14 February 2021
P Shaw
[FYI request #17726 email]
Ref: OIA-2021/22-0676
Dear P Shaw
Official Information Act request relating to “Build Back Better”
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on
26 November 2021. You requested:
“I would like to request all email communications sent from and/or sent to
any official of this office during the dates 01/09/2020 - 01/09/2021 that
include the term "build back better". I would like the search to be case
insensitive to include any way in which this term may be written.”
The time frame for responding to your request was extended under section 15A of the Act by
20 working days because it necessitated a search through a large quantity of information
before a decision could be made on the request. Following this extension, I am now in a
position to respond.
To identify documents potentially within scope of your request requires searching documents
held by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) covering a year, including
assessing a large volume of emails that were sent between 1 September 2020 to
1 September 2021, assess every single email found containing the words “build”, “back, and
“better” individually to see if it is within the scope of your request, and consult with external
agencies where relevant.
Accordingly, I am refusing your request under section 18(f) of the Act, which applies where
the information cannot be made available without substantial collation or research.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
We do not intend to publish this response on the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet’s website.
Yours sincerely
Clare Ward
Executive Director
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
4472870
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz
