Tēnā koe,

Thank you for contacting us. Your request has been logged under the Local
Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

Council is ordinarily required to respond to requests under the Act no
later than 20 working days after receipt of a request. However, under
section 2(1) of the Act, the period from 20 December 2022 to 10 January
2023 is not counted for the purposes of calculating working days. While we
will make every effort to respond to your request as soon as possible,
there may potentially be a delay in responding to your request over the
Christmas period.

You can also call us freephone 0800 932 463. Please quote Request No.
OIA230629 if you require any further information.

If you would like to notify us about anything further regarding this
matter, you can reply to this email.

Ngā mihi,

Whangarei District Council

--EmailIdentifier---eyJJSWQiOiJhZWYzMWMxNS04MmRlLTQ5NmMtYWRjNC1hZmFkNTdlNjU0YzUiLCJIIjoiISFIQUowNlFib2srQUtMMCtZNU0zMTcxIn0=---EmailIdentifier--

Tçnâ koe Ms Shayeb 

I refer to your request of 8 January 2023 asking for a copy of the
finalised report on an investigation into a 2021 Mill Rd spraying incident
or to be informed when the report is finalised. Under the Local Government
Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 we are required to make a
decision regarding your request within 20 days of receipt.  Unfortunately
as at this date the report requested is not available; your request was
referred to the Northland Transportation Alliance for consideration and
they have advised that at this stage the report has not been finalised. 

I note that you have also requested that you be informed when the report
is finalised – I will be referring this request to the Northland
Transportation Alliance and asking them to contact you in due course.

I hope this information is of some assistance in responding to your
request. If you believe we have not responded appropriately to your
request, you have the right by way of complaint, under section 27(3) of
the Act, to apply to the Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of
the decision.

Regards

Jacqui Crompton

Official Information Requests Team  

Whangarei District Council | Forum North | Private Bag 9023, Whangarei
0148 | [1]www.wdc.govt.nz

WDC Call Centre 09 430 4200

 

[2]WDC - Final email sig

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Northland Toxin Awareness Group
<[3][FOI #21533 email]>

Sent: Sunday, January 8, 2023 11:59 AM

To: Mail Room <[4][Whangarei District Council request email]>

Subject: Official Information request - Investigation of Mill Rd Spraying
Incident of Oct 2021 initiated by NTA manager Calvin Thomas WDC

 

 

EXTERNAL: This email originated from outside Whangarei District Council.
Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and
know the content is safe.

 

Dear Whangarei District Council,

 

On October 20th in 2021 three young children were sprayed with weed killer
by a WDC contractor as they were walking on the sidewalk on Mill road in
Whangarei. This was witness by a member of the public and reported to the
Northland Toxin Awareness Group. I consequently submitted a report to WDC,
requesting an investigation of this incident. In April 2022 NTA Manager
Calvin Thomas commissioned an investigation by the independent company
‘Incident Prevention Group’ (IPG) into this spraying incident.

I’ve had numerous communications with IPGs managing director Karl Berendt.
As the complainant, I asked to be notified when his report is finalized
and requested a copy. Mr. Berendt told me that I would have to make this
request from WDC.

 

I herewith request to be informed when the IPG report is finalized and
wish to receive a copy of this report.

 

Yours faithfully,

Nora Shayeb

Coordinator of the Northland Toxin Awareness Group

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

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References

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hide quoted sections

Kia ora Ms Shayeb

Thank you for your follow up email regarding your request for the Investigative Report from the Mill Road Spraying Incident.

I have contacted Calvin Thomas from the Northland Transportation Alliance for an update. He has advised that a draft report has been prepared but there are amendments to be made to ensure accuracy of the report. Calvin has advised that the report should be finalised within the next few weeks. Please feel free to contact me for an update around the beginning of May, say 4 weeks' time.

I hope this information is of some assistance in responding to your request. If you believe we have not responded appropriately to your request, you have the right by way of complaint, under section 27(3) of the Act, to apply to the Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of the decision.

