you are not an intended addressee:
a. please immediately delete this email and notify the Treasury by return email or telephone (64 4 472 2733);
b. any use, dissemination or copying of this email is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Barry

Thank you for your email of 25 November. We can now proceed with your OIA request as defined in your email. In accordance with section 15(1AA) of the Official Information Act, your request is deemed to have been received by the Treasury on 25 November 2019 i.e the date the scope of your request was confirmed.

Regards,

Emma Davey | Ministerial Advisor | Te Tai Ôhanga – The Treasury
Tel: +64 4 917 6897 |  Email/IM: [email address]
Visit us online at https://treasury.govt.nz/ and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram
Please note I do not work Wednesdays

-----Original Message-----
From: Ruohan Zhao [TSY] <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 26 November 2019 5:53 PM
To: 'Barry Brill' <[FOI #11649 email]>
Cc: Emma Davey [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Clarification of your OIA Request: Cabinet Paper for Satellite Investment

[IN-CONFIDENCE]

Kia ora Barry,

Thank you for your clarification.

Regarding the first question, there is not a requirement that all investments be accompanied by a Treasury Report.

Regarding the second question, we have checked internally and we do not hold any further information about the methaneSAT investment. We would recommend asking MBIE for this information, as the policy lead for this initiative.

As requested, we will include the material from the Cabinet paper briefing for your OIA request.

Many thanks,
Ruohan

-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Brill <[FOI #11649 email]>
Sent: Monday, 25 November 2019 6:56 PM
To: Ruohan Zhao [TSY] <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Clarification of your OIA Request: Cabinet Paper for Satellite Investment

Hi Ruohan

Yes.

In my experience, any proposal for a multi-million-dollar investment by the Government would require a Treasury report. Can you explain why that was not required for the methane-sniffing satellite investment?

As no report was prepared by Treasury, I assume the figures (ie the business case for the investment) were provided to Treasury by MBIE or some other source.

I would like a copy of whatever figures of this nature are held on Treasury's file.

Barry

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora Barry,

Thank you for confirming. I will let our Ministerial Advisor know and we will update this on our system.

Regarding information on investment returns, could I please clarify whether you mean investment returns specifically in relation to the satellite system?

Kind regards,
Ruohan

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #11649 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

--
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
The information in this email is confidential to the Treasury, intended only for the addressee(s), and may also be legally privileged. If you are not an intended addressee:
a. please immediately delete this email and notify the Treasury by return email or telephone (64 4 472 2733);
b. any use, dissemination or copying of this email is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.

hide quoted sections

 

Good afternoon,

 

Please see attached , the combined response , uploaded for 0789 yesterday.

 

 

Ngā mihi

 

[1]Description: Description: Description: Description: Description:
cid:image001.jpg@01CD1D45.D6A244C0

Katharina Redpath

Ministerial Co-ordinator |Science Policy | Labour, Science and
Enterprise

 

MINISTRY OF BUSINESS INNOVATION & EMPLOYMENT | HIKINA WHAKATUTUKI

15 Stout St, Wellington, New Zealand   

[2]www.mbie.govt.nz  | [3][email address] |

[4]http://mbieintranet/assets/MBIE-visual-i...

 

 

[5]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Any opinions expressed in this message are not necessarily those of the
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. This message and any
files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the
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responsible for delivery to the intended recipient, be advised that you
have received this message in error and that any use is strictly
prohibited. Please contact the sender and delete the message and any
attachment from your computer.

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References

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3. mailto:[email address]
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[UNCLASSIFIED]

 

Kia ora Barry

 

Please find attached a response to your OIA request.

 

Regards

 

 

Emma Davey | Ministerial Advisor | Te Tai Ôhanga – The Treasury

Tel: +64 4 917 6897 |  Email/IM: [email address]

Visit us online at [1]https://treasury.govt.nz/ and follow us on
[2]Twitter, [3]LinkedIn and [4]Instagram

Please note I do not work Wednesdays

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE

The information in this email is confidential to the Treasury, intended
only for the addressee(s), and may also be legally privileged. If you are
not an intended addressee:
a. please immediately delete this email and notify the Treasury by return
email or telephone (64 4 472 2733);
b. any use, dissemination or copying of this email is strictly prohibited
and may be unlawful.

References

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3. https://www.linkedin.com/company/576138/
4. https://www.instagram.com/nztreasury/

hide quoted sections

[UNCLASSIFIED]

 

Kia ora Barry

 

Please find attached a response to your OIA request.

 

Regards

 

 

Emma Davey | Ministerial Advisor | Te Tai Ôhanga – The Treasury

Tel: +64 4 917 6897 |  Email/IM: [email address]

Visit us online at [1]https://treasury.govt.nz/ and follow us on
[2]Twitter, [3]LinkedIn and [4]Instagram

Please note I do not work Wednesdays

 

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CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE

The information in this email is confidential to the Treasury, intended
only for the addressee(s), and may also be legally privileged. If you are
not an intended addressee:
a. please immediately delete this email and notify the Treasury by return
email or telephone (64 4 472 2733);
b. any use, dissemination or copying of this email is strictly prohibited
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References

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