Our Ref
DOIA 23-029
Wel ington Office
Radio New Zealand House
Your Ref Huiarua and Matanui Stations
155 The Terrace
PO Box 5501
Wellington 6145
New Zealand
16 August 2022
T 0800 665 463
F +64 4 472 2244
E [email address]
W www.linz.govt.nz
Gywn Walker
By email
Dear Gywn,
Response to your official information request
Thank you for your official information request received on 9 August 2022.
You have requested:
“1) the identity of the purchaser or purchasers of the Huiarua and Matanui stations,
including any beneficial owners.
2) any and all documents (including emails) held by the OIO which relate to the OIO’s
consideration of and consent to the sale of these stations to overseas purchaser(s).”
We have treated your request as being for the OIO’s assessment report, because this
includes a summary of the Applicant’s submissions against the statutory criteria, as well as
our assessment of the application and reasoning for the decision-makers granting
consent. It also includes the identity of the purchasing entities, and their upstream
ownership. Once you have had an opportunity to consider this information, please let us
know if you wish to request anything further.
Please find
attached a copy of the OIO’s assessment report, which is released in part.
We have withheld some information (including the consideration under the agreements
for sale and purchase) in reliance on section 9(2)(b)(ii) of the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act). The grounds for withholding this information are that it is likely to
unreasonably prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or is the
subject of the information.
We have withheld some information in reliance on section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the
privacy of natural persons.
Also, we have withheld some information in reliance on section 9(2)(g)(i) of the Act which
relates to maintaining the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank
expression of opinions by Ministers or officials.
www.linz.govt.nz
We are of the view that withholding this information, under the grounds mentioned
above, is not outweighed by other considerations which render it desirable in the public
interest to make that information available.
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
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Please note, this response letter outlining our decision on your request,
with your
personal details withheld, and any attached documentation wil be published on the
Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand’s website. This is likely to be published
early next week.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact me on
[email address]. Yours sincerely,
Marcus McMillan
Manager – Applications, Overseas Investment Office
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