Have a safe and happy Easter break.

Regards,

Jacqui Crompton
Official Information Requests Team
Whangarei District Council | Forum North | Private Bag 9023, Whangarei 0148 | http://www.wdc.govt.nz/
WDC Call Centre 09 430 4200

-----Original Message-----
From: Northland Toxin Awareness Group <[FOI #21533 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 6 April 2023 11:24 am
To: Jacqui Crompton <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OIA230629 - Response

EXTERNAL: This email originated from outside Whangarei District Council. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Jacqui Crompton,

can you please let me know what the current status of the investigation is?

Yours sincerely,

Northland Toxin Awareness Group
Nora Shayeb

-----Original Message-----

Tçnâ koe Ms Shayeb

I refer to your request of 8 January 2023 asking for a copy of the finalised report on an investigation into a 2021 Mill Rd spraying incident or to be informed when the report is finalised. Under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 we are required to make a decision regarding your request within 20 days of receipt. Unfortunately as at this date the report requested is not available; your request was referred to the Northland Transportation Alliance for consideration and they have advised that at this stage the report has not been finalised.

I note that you have also requested that you be informed when the report is finalised - I will be referring this request to the Northland Transportation Alliance and asking them to contact you in due course.

I hope this information is of some assistance in responding to your request. If you believe we have not responded appropriately to your request, you have the right by way of complaint, under section 27(3) of the Act, to apply to the Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of the decision.

Regards

Jacqui Crompton

Official Information Requests Team

Whangarei District Council | Forum North | Private Bag 9023, Whangarei
0148 | [1]http://www.wdc.govt.nz/

WDC Call Centre 09 430 4200

[2]WDC - Final email sig

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #21533 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

hide quoted sections

Tēnā koe,

Thank you for contacting us. Your request has been logged under the Local
Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

We will respond to your request as soon as possible and in any case no
later than within 20 working days.  

You can also call us freephone 0800 932 463. Please quote Request No.
OIA230764 if you require any further information.

If you would like to notify us about anything further regarding this
matter, you can reply to this email.

Ngā mihi,

Whangarei District Council

--EmailIdentifier---eyJJSWQiOiI5MTM4NzQ5Zi0xMDYzLTQ4YmYtOTFiOS04YjJiNWFmZDU1ZTEiLCJIIjoiISFIQU1HR1NtbnJCcWdQU3RSa1dHdjJoIn0=---EmailIdentifier--

Tēnā koe Ms Shayeb,

I refer to your request of 7 April 2023 for information regarding the
Terms of reference for the IPG report.  Your request was referred to
council’s Roading Department, Northland Transportation Alliance, for
consideration.  They have provided the following:

“This engagement includes attending to preparation of an incident
investigation in the issue related to complaint from a member of the
public regarding an alleged event where a contractor has sprayed the feet
of a group of children.

IPG is to make recommendations on actions that could be undertaken to
avoid a reoccurrence. This may include, review of information related to
the events/s, development of a SnapChart®, determining causal factors,
determining root causes. If required; development of suggested
recommendations. Development of a full report in to the event presented in
a locked PDF.”

I hope this information is of some assistance in responding to your
request. If you believe we have not responded appropriately to your
request, you have the right by way of complaint, under section 27(3) of
the Act, to apply to the Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of
the decision.

 

Jacqui Crompton

Business Integrity Administrator | Democracy & Assurance Department

Whangarei District Council | Forum North | Private Bag 9023, Whangarei
0148 | [1]www.wdc.govt.nz

P 09 430 4200 | DDI 09 470 3042 | M 021 792 127 | E
[2][email address]

[3]Like us on Facebook

 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Northland Toxin Awareness Group
<[4][FYI request #21533 email]>
Sent: Friday, 7 April 2023 3:52 pm
To: Jacqui Crompton <[5][email address]>
Subject: RE: OIA230629 - Response

EXTERNAL: This email originated from outside Whangarei District Council.
Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and
know the content is safe.

