20-E-0347 - DOC-6420653
2 September 2020
Tim Benseman
[FYI request #13144 email]
Dear Tim
Thank you for your Official Information Act request to the Department of Conservation,
dated 24 June 2020.
You have asked for all emails, phone transcripts, photos, letters and meetings minutes
between DOC and Beef + Lamb NZ and OSPRI NZ Ltd relating to 1080 poisoning of Kea
between 1 January 2014 and 1 January 2015.
We have identified emails that contain information relevant to your request and which we
are preparing for release. Having said that much of the material you have requested does not
exist and warrants a refusal under section 18(e).
We also note that while we have reached a decision to release the information we do hold, we
do still require some time to prepare those documents. We anticipate that it will take a
further four weeks to complete that work.
In advising you of our decision to release information to you, we also note that certain
information will be subject to the following withholding grounds under the Official
Information Act:
• 9(2)(a) to protect the privacy of natural persons
• 9(2)(g) to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through:
(i) the free and frank expression of opinions between employees of any
department or organisation in the course of their duty
(ii) the protection of such employees from improper pressure or harassment.
You are entitled to seek an investigation and review of my decision by writing to an
Ombudsman as provided by section 28(3) of the Official Information Act.
Yours sincerely
Hilary Aikman
Director Operations Issues and Programmes
Conservation House -
Whare Kaupapa Atawhai
PO Box 10 420, Wellington 6143
Telephone (04) 471 0726, Fax (04) 381 3057
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