19 October 2020
Brendon Mills
[FYI request #13731 email]
Dear Mr Mills
Thank you for your email of 9 September in which you make the following Official Information Act
(OIA) request:
“I would like to be forwarded all documents relating to the 1999 sale of what was formerly
known as Housing NZ Ltd's housing stock in Wairarapa to what is now known as Trust House
Ltd.
This can include sale contracts, press releases, discussion documents, tender documents,
advice to ministers and the like.
I accept that commercial sensitivity wil constrain the information that can be given to me.”
Twenty documents have been identified within the scope of your request.
I am providing you with 14 of these documents and withholding six documents in full. Some
information has also been withheld from the documents being provided to you. The attached table
lists the documents with the applicable withholding grounds under the OIA. The information that has
been withheld primarily consists of legal advice, commercial information and risk assessments. I do
not consider that the public interest in the release of this information outweighs the need to withhold it.
Please note that two documents contain some information that is outside the scope of your request
and this has been removed.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of this decision by the Ombudsman.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Rachel Kelly
Manager Government Relations
Documents provided
#
Date
Title/ description
Withholding ground
1
19/12/1998
Agreement for sale and purchase
S9(2)(ba)
Protect information which
of realestate
is subject to an obligation of
confidence
2
24/09/2004
BN/04/106
N/A
3
17/12/1998
Board paper – Wairarapa
S9(2)(g)(i)
maintain the effective
Community Trust
conduct of public affairs through the
free and frank expression of
opinions
4
26/11/1998
Negotiating Brief
S9(2)(ba)
Protect information which
is subject to an obligation of
confidence S9(2)(a)
protect the privacy of
natural persons
5
18/03/1999
Process for Tenanted Sales
N/A
6
Undated
Draft Communications Plan
S9(2)(g)(i)
maintain the effective
conduct of public affairs through the
free and frank expression of
opinions
7
23/03/1999
Notes: Meeting to Review Sale to
S9(2)(g)(i)
maintain the effective
Trust House
conduct of public affairs through the
free and frank expression of
opinions
S9(2)(ba) Protect information which
is subject to an obligation of
confidence
8
04/11/2009
Fact Sheet –basic details of the
S9(2)(ba)
Protect information which
Sale of the Wairarapa portfolio to
is subject to an obligation of
the Masterton Licensing Trust
confidence
(Trust House Limited)
9
06/03/2006
Briefing for Prime Minister - Prime
N/A
Minister’s Visit to Wairarapa
10
12/06/2000
PriceWaterHouseCoopers: Review
S9(2)(ba)
Protect information which
of the Community
is subject to an obligation of
Partnership Programme - Sale of
confidence
Properties in
the Wairarapa
S9(2)9(b))(II) would be likely
unreasonably to prejudice the
commercial position of the person
who supplied or who is the subject
of the information
11
Undated
Sale of the Wairarapa state rental
S9(2)(ba)
protect information which
portfolio to Trust House in 1999
is subject to an obligation of
confidence
Note: this is also the attachment to
doc 14
12
22/12/1998
Beehive press release: Community N/A
Trusts to acquire Housing New
Zealand properties
13
30/01/2019
Email exchange between Housing
S9(2)(ba)
Protect information which
New Zealand and office of the
is subject to an obligation of
Minister of Housing
confidence
S9(2)(a) protect the privacy of
natural persons
14
18/03/2015
Email exchange between Housing
S9(2)(a)
protect the privacy of
New Zealand and office of the
natural persons
Minister for Social Housing
Note: doc 11 is the attachment to
this email
Documents withheld in full
#
Date
Title
Withholding ground
15
10/02/1999
Sale of Wairarapa Properties –
S9(2)(h) maintain legal professional
Protecting Tenant Right
privilege
16
27/01/1999
Community Trusts Sale of
S9(2)(h) maintain legal professional
Wairarapa Properties
privilege
17
22/01/1999
Wairarapa sale – Transfer of
S9(2)(h) maintain legal professional
records to Trust
privilege
18
11/02/1999
Wairarapa Sale to Trust House
S9(2)(g)(i) maintain the effective
Limited (THL) 16 property issue
conduct of public affairs through the
free and frank expression of
opinions
19
01/03/1999
Loan Agreement
S9(2)(ba) protect information which
is subject to an obligation of
confidence
20
22/02/1999
Update re Documentation /
S9(2)(h) maintain legal professional
Settlement of Masterton
privilege
Transaction