Tena koe Jacqui,

I was under the impression that the investigation into the Mill Rd.
spraying incident was commissioned to an independent company, the Incident
Prevention Group (IPG), to ensure an unbiased outcome.

I’m also under the impression that WDC is responsible for controlling and
monitoring their contractors. As such WDC is the party being investigated
and shouldn’t be able to make amendments to this report.

I’ve been informed that a ‘draft’ report has been submitted to Calvin
Thomas for review on the 15th of December 2022, nearly 4 months ago and
that NTA has not responded to IPG.

The director of IPG told me that their report was to also entail
recommendations on how to prevent such incidences in the future. This is
their expertise.

I am confused about the brief of this investigation. Can you please
clarify the terms of reference for this contract?

Yours sincerely,

Northland Toxin Awareness Group

Nora Shayeb

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora Ms Shayeb

Thank you for your follow up email regarding your request for the
Investigative Report from the Mill Road Spraying Incident.

I have contacted Calvin Thomas from the Northland Transportation Alliance
for an update. He has advised that a draft report has been prepared but
there are amendments to be made to ensure accuracy of the report. Calvin
has advised that the report should be finalised within the next few weeks.
Please feel free to contact me for an update around the beginning of May,
say 4 weeks' time.

I hope this information is of some assistance in responding to your
request. If you believe we have not responded appropriately to your
request, you have the right by way of complaint, under section 27(3) of
the Act, to apply to the Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of
the decision.

Have a safe and happy Easter break.

Regards,

Jacqui Crompton

Official Information Requests Team

Whangarei District Council | Forum North | Private Bag 9023, Whangarei
0148 |
[6]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

WDC Call Centre 09 430 4200

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[7][FYI request #21533 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[8]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The Northland Transportation Alliance is a partnership of Northland’s
Councils, with Waka Kotahi (NZTA), for better transport outcomes. The
information contained within this email may be confidential. Therefore, if
you have received this in error, you should delete it immediately and
advise the sender noting that information contained within this
communication should not be used or transmitted in any

References

Visible links
1. Link to the Whangarei District Council's website.
http://www.wdc.govt.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
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4. mailto:[FYI request #21533 email]
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hide quoted sections

Tçnâ koe Ms Shayeb, 

 

I refer to your request of 7 October 2023 for an update on the status of
the IPG report (Mill Road Spraying Incident), I am currently following up
on the status of the IPG report and am waiting for the Department Manager
to advise.

 

Regarding your additional questions, I note that your request as currently
worded is very broad and, in that sense, raises issues for us in terms of
significant staff time and resources that would be required to retrieve
and collate the information. The information is unlikely to be held in a
single electronic file.

 

1.Copies of all WDC contractors herbicide spraying records, for the
roadside maintenance programme for the greater Tutukaka Coast area from
2015 to present day.

 

2.Copies of WDCs and Contractors Policy and Procedures, Health & Safety
plans, or similar guidelines, for mitigation of  incidences of public
exposure to herbicide/pesticide spray while carrying out Councils
maintenance operations.

 

3.Copies of correspondence, incident reports, and actions taken with
contractors in response to reports from members of the public who have had
exposure to spray during Council's roadside maintenance operations from
2015 to present day.

 

 

In these circumstances, I invite you to consider refining what you are
asking for to avoid a charge being imposed under our fees and charges
schedule: [1]Official information fees and charges - Whangarei District
Council (wdc.govt.nz) under “Official Information”)  or potentially a
refusal of your request on administrative grounds. 

 

In order to refine your request we suggest you consider narrowing the time
period covered by your request (e.g. within the last 12 - 24 months), and
narrowing down the types of documents covered by your request.

