Good morning Robin

RNZ acknowledges receipt of your OIA request. Under the Official Information Act 1982 we have 20 working days to respond, and will contact you via email /post. If for any reason our response is delayed due to illness, or pandemic we will advise immediately.

Kind regards
Maggie Hedge| OIA Administrator RNZ
[email address]

-----Original Message-----
From: RNZ <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 23 February 2021 10:14 AM
To: George Bignell <[email address]>
Cc: Maggie Hedge <[email address]>
Subject: FW: Official Information request - NZ Government - Radio NZ - memorandum of understanding February 2021

-----Original Message-----
From: Robin Benson <[FYI request #14732 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 23 February 2021 9:59 AM
To: RNZ <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - NZ Government - Radio NZ - memorandum of understanding February 2021

Dear Radio New Zealand Limited,

Official Information Act 1982 (Act)

This is an official request for information pursuant to the Act.

On 17 February 2021 the following statement was published by Radio New Zealand:

"RNZ is the statutory Lifeline Utility responsible for radio broadcasting under the Emergency Management Act 2002 and it has a memorandum of understanding with Government which has been activated to help deal with potential health issues related to the pandemic. RNZ's Lifeline Utility obligations do not affect our editorial independence as a public media organisation or the rigour of our news gathering and reporting operations."

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/4365...

Please provide a copy of the "memorandum of understanding" and all relevant material pursuant to and in the context of the mentioned activation.

I hereby confirm that I meet the requirements of the Act in making this request.

Should you require any evidence concerning meeting requirements pursuant to section 12 of the Act please respond without delay outlining:

(a) the forms of evidence you deem acceptable and an email address to which such information can be sent, and

(b) the genuine and reasonable grounds for requiring such evidence.

Yours faithfully,

Robin Benson

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #14732 email]

Is [RNZ request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Radio New Zealand Limited? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Emails sent by Radio New Zealand Limited (RNZ) or any related entity, including any attachments, may be confidential, protected by copyright and/or subject to privilege. If you receive an email from RNZ in error, please inform the sender immediately, delete it from your system and do not use, copy or disclose any of the information in that email for any purpose. Emails to/from RNZ may undergo email filtering and virus scanning, including by third party contractors. However, RNZ does not guarantee that any email or any attachment is secure, error-free or free of viruses or other unwanted or unexpected inclusions. The views expressed in any non-business email are not necessarily the views of RNZ. www.rnz.co.nz

hide quoted sections

Dear Mr Benson

Please find a copy of the MoU attached as requested.

Kind regards

George Bignell| OIA Inquiries Coordinator
RADIO NEW ZEALAND | LEVEL 2 | 155 THE TERRACE
PO BOX 123 | WELLINGTON | NEW ZEALAND 6140 | www.rnz.co.nz
DDI +64 4 474 1424 | [mobile number]

-----Original Message-----
From: RNZ <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 23 February 2021 10:14 AM
To: George Bignell <[email address]>
Cc: Maggie Hedge <[email address]>
Subject: FW: Official Information request - NZ Government - Radio NZ - memorandum of understanding February 2021

-----Original Message-----
From: Robin Benson <[FYI request #14732 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 23 February 2021 9:59 AM
To: RNZ <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - NZ Government - Radio NZ - memorandum of understanding February 2021

Dear Radio New Zealand Limited,

Official Information Act 1982 (Act)

This is an official request for information pursuant to the Act.

On 17 February 2021 the following statement was published by Radio New Zealand:

"RNZ is the statutory Lifeline Utility responsible for radio broadcasting under the Emergency Management Act 2002 and it has a memorandum of understanding with Government which has been activated to help deal with potential health issues related to the pandemic. RNZ's Lifeline Utility obligations do not affect our editorial independence as a public media organisation or the rigour of our news gathering and reporting operations."

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/4365...

Please provide a copy of the "memorandum of understanding" and all relevant material pursuant to and in the context of the mentioned activation.

