OIA20-0693
23 November 2020
Grace Haden
[FYI request #14051 email]
Dear Grace Haden
Thank you for your email of 29 October 2020 requesting information relating to the
warranting of specific SPCA inspectors. Your request has been considered under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA).
The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) takes animal welfare seriously. MPI provides funding
to the SPCA solely for compliance and enforcement purposes. This includes funding for
animal welfare inspectors and auxiliary officers, who are appointed under the Animal Welfare
Act. Their prime occupation is to investigate cruelty, abuse, neglect and abandonment in
companion animals.
The legislative requirements for appointing inspectors and auxiliary officers are described in
sections 121 to 126 of the Animal Welfare Act 1999. Section 122 of the Animal Welfare Act 1999
allows the Minister to impose conditions as to the “Performance and Technical Standards” (PTS)
for SPCA animal welfare inspectors and auxiliary officers. As part of the PTS, it outlines the
process for selection, training and the appointment process. MPI are informed that these
processes have been followed by way of a “statutory appointment application form”. These
completed application forms are sent to the National Manager of Animal Welfare and NAIT
Compliance who will make the decision as to whether the applicant meets the PTS and will receive
the statutory appointment.
The first statutory appointment is for a maximum period of one year. If after one year the SPCA
wants the inspector or auxiliary officer to continue, then a further application is made. These
applications for statutory appointment can be approved for a maximum of three years.
You requested the following:
By way of OIA please provide all correspondence and documentation, including
applications, explanations, consents relating to the warranting of the following
inspectors in the SPCA going back to the time when they were first warranted and
all subsequent renewals
1. Kevin Plowright
2. Lauri Davis
3. Mike Loulanting
4. Tracey Phillips
5. Greg Reid
Your request for the above information has been declined in accordance with section 9(2)(a)
–
to protect the privacy of natural persons as it contains information relating to the above-
named application forms, police vetting forms and identification forms.
Charles Fergusson Building, 34-38 Bowen Street
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140, New Zealand
mpi.govt.nz
However, I can advise that the Animal Welfare Inspectors were appointed and subsequently
renewed on the following dates:
1. Kevin Plowright was first appointed on 9 November 2005. There have been a number
of subsequent renewals since this date. His current appointment expired on 13
November 2020.
2. Lori Davis was first appointed on 9 February 2009. There have been a number of
subsequent renewals since this date. Her most recent renewal was on 4 February
2019 and is not due to expire until 4 February 2022.
3. Mike Loulanting was appointed on 15 November 2019 and this expired on 15
November 2020.
4. Tracy Phillips was appointed 29 August 2019 and is due to expire 29 August 2022.
5. Greg Reid was first appointed on 16 October 2014. He was renewed on 16 October
2017 and this expired on 16 October 2020.
MPI is satisfied that in the circumstances of this case, the withholding of the information is
not outweighed by other considerations which render it desirable in the public interest to
make the information available.
I trust the information provided is of assistance. Should you have any concerns with this
response, I would encourage you to raise these with the Ministry for Primary Industries at
[email address]. Alternatively, you are advised of your right to also raise
any concerns with the Office of the Ombudsman. Contact details are: Office of the
Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143 or at
[email address]. Yours sincerely
Gary Orr
Director Compliance Services
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