Tēnā koe Shaun,

 

Thank you for your official information request received on Tuesday, 20
June 2023.

 

You can expect a response to your request as soon as possible, and no
later than Wednesday, 19 July 2023, which is 20 working days after Toitū
Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand received your request.

 

Please note, the response to your request, with your personal details
withheld, and any attached documentation may be published on the Toitū Te
Whenua website.

 

Ngā mihi nui

 

Thomas Baird
Advisor

Ministerial Support and Official Correspondence

 

[1][email address]  | DDI 04-460 2741

  Wellington Office, Level 5, Radio New Zealand
House, 155 The Terrace
[2]Toitu Te Whenua colour PO Box 5501, Wellington 6145, New Zealand
logo
[3]www.linz.govt.nz | [4]data.linz.govt.nz

 

[5]link to facebook          [6]link to
LinkedIn          [7]link to
Twitter          [8]Link to YouTube

 

 

 

 

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

This message contains information, which may be in confidence and may be
subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, you
must not peruse, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this message. If you
have received this message in error, please notify us immediately (Phone
0800 665 463 or [email address]) and destroy the original message. LINZ
accepts no responsibility for changes to this email, or for any
attachments, after its transmission from LINZ. Thank You.

References

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hide quoted sections

Kia ora Shaun

Attached is a response to your Official Information Act request.

Regards

Pete Hill
Kaitohutohu Tumuaki Principal Advisor
Ministerial Support and Official Correspondence

[email address] | DDI 04 460 2784 | MOB 027 235 8389

Wellington Office, Level 7, Radio New Zealand House, 155 The Terrace
PO Box 5501, Wellington 6145, New Zealand
http://www.linz.govt.nz/ | data.linz.govt.nz

-----Original Message-----
From: Shaun Brown <[FOI #23204 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2023 8:47 PM
To: Ministerial Support <[LINZ request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - In re: Colin David Rath

Dear Land Information New Zealand,

According to recent news reporting, the Overseas Investment Office allowed the American criminal 'Colin David Rath', who had already made himself notorious in his home burrow of New York by making a spurious challenge to the evidence brought by one of the many banks chasing him for unpaid money in the 'Nat'l City Bank v. Rath' case, to buy property and other assets in New Zealand. Since then, he has been caught and convicted wh\ile being American, and was given a prison sentence of more than three years in duration for his fraud in March of this year.

Please provide all records held by LINZ in regards the decision to allow this alien to invest in New Zealand, and any holdings within this nation he may still claim title to.

Yours,
Shaun Brown

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

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #23204 email]

Is [LINZ request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Land Information New Zealand? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

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.

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

________________________________

This message contains information, which may be in confidence and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not peruse, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this message. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately (Phone 0800 665 463 or [email address]) and destroy the original message. LINZ accepts no responsibility for changes to this email, or for any attachments, after its transmission from LINZ. Thank You.

hide quoted sections

Dear Shaun

 

Thank you for your email of 6 July 2023.

 

We are currently considering the issues that you have raised.

 

We are also reviewing the information that has been redacted from the
Overseas Investment Assessment Report.

 

I will write to you again once we have completed our review of the
redactions and completed our standard third-party consultation.

 

Regards

 

Pete Hill
Kaitohutohu Tumuaki Principal Advisor

Ministerial Support and Official Correspondence

 

[1][email address] | DDI 04 460 2784 | MOB 027 235 8389

 

 

  Wellington Office, Level 7, Radio New Zealand
House, 155 The Terrace
[2]Toitu Te Whenua colour PO Box 5501, Wellington 6145, New Zealand
logo
[3]www.linz.govt.nz | [4]data.linz.govt.nz

 

[5]link to facebook          [6]link to
LinkedIn          [7]link to
Twitter          [8]Link to YouTube

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Shaun Brown <[FOI #23204 email]>
Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2023 12:58 PM
To: Ministerial Support <[LINZ request email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - In re: Colin David Rath

 

Dear Ministerial Support,

 

I'm aware that you usually make a lot of redactions in regards privacy,
etc, but:

1) Rath is a convicted criminal.

2) Rath is a foreigner, not a New Zealander.

3) At the time of the 2018 decision, it was well known and entirely public
that Rath had bilked a bunch of investors and financial institutions in
the US out of money.

 

It is obviously in the public interest, overcoming any Section 9
objections, for the public to know if LINZ completely ignores the conduct
of prospective investors in determining whether they are of "good
character".

 

Assuming that you conducted a minimal look into Rath's character, you were
aware of the court cases against Rath in the US and how they came about.
Assuming that these were indeed identified by the LINZ employees involved,
then what was said about Rath's previous legal trouble and your
conclusions as to how he could be considered of "good character" despite
his prior conduct is absolutely relevant. Would you care to disclose those
properly, or should I go to the Ombudsman to challenge this absurd
violation of the OIA?