I hereby confirm that I meet the requirements of the Act in making this request.

Should you require any evidence concerning meeting requirements pursuant to section 12 of the Act please respond without delay outlining:

(a) the forms of evidence you deem acceptable and an email address to which such information can be sent, and

(b) the genuine and reasonable grounds for requiring such evidence.

Yours faithfully,

Robin Benson

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #14732 email]

Is [RNZ request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Radio New Zealand Limited? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Emails sent by Radio New Zealand Limited (RNZ) or any related entity, including any attachments, may be confidential, protected by copyright and/or subject to privilege. If you receive an email from RNZ in error, please inform the sender immediately, delete it from your system and do not use, copy or disclose any of the information in that email for any purpose. Emails to/from RNZ may undergo email filtering and virus scanning, including by third party contractors. However, RNZ does not guarantee that any email or any attachment is secure, error-free or free of viruses or other unwanted or unexpected inclusions. The views expressed in any non-business email are not necessarily the views of RNZ. www.rnz.co.nz

hide quoted sections

Dear Mr Benson

Thank you for your further email.

Can you please provide more detail as to the "activation" you refer to as there is no reference to it in the story you quoted.

Once we have received any further information from you, we will assess your request again.

Kind regards

George Bignell| OIA Inquiries Coordinator
RADIO NEW ZEALAND | LEVEL 2 | 155 THE TERRACE
PO BOX 123 | WELLINGTON | NEW ZEALAND 6140 | www.rnz.co.nz
DDI +64 4 474 1424 | [mobile number]

-----Original Message-----
From: Robin Benson <[FYI request #14732 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 4 March 2021 11:49 AM
To: George Bignell <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - NZ Government - Radio NZ - memorandum of understanding February 2021

Dear George Bignell,

My OIA asked:

"Please provide a copy of the "memorandum of understanding" and all relevant material pursuant to and in the context of the mentioned activation."

You have provided the MOU.

Please provide all relevant material pursuant to and in the context of the mentioned activation.

To be clear this part of my request relates to the "activation" as mentioned on 17 February 2021 at:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/4365...

Yours sincerely,

Robin Benson

-----Original Message-----

Dear Mr Benson

Please find a copy of the MoU attached as requested.

Kind regards

George Bignell| OIA Inquiries Coordinator RADIO NEW ZEALAND | LEVEL 2 | 155 THE TERRACE PO BOX 123 | WELLINGTON | NEW ZEALAND 6140 | www.rnz.co.nz DDI +64 4 474 1424 | [mobile number]

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #14732 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Emails sent by Radio New Zealand Limited (RNZ) or any related entity, including any attachments, may be confidential, protected by copyright and/or subject to privilege. If you receive an email from RNZ in error, please inform the sender immediately, delete it from your system and do not use, copy or disclose any of the information in that email for any purpose. Emails to/from RNZ may undergo email filtering and virus scanning, including by third party contractors. However, RNZ does not guarantee that any email or any attachment is secure, error-free or free of viruses or other unwanted or unexpected inclusions. The views expressed in any non-business email are not necessarily the views of RNZ. www.rnz.co.nz

hide quoted sections

Dear Mr Benson

Thank you for your further email. To clarify, the memorandum of understanding was activated on February 14 when the Prime Minister had announced that the Auckland area would go on to Level 3 restrictions from 6.00am that morning. The paragraph above the one which you refer to is what was sent to RNZ for publication and that is what we published. As that information is in the public arena, there is no further information which we hold to be released.

The Level 3 restrictions were eased later in the afternoon of February 17 after Cabinet met and the Prime Minister made her further announcement. The article you refer to was published just after midday on the 17th.

I trust the above is of assistance to you.

