Thursday, 23 December 2021
By em
ail: [FYI request #17698 email]
Dear Ms Wallis
OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT REQUEST – Closing of 7 regional aerodromes
1. In regard to your request of 24 November 2021 as clarified on 3 December 2021 we have
responded to your request to include all documents and papers but also information in any format,
including drafts, videos, recordings, and photos in regard to the risk assessments made before the
09 April 2020 announcement and more specifically risk assessments relating to the basis of the
statement “Any changes would mean aircraft will still be able to fly safely to these locations”.
2. In response to some of your additional queries set out below I can provide you with the following
further clarifications:
A. Milford was part of a separate review that began well before the announcement on
09 April
2020 - Airways reviews air traffic service levels at seven regional aerodromes and was at an
advanced stage compared to the other regional towers where service levels were being
reviewed which explains why there is only a risk assessment, in our standard form, for Milford.
B. The announcement referred to Airways proposal to withdraw and as noted in my letter to you
of 22 December 2021 any change in service would have only been implemented after the CAA
process was complete. The CAA process includes the requirement for robust risk assessments
of any change to services which are to be carried out by aerodrome operators (the airport
companies) rather than by Airways. As you are aware, the withdrawal of the services did not
proceed.
3. The further information you have noted in bullet points 3 - 8 of your email below do not fall within
your initial request of 24 November 2021, which we have fulfilled.
4. In accordance with the Official Information Act 1982 (the “
Act”) you are entitled to apply to the
Ombudsman for a review of this decision pursuant to section 28(3) of the Act.
Yours sincerely
Marielle Christian
Senior Legal Counsel
Airways
Level 2 | 6 Leonard Isitt
Drive
Auckland Airport | Auckland
2022
PO Box 53093 | Auckland
Airport
Auckland 2150 | New
Zealand
Phone +64 9 257
7500
From: Helen Wallis
<[FYI request #17698 email]> Sent: Wednesday, 22 December 2021 6:55 pm
To: Christian, Mari
elle <[email address]> Subject: RE: Official Information Act Request - Closing of 7 regional aerodromes
Dear Christian, Marielle,
Thank you for your response to my request for information.
Unfortunately it seems that a lot of relevant information must have been left out.
As an example but not limited to:
1. there seems to only be the risk assessment for Milford aerodrome not for all 7 aerodromes
2. the risk assessment sent seems to be only a general overview not the full detailed risk
assessment
3. there are surely more emails internally in Airways as an example between the CE, the
Executive for Ops among others
4. there are emails/conversations referenced in the emails sent which have not been sent
through
5. the initial meeting minutes at which the ELT must have discussed these proposals is missing
6. also missing are the follow up meeting minutes etc
7. the initial emails sent to the aerodromes to inform them of your intent to remove the ATC
services
8. the emails sent to or received from the MoT
From the information that you have provided I am unable to answer any questions that I have
asked. Can you please fulfill the OIA request that I have made.
Yours sincerely,
Helen Wallis
Airways
Level 2 | 6 Leonard Isitt
Drive
Auckland Airport | Auckland
2022
PO Box 53093 | Auckland
Airport
Auckland 2150 | New
Zealand
Phone +64 9 257
7500