Ref: 2122-0833

 

Dear Amy,

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of the 6^th of October 2021 requesting under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:

 

“This year marks a solar centenary. In 1921, three waves of a major
geomagnetic event wreaked havoc in different parts of the world. The main
effects of an electrical surge cause from a CME would be a major outage on
the power grid.

Do we in New Zealand have backup transmitters should such an event occur?
How long would these backup transmitters provide power to the country? Are
there any specific areas of the country that would not be provided with
power from a backup source?

Please provide me with the plans and procedures in place should New
Zealand experience a major outage caused from a solar flare”

 

Your request is being processed in accordance with the Act and a response
will be sent to you in due course.

 

Due to the recent changes in Covid-19 alert levels, the Ministry is
currently focused on assisting with the pandemic response and your
response may be delayed. The Ministry will contact you to provide further
updates specific to your request once it has been assessed.

 

If you have any enquiries regarding your request, or its urgency, feel
free to contact us via email at [1][MBIE request email].

 

Nâku noa, nâ

MINISTERIAL SERVICES

               

Ngâ Pou o te Taumaru

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

Level 4, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

 

[2]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

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References

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Ref: 2122-0833
 
Dear Amy,
 
On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 6th of October 2021 requesting under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:
 
"This year marks a solar centenary. In 1921, three waves of a major
geomagnetic event wreaked havoc in different parts of the world. The main
effects of an electrical surge cause from a CME would be a major outage on
the power grid.
Do we in New Zealand have backup transmitters should such an event occur?
How long would these backup transmitters provide power to the country? Are
there any specific areas of the country that would not be provided with
power from a backup source?
Please provide me with the plans and procedures in place should New
Zealand experience a major outage caused from a solar flare"
 
This letter is to advise you that your request has been transferred to
Transpower New Zealand Ltd.
 
This is because your request is more closely aligned with the functions of
Transpower New Zealand Ltd. Section 14(b)(ii) of the Official Information
Act allows me to transfer any request that is believed to be more closely
aligned with the functions of another department, organisation or Minister
of the Crown.
 
I trust you find the information helpful.  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.
 
Nāku noa, nā
MINISTERIAL SERVICES
 
Nga Pou o te Taumaru
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Level 4, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140
NZBN 9429000106078
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Amy Ferguson <[2][FOI #17068 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 6 October 2021 5:36 PM
To: *OIA <[3][email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)
 
Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,
(ATT: NZ Space Agency)
 
This year marks a solar centenary. In 1921, three waves of a major
geomagnetic event wreaked havoc in different parts of the world. The main
effects of an electrical surge cause from a CME would be a major outage on
the power grid.
 
Do we in New Zealand have backup transmitters should such an event occur?
How long would these backup transmitters provide power to the country? Are
there any specific areas of the country that would not be provided with
power from a backup source?
 
Please provide me with the plans and procedures in place should New
Zealand experience a major outage caused from a solar flare
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Amy Ferguson
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
 
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[4][FOI #17068 email]
 
Is [5][MBIE request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests
to Ministry of Business, Innovation &amp; Employment? If so, please
contact us using this form:
[6]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
 
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
 
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.
 
 
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[8]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

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Any opinions expressed in this message are not necessarily those of the
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files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the
intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient or the person
responsible for delivery to the intended recipient, be advised that you
have received this message in error and that any use is strictly
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References

Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. mailto:[FOI #17068 email]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[FOI #17068 email]
5. mailto:[MBIE request email]
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Kia ora

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your OIA request, transferred to Transpower by MBIE on 10th October, for information about coronal mass injection. Transpower owns and operates the National Grid – or high voltage transmission network – that carries electricity around the country. This network includes over 12,000 km of transmission lines and 170 substations.

In your request you ask about backup transmitters. However, Transpower does not have transmitters. Are you able to clarify/elaborate on what you mean by backup transmitters?

Ngā mihi nui
Charlotte

CHARLOTTE EDWARDS
Corporate Counsel
Transpower New Zealand Ltd 
 
CAUTION: This message and any attachments contain information that is CONFIDENTIAL and may be LEGALLY PRIVILEGED. If you are not the intended recipient any use, disclosure or copying of this email message or attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and erase all copies of this message and attachments. 
Thank you. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Amy Ferguson <[FOI #17068 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 6 October 2021 5:36 pm
To: *OIA <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)

Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,
(ATT: NZ Space Agency)

This year marks a solar centenary. In 1921, three waves of a major geomagnetic event wreaked havoc in different parts of the world. The main effects of an electrical surge cause from a CME would be a major outage on the power grid.

Do we in New Zealand have backup transmitters should such an event occur? How long would these backup transmitters provide power to the country? Are there any specific areas of the country that would not be provided with power from a backup source?

Please provide me with the plans and procedures in place should New Zealand experience a major outage caused from a solar flare

Yours faithfully,

Amy Ferguson

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

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #17068 email]

Is [MBIE request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Ministry of Business, Innovation &amp; Employment? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

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.

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

hide quoted sections

Kia ora

I am writing to follow up my email I sent on 14 October that acknowledged your request and sought clarification around "transmitters".

Transpower does not have "transmitters" so if you do not clarify what you mean by "transmitters" we will be unable to respond to your request.

Ngā mihi nui
Charlotte

CHARLOTTE EDWARDS (ia/she/her)
Corporate Counsel
Transpower New Zealand Ltd 
 
CAUTION: This message and any attachments contain information that is CONFIDENTIAL and may be LEGALLY PRIVILEGED. If you are not the intended recipient any use, disclosure or copying of this email message or attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and erase all copies of this message and attachments. 
Thank you. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Charlotte Edwards
Sent: Thursday, 14 October 2021 3:34 pm
To: Amy Ferguson <[FOI #17068 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)

Kia ora

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your OIA request, transferred to Transpower by MBIE on 10th October, for information about coronal mass injection. Transpower owns and operates the National Grid – or high voltage transmission network – that carries electricity around the country. This network includes over 12,000 km of transmission lines and 170 substations.

In your request you ask about backup transmitters. However, Transpower does not have transmitters. Are you able to clarify/elaborate on what you mean by backup transmitters?

Ngā mihi nui
Charlotte

CHARLOTTE EDWARDS
Corporate Counsel
Transpower New Zealand Ltd 
 
CAUTION: This message and any attachments contain information that is CONFIDENTIAL and may be LEGALLY PRIVILEGED. If you are not the intended recipient any use, disclosure or copying of this email message or attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and erase all copies of this message and attachments. Thank you. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Amy Ferguson <[FOI #17068 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 6 October 2021 5:36 pm
To: *OIA <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)

Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,
(ATT: NZ Space Agency)

This year marks a solar centenary. In 1921, three waves of a major geomagnetic event wreaked havoc in different parts of the world. The main effects of an electrical surge cause from a CME would be a major outage on the power grid.

Do we in New Zealand have backup transmitters should such an event occur? How long would these backup transmitters provide power to the country? Are there any specific areas of the country that would not be provided with power from a backup source?

Please provide me with the plans and procedures in place should New Zealand experience a major outage caused from a solar flare

Yours faithfully,

Amy Ferguson

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

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #17068 email]

Is [MBIE request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Ministry of Business, Innovation &amp; Employment? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

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.

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

hide quoted sections