20 December 2019
Ms Wendy Pond
[FYI request #11725 email]
Dear Ms Pond
Official Information Act Request
Thank you for your request for information dated 25 November 2019 in which you
requested the following information:
1. Please provide copies of all applications received by the DHB from Department of
Conservation and Waikato Regional Council that have sought permission to use
Vertebrate Toxic Agents in the Whenuakite catchments (Coromandel peninsula) for
the period around September-November 2019.
2. Please provide copies of the permissions granted by the DHB (Public Health
HSNO Enforcement Officer) in response to these applications, together with the
conditions of permission imposed by the DHB.
3. The VTA permission application form states: "Have you provided evidence to
demonstrate compliance with the requirements of ERMA NZ's Communication
Guidelines for Aerial 1080 operations?" Please provide copies of the evidence which
accompanied the applications for permission.
4. Please state how the Public Health HSNO Enforcement Officer verified the
statements made by the applicant. Or did the DHB officer accept the statements at
face value?
5. Did the Public Health HSNO Enforcement Officer or other DHB officer attend and
observe the operation? On what dates?
Our responses to your questions are below:
1.
Please provide copies of all applications received by the DHB from
Department of Conservation and Waikato Regional Council that have sought
permission to use Vertebrate Toxic Agents in the Whenuakite catchments
(Coromandel peninsula) for the period around September-November 2019.
A copy of the application received by Public Health from the Department of
Conservation for health permission to use a vertebrate toxic agent at Whenuakite
(Coromandel Peninsula) is attached. No other applications to use a vertebrate
toxic agent at this location during this time period were received.
2.
Please provide copies of the permissions granted by the DHB (Public Health
HSNO Enforcement Officer) in response to these applications, together with
the conditions of permission imposed by the DHB.
A copy of the permission granted by Public Health, Waikato DHB, for use of a
vertebrate toxic agent at Whenuakite Coromandel Peninusla is attached. This
permission includes the conditions that were required to be met for use of a
vertebrate toxic agent.
3.
The VTA permission application form states: "Have you provided evidence
to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of ERMA NZ's
Communication Guidelines for Aerial 1080 operations?" Please provide
copies of the evidence which accompanied the applications for permission.
A copy of the Whenuakite Pest Control Operation 19/20 Communication Plan is
attached. The communication plan accompanying the application provides
evidence of compliance with the requirements of ERMA’s Communication
Guidelines for Aerial 1080 operations.
4.
Please state how the Public Health HSNO Enforcement Officer verified the
statements made by the applicant. Or did the DHB officer accept the
statements at face value?
Wherever possible statements made by the applicant in the application are
checked on the provided maps. Other statements in the application and
communications log are accepted at face value prior to the granting of the
permission. Some of the information provided in the application and
communication log is verified during the audit that is undertaken by the HSNO
officer during or after the operation.
5.
Did the Public Health HSNO Enforcement Officer or other DHB officer attend
and observe the operation? On what dates?
The HSNO Enforcement Officer attended and observed the operation on 29
November 2019.
Some of the information you have requested has been withheld under sections 18(a) and
9(2)(a) of the Official Information Act 1982, which enables information to be withheld if this
is necessary to protect the privacy of natural persons and this is not outweighed by any
public interest in its release.
Yours sincerely
Philip Grady
Interim Executive Director Strategy, Funding and Public Health
