OIA 7315 Nicholas Lee response 25 November 2020.pdf

25 November 2020

Nicholas Lee
[FYI request #14072 email]

REF: OIA-7315
Dear Nicholas

Request made under the Official Information Act 1982

Thank you for your email of 3 November 2020 requesting the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):

I refer to item of the board minutes from the 2020/05/20 meeting [1]. Please provide:
1.  Details of what policy changes would be required to meet the challenges of making the
necessary carbon emission reductions within 10 years.
2.  Details of the board strategy meeting on the 22/May/2020. With particular reference to
discussions about the board's strategy in response to climate change and associated
risks, and the decarbonisation of transport in New Zealand.
3.  Any further references to the Dr Paul Winton's presentation in this strategy meeting or
later work streams by Waka Kotahi.
4.  Any other strategy and planning documents related to climate change and
decarbonisation of transport.
Each of the above items can be treated as separately requests, as to not delay one for the
other.
[1]
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzta.govt.nz%2Fa
ssets%2Fboard-meeting-minutes-2020%2Fminutes-
20200520.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Cofficial.correspondence%40nzta.govt.nz%7Cfe909b0
df42d4108693b08d87fa9cd56%7C7245e48ca9ff4b2898ef05cfa8edb518%7C0%7C0%7C6373
99715030132153%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luM
zIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=BDWxcf2aDLHt7PmCTs29W
gfHxt%2FSGqw%2Bc1GkC5zifzs%3D&reserved=0

I will respond to your questions in turn.

1.  Details of what policy changes would be required to meet the challenges of making the
necessary carbon emission reductions within 10 years.

At this point in time Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is not able to detail specific policy changes
that would be required to reduce land transport carbon emissions. Acknowledging our role and
responsibility to contribute to wider government efforts to address this challenge we are currently
focusing our effort on working actively in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders across
central and local government to identify and justify pathways to address this challenge.

This includes working closely with the Climate Change Commission, Ministry of Transport,
Ministry for the Environment and Ministry for Housing and Urban Development.

Our current position and approaches to reducing land transport carbon emissions are outlined in
the following documents and statements:

1.  Waka Kotahi Statement of Performance and Expectations - Environment Position
Statement:  This statement outlines the Waka Kotahi commitment to responsibly manage
the land transport system’s interaction with people, places and the environment.

This document has been refused under section 18(d) of the Act as the information
requested is publicly available on Waka Kotahi website:
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/statement-of-performance-expectations/2020-
2021/spe-2020-2021.pdf.

2.  Arataki:  This document outlines the Waka Kotahi 10-year view of what is needed to
deliver on the government’s current priorities and long-term objectives for the land
transport system, including tacking climate change.

This document has been refused under section 18(d) of the Act as the information
requested is publicly available on Waka Kotahi website:
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/planning-and-investment/planning/arataki/arataki-version-2/.

3.  Toitū Te Taiao Our Sustainability Action Plan: This plan sets out the actions we will take
to deliver on our vision for a ‘low carbon, safe and healthy land transport system’
including how we will reduce land transport emissions.

This document has been refused under section 18(d) of the Act as the information
requested is publicly available on Waka Kotahi website: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/about-
us/about-waka-kotahi-nz-transport-agency/environmental-and-social-responsibility/toitu-
te-taiao-our-sustainability-action-plan/.

The Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019 requires the Climate
Change Commission to provide advice to government on emission reduction budgets in early
2021. As well as approving emission budgets next year, the government will need to confirm an
Emission Reduction Plan by the end of 2021.  At this time, Waka Kotahi will have clearer
understanding of the specific land transport policies to be pursued and our role in reducing land
transport carbon emissions.

2.  Details of the board strategy meeting on the 22/May/2020. With particular reference to
discussions about the board's strategy in response to climate change and associated
risks, and the decarbonisation of transport in New Zealand.

No minutes were taken at the Board Strategy meeting on 22 May 2020 because the output of the
meeting will be the actual strategy document. Therefore, this part of your request is refused under
section  18(e)  of  the  Act  as  the document alleged  to contain  the  information  requested  does  not
exist or cannot be found.

