150623 Letter from Hon David Parker.pdf

15 June 2023
OIA 1177-23
James
[FYI request #22190 email]
Dear James
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
all communications including but not limited to, al  texts, emails and records of phone
calls relating to and detailing your “offering up” of the Container Return Scheme for
reprioritisation, inclusive of the dates that you offered up the scheme for reprioritisation.
Please provide all communications between yourself or your office and Andrew Kirton
or Mr Kirton’s previous employer Anacta, regarding the Container Return Scheme.
I am transferring the first part of your request to the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, as
it is more closely connected with his portfolio responsibilities. In these circumstances, I am
required by section 14 of the Act to transfer your request.
I have identified five documents within scope of the second part of your request. The attached
document schedule outlines my decisions in relation to these documents.
I am withholding two of the documents in full under section 9(2)(b)(i ) of the Act as they are
commercial y sensitive. Phone numbers and emails of individuals have been redacted under
section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect the privacy of natural persons.
In terms of section 9(1) of the Act, I am satisfied that, in the circumstances, the withholding of
this information is not outweighed by other considerations that render it desirable to make the
information available in the public interest.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Of ice of the Ombudsman of my
decision to withhold information relating to this request, in accordance with section 28(3) of
the Act. The relevant details can be found on their website at:
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
Please contact my office if you have any queries about this response.
Yours sincerely
Hon David Parker
Minister for the Environment

Document schedule
Doc  Document date  Content
Decisions  OIA
no.
sections
applied
1
14 July 2022
Email: Lion/Asahi/CCEP Letter -
Partially
9(2)(a)
Proposed CRS
Released
1.1
14 July 2022
Email attachment:
Released  N/A
Lion/Asahi/CCEP Letter
in full
1.2
N/A
Email attachment: Summary of
Withheld
9(2)(b)(ii)
Deloitte & New Zealand Institute of
in full
Economic Research (NZIER) Report
1.3
20 May 2022
Email attachment: Deloitte Report,  Withheld
9(2)(b)(ii)
NZ’s Proposed CRS - Analysis
in full
2
16 August – 29
Email chain: Lion/Asahi/CCEP
Partially
9(2)(a)
September 2022  follow-up letter and meeting request  Released
– Proposed CRS

Out of scope
From:
Zoe Tame 9(2)(a)
Sent:
Thursday, 14 July 2022 5:15 PM
To:
D Parker (MIN)
Cc:
Deb Thornton
Subject:
Lion/Asahi/CCEP letter - Proposed Container Return Scheme
Attachments:
Lion Asahi CCEP letter to Hon David Parker - Proposed Container Return
Scheme.pdf; Attachment A - Summary of Deloitte Report.pdf; Attachment B -
Deloitte Report.pdf
Dear Hon David Parker
On behalf of Lion, Asahi, and CCEP please find attached a letter on the proposed Container Return Scheme (CRS) for
ACT
your consideration.
Lion, Asahi, and CCEP respectfully seek a meeting with you to discuss the proposed CRS and to present to you the
attached report and its findings.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require further  nformation.
Yours sincerely
Zoe Tame
Zoë Tame | Senior Associate
9(2)(a)
UNDER THE
Level 10, Lambton Centre, 117
Lambton Quay
Wellington 6011
INFORMATION
1982
RELEASE
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14 July 2022
Hon David Parker 
Minister for the Environment
By email: [David Parker request email]
ACT
Dear Minister
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New Zealand Container Return Scheme – striking the right balance
On behalf of Lion New Zealand, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) and Asahi Beverages
New  Zealand,  we  are  pleased  to  communicate  our  support  for  a  New  Zealand  Container
Return Scheme (CRS).
Our  three  businesses  are  proud  of  the  substantial  contribution  that  we  make  to  the  New
Zealand  economy  and  to  the  local  communities  in  which  we  operate.  Collectively  our
businesses  directly  employ  more  than  2,400  Kiwis  across  manufacturing,  sales,  marketing
and other functions. We contr bute  o  small and  large businesses across hotels, hospitality
and retail in every town and city in the country. In partnership with our hospitality partners we
also contribute strongly to New Zealand’s world class tourism offering.
Our  businesses  are  owners  and  producers  of  leading  inte national  and  New  Zealand  non-
alcohol  and  alcohol  beverage  brands  including,  L&P,  Pump,  Asahi  Super  Dry,  Speight’s,
Coca-Cola,  Long-White,  Steinlager,  Peroni,  Wi her Hills,  Lindauer,  Sprite,  Monster  Energy,
Powerade,  Schweppes,  Charlie s  Juice,  Keri  Juice,  Jim  Beam,  multiple  international  spirit
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brands, Havana and Allpress Espresso coffee.
Our support for a credible CRS
Our  businesses  are  committed  to  working  towards  a  circular  economy  and  achieving
sustainable growth in all the markets in which we operate. We are all enthusiastic participants
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in the six Container Deposit Schemes in Australia, having formal roles in the administration of
these Schemes
Ou  work on the Australian Schemes over many years, including with Governments, has given
us significant expertise in the management and design of Container Deposit Schemes. We
hope  to  be  of  service  to  the  New  Zealand  Government  in  helping  you  develop  a  truly
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exceptional CRS for New Zealanders.
A successful CRS is critical to the circular economy, will reduce litter and will create more local
jobs. Our commitment, as three of New Zealand’s leading beverage companies,  is to work
with  the  New  Zealand  Government  to  deliver  a  world-class  CRS  that  produces  excellent
community and industry participation, resulting in high scheme redemption rates.