 

Regards,

 

 

Jacqui Crompton

Business Integrity Administrator | Democracy and Assurance Department

Whangarei District Council | Te Iwitahi, 9 Rust Avenue | Private Bag 9023,
Te Mai, Whangârei 0143

P 09 430 4200 | DDI 09 470 3042 | M 021 792 127 | [2]www.wdc.govt.nz

[3]Whangarei District Council logo

 

 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Northland Toxin Awareness Group
<[4][FOI #21533 email]>

Sent: Saturday, 7 October 2023 4:17 pm

To: Mail Room <[5][Whangarei District Council request email]>

Subject: Re: Official Information request - Investigation of Mill Rd
Spraying Incident of Oct 2021 initiated by NTA manager Calvin Thomas WDC

 

 

EXTERNAL: This email originated from outside Whangarei District Council.
Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and
know the content is safe.

 

Dear Whangarei District Council,

 

This is to inquire about the finalisation of the IPG Investigation report.
We were advised in August that the aim was to have it completed by
October. Can you please give us an update?

If the information requested below is not included in the investigation
report, we also request:

 

1.Copies of all WDC contractors herbicide spraying  records, for the
roadside maintenance programme for the greater Tutukaka Coast area from
2015 to present day.

 

2.Copies of WDCs and Contractors Policy and Procedures, Health & Safety
plans, or similar guidelines, for mitigation of  incidences of public
exposure to herbicide/pesticide spray while carrying out Councils
maintenance operations.

 

3.Copies of correspondence, incident reports, and actions taken with
contractors in response to reports from members of the public who have had
exposure to spray during Council's roadside maintenance operations from
2015 to present day.

 

Yours sincerely,

Nora Shayeb

Coordinator of the Northland Toxin Awareness Group

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[6][FOI #21533 email]

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.wdc.govt.nz/Council/Council-...
2. Link to the Whangarei District Council's website.
https://www.wdc.govt.nz/
4. mailto:[FOI #21533 email]
5. mailto:[Whangarei District Council request email]
6. mailto:[FOI #21533 email]
7. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Dear Norah

 

Thank you for your email.  We will continue to work on your request and
will reply in due course.

 

Regards,

 

Jacqui Crompton

Official Information Requests Team  

Whangarei District Council | Te Iwitahi, 9 Rust Avenue | Private Bag
9023, Whangarei 0148 | [1]www.wdc.govt.nz

WDC Call Centre 09 430 4200

 

[2]WDC - Final email sig

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Northland Toxin Awareness Group
<[FOI #21533 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 21 October 2023 4:01 pm
To: LGOIMA - official information requests
<[email address]>
Subject: Re: OIA230977 - Refinement

 

 

EXTERNAL: This email originated from outside Whangarei District Council.
Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and
know the content is safe.

 

Dear Jacqui,

re request 1.: I was under the impression that it is a legal requirement
of the contractors to have the records of their spraying programs
(date/location/chemicals used/ dilution) on file in case WDC requests
them. So it shouldn't be a matter of you having to search for them, but
just to request them from the contractors.

 

re: request 2.: I now cancel this request, as I have meantime found the
legislation documents of the HSWA.

 

re request 3.:  A record of all complaints from members of the public in
regards to being sprayed by council contractors I sincerely hope shouldn't
be too long.

 

I hope this is helpful in narrowing down staff time.

 

Yours sincerely,

Nora Shayeb

 

Northland Toxin Awareness Group

 

-----Original Message-----

 

Tçnâ koe Ms Shayeb,

 

 

 

I refer to your request of 7 October 2023 for an update on the status of 
the IPG report (Mill Road Spraying Incident), I am currently following up 
on the status of the IPG report and am waiting for the Department Manager 
to advise.

 

 

 

Regarding your additional questions, I note that your request as
currently  worded is very broad and, in that sense, raises issues for us
in terms of  significant staff time and resources that would be required
to retrieve  and collate the information. The information is unlikely to
be held in a  single electronic file.

 

 

 

1.Copies of all WDC contractors herbicide spraying records, for the 
roadside maintenance programme for the greater Tutukaka Coast area from

2015 to present day.

 

 

 

2.Copies of WDCs and Contractors Policy and Procedures, Health & Safety 
plans, or similar guidelines, for mitigation of  incidences of public 
exposure to herbicide/pesticide spray while carrying out Councils 
maintenance operations.