3.  Any further references to Dr Paul Winton's presentation in this strategy meeting or later
work streams by Waka Kotahi.

The following documents refer to Dr Winton’s presentation and are attached as requested:

4.  Waka Kotahi Executive Leadership Team notes (14 July 2020). These notes capture key
points discussed and actions by the ELT at the time of Dr Winton’s presentation.

Information out of scope has been redacted.

5.  Waka Kotahi internal intranet (On Ramp) article – Climate change a hot topic for Waka
Kotahi (10 August 2020). This article was intended to promote interest and discussion
about Dr Winton’s presentations to Waka Kotahi Board and ELT.

This article has been released in full.

6.  Waka Kotahi internal intranet (On Ramp) article – Waka Kotahi sponsors Climate Change
and Business Conference (8 October 2020). This article raises awareness of this
conference, Waka Kotahi sponsorship of livestreaming to enable attendance without
travel as well as promoting Dr Winton’s contribution to the session on ‘Redefining
transport and travel’.

This article has been released in full.

7.  Waka Kotahi internal intranet (On Ramp) article – A sustainable land transport system –
lunch and learn (12 October 2020).  This article raises awareness about Toitū Te Taiao
Our Sustainability Action Plan and the workstreams in the plan that contain actions
intended to reduce land transport greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health.

This article has been released in full.

4.  Any other strategy and planning documents related to climate change and decarbonisation
of transport.

In addition to our Environment Position Statement, Arataki and Toitū Te Taiao Our Sustainability
Action Plan, the following documents fall within the scope of your request and are attached as
requested:

8.  Keeping Cities Moving (September 2019) (available on Waka Kotahi website). The
purpose of this plan is to increase the wellbeing of New Zealand’s cities by growing the
share of travel by public transport, walking and cycling.  Toitū Te Taiao includes an action
to build on this plan and determine the extent to which mode shift needs to contribute to
the government’s efforts to reduce land transport greenhouse gas emissions.

This document has been refused under section 18(d) of the Act as the information
requested is publicly available on Waka Kotahi website:
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/keeping-cities-moving/Keeping-cities-
moving.pdf.

9.  Minister of Transport briefing - BRI-1950 Sustainability Action Plan (21 May 2020). This
document briefs the Waka Kotahi Chief Executive in advance of a Ministerial meeting on
the status of Toitū Te Taiao Our Sustainability Action Plan and areas of Ministerial
interest.

This briefing has been released in full.

10.  Waka Kotahi internal intranet (On Ramp) article – Te Puna Taiao – an environmental
impact model [for land transport] (17 August 2020).  This article describes the purpose
and approach to developing a new model and evidence base for identifying strategic
interventions to deliver a range of long-term outcomes – initially focussing on urban land
transport greenhouse gas emissions.

This article has been released in full.

11.  Investment decision-making framework review (last update 31 August 2020) (available on
Waka Kotahi website).  This comprehensive review covered a range of topics and issues
relating to Waka Kotahi investment decision making including consideration of climate
change.

Refused under section 18(d) of the Act as the information requested is publicly available
on Waka Kotahi website: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/planning-and-
investment/planning/investment-decision-making-framework-review/

12.  Waka Kotahi Board Paper - Toitū Te Taiao Progress Overview (18 September 2020).
This paper has been withheld in full under section 9(2)(g)(i) of the Act to maintain the
effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions by or
between or to Ministers of the Crown or members of an organisation or officers and
employees of any department or organisation in the course of their duty.

With respect to the information that has been withheld, I do not consider there are any other factors
which would render it desirable, in the public interest, to make the information available.

Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision to
withhold and refuse some information. The contact details for the Ombudsman can be located online
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.

If you would like to discuss this reply with Waka Kotahi, please contact Rob Hannaby, Lead Advisor -
Environment, by email to [email address].

Yours sincerely

Lisa Rossiter
Senior Manager Environment and Sustainability