We are confident this can be achieved without causing an excessive cost of living burden on
consumers, while also achieving the right balance in terms of its impact on business and the
broader economy. We are satisfied that the majority of what has been recommended by the
Government through the consultation paper should be supported.
Economic analysis – deposit amount
To assist us in preparing our individual submissions, and for our future engagement with the
Government  on  the  development  of  the  CRS,  our  companies  engaged  the  New  Zealand
Institute  of  Economic  Research and  Deloitte  to  provide an  independent  assessment  of  the
proposed CRS (“the Report”).
We  have  attached  our  summary  of  the  Report  (Attachment  A)  and  the  Report  itse f
(Attachment B). We ask that the attached Report be treated as commercial-in-confidence.
ACT
The Report conservatively estimates that the CRS, as it is presently proposed, will  ead to a
THE
cost per container for beverage manufacturers of $34.04c, including GST, or $8.17 on a
pack of 24 beverages.
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A 20c deposit rate may result in a weighted average pr ce increase for consumers of 20% and
a potential negative sales impact of between 9% and 20%. We are very concerned that this
would have significant impacts on small and large businesses and the wider economy.
High recovery rates while lowering the impact on consumers
International  evidence  and  experience  demonstrate  that  high  redemption  rates can  be
achieved  through  factors  such  as  accessible  and  diverse  return  points,  educational
campaigns, and other design elements. We are confident that the New Zealand Government
can achieve excellent redemption rates that are consistent with best performing comparable
schemes,  with  a  deposit  rate  of  10c,  by  making  improvements  to  the  proposed  collection
network and other design tweaks (as set out in Attachments A & B).
A 10c deposit rate will significantly lessen the cost of living impacts on consumers. It will also
make the introduction of a CRS smoother and easier to manage for businesses across New
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An open competitive collection network will be more effective for New Zealand
The p oposed mandatory return to retail collection network will result in a greater number of
co ection  points  than  is  required  to  meet  scheme  targets.  This  will  unnecessarily  drive-up
handling  and  logist cs  costs  for  consumers  while  also  reducing  the  viability  of  alternative
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collection  points,  which  the  majority  of  consumers  find  more  convenient  in  international
schemes. Further, it will shift responsibility for ongoing compliance and enforcement of retailer
participation onto the Ministry for the Environment or another government agency.
An open and competitive collection network, with network standards set by the Ministry for the
Envi onment, will empower the Managing Agency to design and manage the optimal network
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solution for each community and ensure an equal opportunity to participate for retailers, small
and  large  businesses  and  community  organisations.  This  will  result  in  a  lower  cost,  more
resilient and higher performing network.
Request for a meeting
We  appreciate  your  Government’s  strong  support  for  our  operations  and  manufacturing  in
New Zealand. We respectfully seek a meeting with you to discuss the proposed CRS and to
present to you the Report and its findings.
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We  are  confident  that  the  findings  in  the  Report,  together  with  our  learnings  from  similar
Schemes, will assist the New Zealand Government in delivering a CRS with world class design
features, excellent redemption rates and a deposit rate that strikes the right balance.
Yours sincerely,
Craig Baldie
  Chris Litchfield
Andrew Campbell ACT
Country Director, NZ    Managing Director, NZ & Fiji
Chief Executive Officer, NZ
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