21 June 2021
C134907
Bruce
[FYI request #14915 email] Tēnā koe Bruce
Thank you for your email of 15 April 2021, requesting information related to the
release of David Ross. Your request has been considered under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA).
Further to information released to you regarding David Ross’ release on 13 April
2021 (Our ref C133144), you requested:
In the document titled "Daily Media Summary" for Friday 10 January 2020
mention is made of a TVNZ request about the David Ross release. I would
like all documents regarding the process of informing non-communications
staff, gathering their responses, and achieving final sign-off for the 14 January
response. I would like the positions and roles of all staff consulted (not their
names). I would like any documents created if the Minister's office was
informed.
In the "Daily Media Summary" for Monday 17 February 2020 mention is made
of another TVNZ request - this time in regard to where media were allowed to
film. I request all information regarding the process of achieving sign-off for
the response. I would also request any sections of relevant manuals or
guidelines regarding filming that formed the basis of the response on
February 18th.
Any consultation and final sign out between Corrections staff relating to the media
statements released to you appears to have been verbal, but due to the passage of
time and staffing changes, the nature of that consultation cannot be confirmed. No e-
mails or electronic records within scope of your requests have been located.
As the media were not entering prison land there were no manuals or guidelines
involved in regard to filming as they were on public land. Therefore, these parts of
your request are refused in accordance with section 18(e) of the OIA as the
documents alleged to contain the information requested do not exist or despite
reasonable attempts to find them cannot be found.
In regard to the "Daily Media Summary" for Monday 24 February 2020 I would
like to request what time the TVNZ request was made, and what time the
response was communicated to TVNZ.
2
An initial request was made by Television New Zealand (TVNZ) on 24 February
2020 at 8:55am and a response was provided at 9:13am advising that Corrections
could not provide the time this individual would be released. TVNZ followed up at
9:20am and at 1:14pm Corrections responded informing TVNZ that the individual
was no longer in custody.
Additionally, I've seen (but do not have a copy of) raw footage of an
interaction on Monday 24 February 2020 between a woman who identified
herself as the Rimutaka Prison Director and TVNZ reporters at the entrance to
the prison road. The woman stopped her car as she was about to enter the
prison, exited it and walked up to the reporters and enquired what the
reporters were doing. This interaction appears to have taken place after Ross
was released. Was this incident noted in any way by the Director, and was
any contact made to notify Head Office communications staff? Was the time
of the interaction noted by the director?
Rimutaka Prison Director, Viv Whelan, did approach two people at the side of the
road to ask why they were there. Viv did not note the time of this interaction and no
notification to National Office Communications staff was made.
I trust the information provided is of assistance. Should you have any concerns with
this response, I would encourage you to raise them with Corrections. 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.
Ngā mihi
Robert Jones
Manager Ministerial Services
People and Capability
