Dear New Zealand Transport Agency,

This request for information is limited to the Riverlink Project. The Current Operating Model for the Riverlink Project defines a governance structure that includes:
Riverlink Board
Programme Leadership Team
Mana Whenua Steering Group

For each of these the following information is requested:
1. Terms of Reference or an equivalent document,
2. The names of the current members,
3. The minutes of the most recent meeting.

Yours faithfully,

Darren Conway

Dear Official Correspondence,

I have made multiple requests for information on the structure and makeup of Governance applied to the Riverlink Project. This project has already expended $millions over a number of years. It involves complex coordination and close cooperation between a number of agencies, local government, Tāngata Whenua, and key stakeholders.

This latest request has been refused because the information won't be made publically available until some time before the end of November.

I am stunned.

It is a fundamental requirement of any major complex project to have well defined and good governance to promote success. It is expected that a project of this nature and scope should have a governance structure and a project team that evolves over the course of the project. It is also expected that such evolution should follow a well defined roadmap. Governance should be precisely defined at all stages of the project.

I have reviewed the NZTA Project Management Manual SMO11. I am not impressed. The SMO11 manual has not been updated since 2010 and is both out of date and missing key sections. I am unable to find any section that covers project governance. The "Resources" section assumes a team headed by a project manager which is entirely adequate for straight forward projects but inadequate for Riverlink.

I am seeking confidence that the Riverlink Project will be managed to achieve success. I have not found it.

Yours sincerely,

Darren Conway

Dear Robyn Elston,

In the last response received 20 Oct 2022 it was stated: "I am refusing this information under section 18(d) of the Act. This section provides for refusal when the information is or soon will be publicly available. The documents in scope of your request, including the names of the personnel you have requested, will be made publicly available on the project page (www.riverlink.co.nz) by 30 November 2022." That date has now long past.

I have made repeated visits to the Riverlink web page expecting to see the information requested. I haven't found it. The Riverlink project is a major investment in community infrastructure funded by the public. It is not unreasonable for the public to know who will be in control of the project, and how the project will be managed.

My request for the information remains unfulfilled and extant.

Yours sincerely,

Darren Conway