 

 

 

3.Copies of correspondence, incident reports, and actions taken with 
contractors in response to reports from members of the public who have
had  exposure to spray during Council's roadside maintenance operations
from

2015 to present day.

 

 

 

 

 

In these circumstances, I invite you to consider refining what you are 
asking for to avoid a charge being imposed under our fees and charges

schedule: [1]Official information fees and charges - Whangarei District 
Council (wdc.govt.nz) under “Official Information”)  or potentially a 
refusal of your request on administrative grounds.

 

 

 

In order to refine your request we suggest you consider narrowing the
time  period covered by your request (e.g. within the last 12 - 24
months), and  narrowing down the types of documents covered by your
request.

 

 

 

Regards,

 

 

 

 

 

Jacqui Crompton

 

Business Integrity Administrator | Democracy and Assurance Department

 

Whangarei District Council | Te Iwitahi, 9 Rust Avenue | Private Bag
9023,  Te Mai, Whangârei 0143

 

P 09 430 4200 | DDI 09 470 3042 | M 021 792 127 |
[2][3]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

[3]Whangarei District Council logo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[4][FOI #21533 email]

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[5]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. Link to the Whangarei District Council's website.
http://www.wdc.govt.nz/
3. http://www.wdc.govt.nz/
4. mailto:[FOI #21533 email]
5. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

 

Tēnā koe Ms Shayeb, 

 

I refer to your request of 9 October 2023, and subsequent refinement,
received 24 October 2023, for information regarding WDC’s Roadside
Spraying Contract details, and a record of complaints from any members of
the public who have had exposure to spray during Council’s roadside
maintenance operations. 

 

Your request was referred to council’s Roading Department, Northland
Transportation Alliance for consideration.

 

Regarding the status of the IPG investigation and the report prepared, the
report is currently being finalised by the independent investigator and
Council is waiting to receive his final report.

 

You have also asked for the following information:

 

 1. Copies of all WDC contractors herbicide spraying  records, for the
roadside maintenance programme for the greater Tutukaka Coast area
from 2015 to present day

 

Please see attached:

 

OIA230977 – Contract 17085 Cyclic Spraying Wider Tutukaka Area 2018 – 2023

OIA230977 – Spraying Wider Tutukaka Area 2015 – 2018

 

 2. Question withdrawn

 

 3. Copies of correspondence, incident reports, and actions taken with 
contractors in response to reports from members of the public who have
had  exposure to spray during Council's roadside maintenance
operations from 2015 to present day

 

Please see attached:

 

OIA230977 – Spraying Incidents (Redacted)

 

The documentation attached represents our best efforts to locate material
relevant to your request. However, the search process is by no means an
exact science it is possible that there may be other items of relevance
that have been unintentionally missed in the search. 

 

I note that some information has been withheld under section 7(2)(a) of
the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 to protect
the privacy of individuals (this does not include Whangarei District
Council Staff).

 

I hope this information is of some assistance in responding to your
request. If you believe we have not responded appropriately to your
request, you have the right by way of complaint, under section 27(3) of
the Act, to apply to the Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of
the decision. 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Northland Toxin Awareness Group
<[1][FOI #21533 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 21 October 2023 4:01 pm
To: LGOIMA - official information requests
<[2][email address]>
Subject: Re: OIA230977 - Refinement

 

 

re request 1.: I was under the impression that it is a legal requirement
of the contractors to have the records of their spraying programs
(date/location/chemicals used/ dilution) on file in case WDC requests
them. So it shouldn't be a matter of you having to search for them, but
just to request them from the contractors.

 

re: request 2.: I now cancel this request, as I have meantime found the
legislation documents of the HSWA.

 

re request 3.:  A record of all complaints from members of the public in
regards to being sprayed by council contractors I sincerely hope shouldn't
be too long.

 

I hope this is helpful in narrowing down staff time.

