15 February 2022
IR 01-22-100
John Homer
[FYI request #18055 email]
Dear John
I refer to your correspondence received on 25 December 2021 in which you
requested information relating to the New Zealand Police vehicle fleet.
I have considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) and
my response to each of your requests can be found below.
•
I would like to request information on the trial of the new police interceptor
police cars to replace the current fleet.
From your request, it is unclear exactly what information you require from Police.
In order for me to be able to respond appropriately, more clarity about what
information you are seeking is required. Police is unfamiliar with the term
“interceptor” and does not use this in reference to any vehicles within its fleet.
However, I can advise that in 2020, Police completed a government tender
process for its Prime 1 Patrol Vehicle after General Motors announced its
pending exit from the New Zealand market. A number of motor vehicle brands
submit ed vehicles for this tender, and after a comprehensive testing process that
measured the vehicle capabilities against Police requirements, and user testing
by frontline staff, Police appointed Skoda New Zealand to provide the Skoda
Superb station wagon as the new frontline patrol car.
•
I would like information on why Tesla Model 3 were not trialled as other
constabularies are using Tesla Model 3.
On 15th July 2020 New Zealand Police released a tender document for the
Prime1 Patrol vehicle that details a list of requirements. As a result, 14 vehicles
brands submit ed 21 dif erent models of vehicles that were shortlisted down to
12. The remaining 12 models consisted of internal combustion (petrol and diesel)
vehicles, as well as Hybrid and an Electric Vehicle (EV). Government
procurement rules do not allow Police to directly approach companies to submit
vehicles for the tender. This is done at their own discretion if they feel their vehicle
can meet the requirements listed in the tender documents.
Whilst we cannot disclose specific vehicle makes and models of vehicles that
were part of the tender process, I can advise that an EV was submit ed during the
tender process and rigorously tested. It was found early in that testing process it
did not meet with the operational requirements required by Police However,
despite not meeting several of the specified criteria, Police made the decision to
continue with the full range of testing. This gave Police a full appreciation of how
EVs performed within the policing environment.
Police continue to actively monitor the market for battery electric and hybrid
vehicles models. Vehicles that have the potential to meet Police operational
requirements and pass prerequisite testing (performance, Radio Frequency
Interference, safety, etc) will potentially be considered.
As with any vehicles Police introduces to its fleet, this must be done without
jeopardising the safety of Police staff and service delivery to the communities
they serve.
•
I also would like information on the cost of fuel and services of the Skoda.
In relation to your request for fuel cost for the Skoda, please refer to the data
below which relates to the fuel spend from when the first Skoda was introduced
into the Police vehicle fleet (May 2021) up to the end of January 2022:
• As at end of January 2022 there were a total of 240 Skoda vehicles, 12
Kodiaq, 228 Superb
• Total fuel spend from May 2021 – January 2022 was $742,687
• Total fuel litres purchased from May 2021 – January 2022 was 354,602L
• Average cost per litre was $2.09 from May 2021 – January 2022
(per litre cost is only an average and subject to daily fuel price
fluctuations)
• Average fuel spend per vehicle was $3,095 from May 2021 – January
2022
• Average fuel litre purchased per vehicle was 1,475L from May 2021 –
January 2022.
The information you have requested in relation to the services of the Skoda is
contained within the government contractual supply agreements and
amendments that exist between ‘Her Majesty The Queen in right of New Zealand
acting by and through the Commissioner of New Zealand Police’, and the vendor
parties, European Distributors Limited and Wade Group Limited.
As with all government contracts, both the contractual supply agreements and
amendment documentation is endorsed ‘Commercial in Confidence’ and have
confidentiality clauses that covers all information contained within the
documentation, prohibiting either party from disclosing any information therein.
The confidentiality clauses in these agreements and amendments are included to
protect the commercially sensitive nature of the information and not unreasonably
prejudice the commercial position of the parties involved or their relationship with
Police.
Therefore, the information pertaining to this part of your request is withheld
pursuant to the following sections of the OIA:
• section 9(2)(b)(ii) – to protect information where the making available of
the information would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial
position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of the
information
• section 9(2)(ba)(i) and (ii) – to protect information which is subject to an
obligation of confidence or which any person has been or could be
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compelled to provide under the authority of any enactment, where the
making available of the information-
(i) would be likely to prejudice the supply of similar information, or
information from the same source, and it is in the public interest that such
information should continue to be supplied; or
(ii) would be likely otherwise to damage the public interest.
I trust this information is of use to you. You have the right, under section 28(3) of
the OIA, to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision if you are not satisfied
with the way I have responded to Your request.
Your sincerely
Inspector Brian Yanko
Manager: Fleet Service Group
New Zealand Police
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Document Outline