Kind regards

George Bignell| OIA Inquiries Coordinator
RADIO NEW ZEALAND | LEVEL 2 | 155 THE TERRACE
PO BOX 123 | WELLINGTON | NEW ZEALAND 6140 | www.rnz.co.nz
DDI +64 4 474 1424 | [mobile number]

-----Original Message-----
From: Robin Benson <[FOI #14732 email]>
Sent: Friday, 12 March 2021 12:58 PM
To: George Bignell <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - NZ Government - Radio NZ - memorandum of understanding February 2021

Dear George Bignell,

Thank you for your response.

At the end of the RNZ item referenced (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/4365...) are the paragraphs below. The last paragraph relates to an "activation".

I trust you find this clarification helpful.

"This is an official government Covid-19 announcement:

Auckland is now at alert level 3, the rest of the country is now at alert level 2. Cases of Covid-19 have been identified in the Auckland community. Restrictions will remain until Wednesday at midnight. A further announcement on next steps will be made at 4.30pm this afternoon. Travelling in or out of Auckland is restricted. Stay home, stop the spread. For more information on the alert levels go to covid19.govt.nz

RNZ is the statutory Lifeline Utility responsible for radio broadcasting under the Emergency Management Act 2002 and it has a memorandum of understanding with Government which has been activated to help deal with potential health issues related to the pandemic. RNZ's Lifeline Utility obligations do not affect our editorial independence as a public media organisation or the rigour of our news gathering and reporting operations."

Yours sincerely,

Robin Benson

-----Original Message-----

Dear Mr Benson

Thank you for your further email.

Can you please provide more detail as to the "activation" you refer to as there is no reference to it in the story you quoted.

Once we have received any further information from you, we will assess your request again.

Kind regards

George Bignell| OIA Inquiries Coordinator RADIO NEW ZEALAND | LEVEL 2 | 155 THE TERRACE PO BOX 123 | WELLINGTON | NEW ZEALAND 6140 | www.rnz.co.nz DDI +64 4 474 1424 | [mobile number]

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #14732 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Emails sent by Radio New Zealand Limited (RNZ) or any related entity, including any attachments, may be confidential, protected by copyright and/or subject to privilege. If you receive an email from RNZ in error, please inform the sender immediately, delete it from your system and do not use, copy or disclose any of the information in that email for any purpose. Emails to/from RNZ may undergo email filtering and virus scanning, including by third party contractors. However, RNZ does not guarantee that any email or any attachment is secure, error-free or free of viruses or other unwanted or unexpected inclusions. The views expressed in any non-business email are not necessarily the views of RNZ. www.rnz.co.nz

hide quoted sections

Dear Mr Benson

The phrase you highlighted, i.e. "deal with potential health issues related to the pandemic." means there was an identified risk of the virus spreading i.e. a potential health issue. RNZ broadcasting and publishing the government's official statements was part of dealing with the health issue of preventing the virus spreading.

I trust this is assistance to you and this now brings this correspondence to a close.

Kind regards

George Bignell| OIA Inquiries Coordinator
RADIO NEW ZEALAND | LEVEL 2 | 155 THE TERRACE
PO BOX 123 | WELLINGTON | NEW ZEALAND 6140 | www.rnz.co.nz
DDI +64 4 474 1424 | [mobile number]

-----Original Message-----
From: Robin Benson <[FYI request #14732 email]>
Sent: Friday, 12 March 2021 2:53 PM
To: George Bignell <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - NZ Government - Radio NZ - memorandum of understanding February 2021

Dear George Bignell,

Thank you for the additional information. I feel we are almost there.

"which has been activated to help deal with potential health issues related to the pandemic."

Could you please outline what RNZ helping "deal with potential health issues related to the pandemic." actually means?

Yours sincerely,

Robin Benson

-----Original Message-----

Dear Mr Benson

Thank you for your further email. To clarify, the memorandum of understanding was activated on February 14 when the Prime Minister had announced that the Auckland area would go on to Level 3 restrictions from 6.00am that morning. The paragraph above the one which you refer to is what was sent to RNZ for publication and that is what we published. As that information is in the public arena, there is no further information which we hold to be released.

The Level 3 restrictions were eased later in the afternoon of February 17 after Cabinet met and the Prime Minister made her further announcement. The article you refer to was published just after midday on the 17th.

I trust the above is of assistance to you.

Kind regards

George Bignell| OIA Inquiries Coordinator RADIO NEW ZEALAND | LEVEL 2 | 155 THE TERRACE PO BOX 123 | WELLINGTON | NEW ZEALAND 6140 | www.rnz.co.nz DDI +64 4 474 1424 | [mobile number]

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #14732 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Emails sent by Radio New Zealand Limited (RNZ) or any related entity, including any attachments, may be confidential, protected by copyright and/or subject to privilege. If you receive an email from RNZ in error, please inform the sender immediately, delete it from your system and do not use, copy or disclose any of the information in that email for any purpose. Emails to/from RNZ may undergo email filtering and virus scanning, including by third party contractors. However, RNZ does not guarantee that any email or any attachment is secure, error-free or free of viruses or other unwanted or unexpected inclusions. The views expressed in any non-business email are not necessarily the views of RNZ. www.rnz.co.nz

hide quoted sections

Greetings, I am on leave at the moment.  I will respond to you after I
return on Monday April 6, 2020.

 

If it can't wait and it's a:

 

Facilities issue please talk to Stewart Robinson at
[email address].

 

Complaints/standards/copyright issue please talk to Maggie Hedge at
[email address]

 

Business/legal issue please talk to Karen Larsen at
[email address].

 

rgds

George

 

Emails sent by Radio New Zealand Limited (RNZ) or any related entity,
including any attachments, may be confidential, protected by copyright
and/or subject to privilege. If you receive an email from RNZ in error,
please inform the sender immediately, delete it from your system and do
not use, copy or disclose any of the information in that email for any
purpose. Emails to/from RNZ may undergo email filtering and virus
scanning, including by third party contractors. However, RNZ does not
guarantee that any email or any attachment is secure, error-free or free
of viruses or other unwanted or unexpected inclusions. The views expressed
in any non-business email are not necessarily the views of RNZ.
www.rnz.co.nz

.....that is correct....

-----Original Message-----
From: Robin Benson <[FYI request #14732 email]>
Sent: Sunday, 14 March 2021 10:08 PM
To: George Bignell <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - NZ Government - Radio NZ - memorandum of understanding February 2021

Dear George Bignell,

Just to be clear, the "activation" referred to relates specifically and only to "RNZ broadcasting and publishing the government's official statements was part of dealing with the health issue of preventing the virus spreading."

Please confirm this is correct and that will conclude this OIA.

Alternatively I refer you to the original request in particular "all relevant material pursuant to and in the context of the mentioned activation."

Yours sincerely,

Robin Benson

-----Original Message-----

Dear Mr Benson

The phrase you highlighted, i.e. "deal with potential health issues related to the pandemic." means there was an identified risk of the virus spreading i.e. a potential health issue. RNZ broadcasting and publishing the government's official statements was part of dealing with the health issue of preventing the virus spreading.

I trust this is assistance to you and this now brings this correspondence to a close.

Kind regards

George Bignell| OIA Inquiries Coordinator RADIO NEW ZEALAND | LEVEL 2 | 155 THE TERRACE PO BOX 123 | WELLINGTON | NEW ZEALAND 6140 | www.rnz.co.nz DDI +64 4 474 1424 | [mobile number]

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #14732 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Emails sent by Radio New Zealand Limited (RNZ) or any related entity, including any attachments, may be confidential, protected by copyright and/or subject to privilege. If you receive an email from RNZ in error, please inform the sender immediately, delete it from your system and do not use, copy or disclose any of the information in that email for any purpose. Emails to/from RNZ may undergo email filtering and virus scanning, including by third party contractors. However, RNZ does not guarantee that any email or any attachment is secure, error-free or free of viruses or other unwanted or unexpected inclusions. The views expressed in any non-business email are not necessarily the views of RNZ. www.rnz.co.nz

hide quoted sections