Wairarapa Housing Plans
Sophie made this Official Information request to Megan Woods
This request has an unknown status. We're waiting for Sophie to read recent responses and update the status.
From: Sophie
Tena koe Megan Woods,
I recently read an article in our local paper which outlined that there are no concrete plans for public housing/ Kainga Ora in the Wairarapa https://times-age.co.nz/wairarapa-who/
I would like to understand the considerations you, and your respective officials have given to the housing situation in the Wairarapa, including increased pressures on market, driving house prices which are becoming unattainable for local people (who earn significantly lower amounts to those commuting to the likes of Wellington), and the lack of rental availability for families.
I understand this is a complex issue and cannot be a one size fits all. I appreciate officials and yourself are working hard to remedy a systemic problem of inequality.
Could I please request (in particular):
- Any advice you, or your office has received in the past 18 months regarding housing in the Wairarapa? OR if the Wairarapa has been considered a part of Wellington for this advice (then please apply Wellington to this request). This includes briefings, aide memoires and ad hoc advice via email.
- Any correspondence between Mike Butterick, Nicola Willis and Kieran McAnulty and you/ your office / Department regarding housing (in particular for the Wairarapa (and Wellington if considered under this term) over the past 12 months. Could I also request the number of meetings/hui you or your office has had with these individuals/ MPs over the past 12 months to discuss the aforementioned topic.
Ultimately this request is to gain further understanding of your thought process as a Minister, the thinking of officials, future plans, and the considerations you give to communities like the Wairarapa.
The Wairarapa has a unique community (rural and urban) with strong voices. They used that voice last year to vote Labour, and with that comes certain expectations and a need for change in approach. Parts of the Wairarapa community have been struggling for some time and housing is only one part of this puzzle, but an essential part.
Naku noa, na
Sophie
From: Megan Woods (MIN)
Megan Woods
Kia ora,
On behalf of Hon Dr Megan Woods, thank you for your email.
While the Minister considers all correspondence to be important, and all
messages are carefully read and considered, it is not always possible to
personally reply to all emails. As such, the following guidelines apply:
* Invitations and meeting requests will be processed as soon as possible
and a staff member will be in contact with you in due course.
* Requests for official information will be managed in accordance with
the provisions of the Official Information Act 1982, which may include
transfer to a more relevant Minister or agency.
* If your email falls outside of the Minister’s portfolio
responsibilities, expresses a personal view, or is copied to multiple
Members of Parliament, your correspondence will be noted and/or
transferred to another office.
If you are a resident in the Wigram electorate, please
email [1][email address] and the electorate office team
will get back to when they are able.
Thank you for the taking the time to write.
Ngâ mihi,
Office of Hon Dr Megan Woods
Minister of Housing | Minister of Energy & Resources | Minister of
Research, Science & Innovation | Associate Minister of Finance | MP for
Wigram
Private Bag 18041 |Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand
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References
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1. mailto:[email address]
From: Savannah Smith
Dear Sophie
I refer to your official information request dated 22 January 2021
requesting all advice and correspondence received about housing in the
Wairarapa in the last 18 months.
The OIA requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no
later than 20 working days after the day we received your request.
Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet that time limit and I am
therefore writing to notify you of an extension of the time to make a
decision, to 29 March 2021.
The reason for this extension is that consultations necessary to make a
decision on your request are such that a proper response cannot be made
within the original timeframe.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
[1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely,
Savannah
Office of Hon Dr Megan Woods
Minister of Energy and Resources | Minister of Research, Science and
Innovation | Minister of Housing | Associate Minister of Finance
Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand
Office Phone: +64 4 817 8705 Email: [2][Megan Woods request email]
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References
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1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. mailto:[Megan Woods request email]
From: Sophie
Dear Savannah,
Thanks for getting in touch, I look forward to receiving the response.
I just ask, is there a way to satisfy my request in part by the due date, apart from the documents requiring consultation? Then provide the remaining documents which require these permissions by the 29th?
Happy either way, whatever is easiest. I just don't want us to get 4 weeks down the track and we are still awaiting permissions to be granted.
Yours faithfully,
Sophie
From: Savannah Smith
Dear Sophie
I refer to your official information request dated 22 January 2021
requesting all advice and correspondence received about housing in the
Wairarapa in the last 18 months.
We have made a decision on your request. However, it will take us some
time to prepare the information for release. We will send you the
information by 9 April 2021.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
[1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or Freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Savannah Smith
Office of Hon Dr Megan Woods
Minister of Energy and Resources | Minister of Research, Science and
Innovation | Minister of Housing | Associate Minister of Finance
Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand
Office Phone: +64 4 817 8705 Email: [2][Megan Woods request email]
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References
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1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. mailto:[Megan Woods request email]
From: Savannah Smith
Dear Sophie
Please find attached part one of the response to your OIA request of 29
January.
Yours sincerely,
Savannah Smith
Office of Hon Dr Megan Woods
Minister of Energy and Resources | Minister of Research, Science and
Innovation | Minister of Housing | Associate Minister of Finance
Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand
Office Phone: +64 4 817 8705 Email: [1][Megan Woods request email]
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References
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1. mailto:[Megan Woods request email]
From: Savannah Smith
Dear Sophie
Please find attached part two of the response to your OIA request of 29
January.
Yours sincerely,
Savannah Smith
Office of Hon Dr Megan Woods
Minister of Energy and Resources | Minister of Research, Science and
Innovation | Minister of Housing | Associate Minister of Finance
Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand
Office Phone: +64 4 817 8705 Email: [1][Megan Woods request email]
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References
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1. mailto:[Megan Woods request email]
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