 

Yours sincerely,

Nora Shayeb

 

Northland Toxin Awareness Group

 

-----Original Message-----

 

Tçnâ koe Ms Shayeb,

 

 

 

I refer to your request of 7 October 2023 for an update on the status of 
the IPG report (Mill Road Spraying Incident), I am currently following up 
on the status of the IPG report and am waiting for the Department Manager 
to advise.

 

 

 

Regarding your additional questions, I note that your request as
currently  worded is very broad and, in that sense, raises issues for us
in terms of  significant staff time and resources that would be required
to retrieve  and collate the information. The information is unlikely to
be held in a  single electronic file.

 

 

 

1.Copies of all WDC contractors herbicide spraying records, for the 
roadside maintenance programme for the greater Tutukaka Coast area from

2015 to present day.

 

 

 

2.Copies of WDCs and Contractors Policy and Procedures, Health & Safety 
plans, or similar guidelines, for mitigation of  incidences of public 
exposure to herbicide/pesticide spray while carrying out Councils 
maintenance operations.

 

 

 

3.Copies of correspondence, incident reports, and actions taken with 
contractors in response to reports from members of the public who have
had  exposure to spray during Council's roadside maintenance operations
from

2015 to present day.

 

 

 

 

 

In these circumstances, I invite you to consider refining what you are 
asking for to avoid a charge being imposed under our fees and charges

schedule: [1]Official information fees and charges - Whangarei District 
Council (wdc.govt.nz) under “Official Information”)  or potentially a 
refusal of your request on administrative grounds.

 

 

 

In order to refine your request we suggest you consider narrowing the
time  period covered by your request (e.g. within the last 12 - 24
months), and  narrowing down the types of documents covered by your
request.

 

 

 

Regards,

 

 

Jacqui Crompton

 

Business Integrity Administrator | Democracy and Assurance Department

 

Whangarei District Council | Te Iwitahi, 9 Rust Avenue | Private Bag
9023,  Te Mai, Whangârei 0143

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[3][FOI #21533 email]

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[4]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The Northland Transportation Alliance is a partnership of Northland’s
Councils, with Waka Kotahi (NZTA), for better transport outcomes. The
information contained within this email may be confidential. Therefore, if
you have received this in error, you should delete it immediately and
advise the sender noting that information contained within this
communication should not be used or transmitted in any

The Northland Transportation Alliance is a partnership of Northland’s
Councils, with Waka Kotahi (NZTA), for better transport outcomes. The
information contained within this email may be confidential. Therefore, if
you have received this in error, you should delete it immediately and
advise the sender noting that information contained within this
communication should not be used or transmitted in any

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #21533 email]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[FOI #21533 email]
4. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

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Tēnā koe Ms Shayeb, 

 

I refer to your request of 7 October 2023 for information regarding the
status of the Incident Prevention Group, (IPG) investigation report into
the complaint regarding a spraying incident on Mill Rd, Whangarei during
October 2021.

A copy of the IPG investigators report is attached for your information.

 

The documentation attached represents our best efforts to locate material
relevant to your request. However, the search process is by no means an
exact science it is possible that there may be other items of relevance
that have been unintentionally missed in the search. 

 

I note that some information has been withheld under section 7(2)(a) of
the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 to protect
the privacy of individuals (this does not include Whangarei District
Council Staff).

 

I hope this information is of some assistance in responding to your
request. If you believe we have not responded appropriately to your
request, you have the right by way of complaint, under section 27(3) of
the Act, to apply to the Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of
the decision. 

 

 

Jeff Devine

Transportation Manager

Whangarei District Council | Te Iwitahi, 9 Rust Avenue | Private Bag 9023,
Te Mai, Whangārei 0143

P 09 430 4200 | DDI 09 4304226 | M 0274543292 | E
[1][email address]

[2]Whangarei District Council logo

 

 

References

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1. mailto:[email address]

 

Tēnā koe Ms Shayeb, 

 

I refer to your request of 25 August 2024 for information regarding the
Mill Road spraying incident.  Your request was referred to council’s
Roading Department for consideration.  You have asked the following
questions:

 

I have now received the report of the investigation by IPG. I would like
to know if name suppression was the only amendment made by WDC of this
report? 

 

Names of people were withheld, as well as the image of the children.

 

On the 7.Oct 2023 I had asked for copies of correspondence, incident
reports, and actions taken with contractors in response to reports from
members of the public who have had exposure to spray during Council's
roadside maintenance operations from 2015 to present day. This went
unanswered.

 

Please see the attached response for OIA230977, which was emailed to you
on 20 November 2023.

 

I asked again, on the 5.May 2024: Further, in our meeting with WDC and NTA
on the 11st of May 2023 you were informed, by independent consultant Jodie
Bruning of the ‘Physician and Scientists for Global Responsibility’, about
the possible adverse health effects of herbicides on children. Since this
meeting, has council issued any directives to their spraying contractors,
to prevent further unlawful spraying practices and monitored their
performances? If so, can we please have a copy of the directives and
monitoring reports?

 

The Contractors are required to undertake the roadside spraying activity
with qualified staff in accordance with the specifications as detailed in
the maintenance contract.  Please see the attached document:

 

o Council Contract Specification ROADSIDE VEGETATION SPRAYING

 

My questions in regards to any directives issued by WDC to their
contractors,  following the reported incidences, and whether WDC has been
monitoring the performances of the contractors since the incidences, has
not been answered. Can you please clarify?

 

Answered above.

 

I hope this information is of some assistance in responding to your
request. If you believe we have not responded appropriately to your
request, you have the right by way of complaint, under section 27(3) of
the Act, to apply to the Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of
the decision. 

 

 

Jeff Devine

Transportation Manager

Whangarei District Council | Te Iwitahi, 9 Rust Avenue | Private Bag 9023,
Te Mai, Whangārei 0143

P 09 430 4200 | DDI 09 4304226 | M 0274543292 | E
[1][email address]

[2]Whangarei District Council logo

 

 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Northland Toxin Awareness Group
<[3][FOI #21533 email]>
Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2024 2:27 PM
To: LGOIMA - official information requests
<[4][email address]>
Subject: RE: OIA230977 - Refinement

 

 

EXTERNAL: This email originated from outside Whangarei District Council.
Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and
know the content is safe.

 

Dear LGOIMA - official information requests,

 

I have now received the report of the investigation by IPG. I would like
to know if name suppression was the only amendment made by WDC of this
report?

On the 7.Oct 2023 I had asked for copies of correspondence, incident
reports, and actions taken with contractors in response to reports from
members of the public who have had exposure to spray during Council's
roadside maintenance operations from 2015 to present day. This went
unanswered.

I asked again, on the 5.May 2024: Further, in our meeting with WDC and NTA
on the 11st of May 2023 you were informed, by independent consultant Jodie
Bruning of the ‘Physician and Scientists for Global Responsibility’, about
the possible adverse health effects of herbicides on children. Since this
meeting, has council issued any directives to their spraying contractors,
to prevent further unlawful spraying practices and monitored their
performances? If so, can we please have a copy of the directives and
monitoring reports?

 

My questions in regards to any directives issued by WDC to their
contractors,  following the reported incidences, and whether WDC has been
monitoring the performances of the contractors since the incidences, has
not been answered. Can you please clarify?

 

Yours sincerely,

Nora Shayeb

 

Northland Toxin Awareness Group

 

-----Original Message-----

 

Dear Norah

 

 

 

Thank you for your email.  We will continue to work on your request and 
will reply in due course.

 

 

 

Regards,

 

 

 

Jacqui Crompton

 

Official Information Requests Team

 

Whangarei District Council | Te Iwitahi, 9 Rust Avenue | Private Bag 
9023, Whangarei 0148 |
[1][5]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

WDC Call Centre 09 430 4200

 

 

 

[2]WDC - Final email sig

 

 

 

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Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[6][FOI #21533 email]

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
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If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
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References

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5. http://www.wdc.govt.nz/
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7. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

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