 

Alternatively, if you completely failed to identify Rath's prior conduct,
which was a simple Google/LexisNexis search away, I'd appreciate it if you
could confirm that was the case.

 

Yours sincerely,

Shaun Brown

 

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

 

Kia ora Shaun

 

Attached is a response to your Official Information Act request.

 

Regards

 

Pete Hill

Kaitohutohu Tumuaki Principal Advisor

Ministerial Support and Official Correspondence

 

[email address] | DDI 04 460 2784 | MOB 027 235 8389

 

Wellington Office, Level 7, Radio New Zealand House, 155 The Terrace PO
Box 5501, Wellington 6145, New Zealand

[9]https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
| data.linz.govt.nz

 

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

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

[10][FOI #23204 email]

 

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

[11]https://apc01.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.

 

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

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

This message contains information, which may be in confidence and may be
subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, you
must not peruse, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this message. If you
have received this message in error, please notify us immediately (Phone
0800 665 463 or [email address]) and destroy the original message. LINZ
accepts no responsibility for changes to this email, or for any
attachments, after its transmission from LINZ. Thank You.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.linz.govt.nz/
3. http://www.linz.govt.nz/
http://www.linz.govt.nz/
4. http://www.data.linz.govt.nz/
http://www.data.linz.govt.nz/
5. https://www.facebook.com/landinformation...
6. https://www.linkedin.com/company/land-in...
7. https://twitter.com/LandInfoNZ
8. https://www.youtube.com/user/linzvideoof...
9. http://www.linz.govt.nz/
10. mailto:[FOI #23204 email]
11. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Dear Shaun

 

I just want to provide you with an update in relation to your request of 6
July 2023.

 

We are finalising our reassessment of the information previously redacted
from the Overseas Investment Application Assessment Report and hope to be
able to provide you with a response shortly.

 

We appreciate your patience.

 

Kind regards

 

Pete Hill
Kaitohutohu Tumuaki Principal Advisor

Ministerial Support and Official Correspondence

 

[1][email address] | DDI 04 460 2784 | MOB 027 235 8389

 

 

  Wellington Office, Level 7, Radio New Zealand
House, 155 The Terrace
[2]Toitu Te Whenua colour PO Box 5501, Wellington 6145, New Zealand
logo
[3]www.linz.govt.nz | [4]data.linz.govt.nz

 

[5]link to facebook          [6]link to
LinkedIn          [7]link to
Twitter          [8]Link to YouTube

 

 

 

 

From: Ministerial Support
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2023 8:55 AM
To: Shaun Brown <[FOI #23204 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - In re: Colin David Rath

 

Dear Shaun

 

Thank you for your email of 6 July 2023.

 

We are currently considering the issues that you have raised.

 

We are also reviewing the information that has been redacted from the
Overseas Investment Assessment Report.

 

I will write to you again once we have completed our review of the
redactions and completed our standard third-party consultation.

 

Regards

 

Pete Hill
Kaitohutohu Tumuaki Principal Advisor

Ministerial Support and Official Correspondence

 

[9][email address] | DDI 04 460 2784 | MOB 027 235 8389

 

 

  Wellington Office, Level 7, Radio New Zealand
House, 155 The Terrace
[10]Toitu Te Whenua colour PO Box 5501, Wellington 6145, New Zealand
logo
[11]www.linz.govt.nz | [12]data.linz.govt.nz

 

[13]link to facebook          [14]link to
LinkedIn          [15]link to
Twitter          [16]Link to YouTube

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Shaun Brown <[17][FOI #23204 email]>
Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2023 12:58 PM
To: Ministerial Support <[18][LINZ request email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - In re: Colin David Rath

 

Dear Ministerial Support,

 

I'm aware that you usually make a lot of redactions in regards privacy,
etc, but:

1) Rath is a convicted criminal.

2) Rath is a foreigner, not a New Zealander.

3) At the time of the 2018 decision, it was well known and entirely public
that Rath had bilked a bunch of investors and financial institutions in
the US out of money.

 

It is obviously in the public interest, overcoming any Section 9
objections, for the public to know if LINZ completely ignores the conduct
of prospective investors in determining whether they are of "good
character".

 

Assuming that you conducted a minimal look into Rath's character, you were
aware of the court cases against Rath in the US and how they came about.
Assuming that these were indeed identified by the LINZ employees involved,
then what was said about Rath's previous legal trouble and your
conclusions as to how he could be considered of "good character" despite
his prior conduct is absolutely relevant. Would you care to disclose those
properly, or should I go to the Ombudsman to challenge this absurd
violation of the OIA?

 

Alternatively, if you completely failed to identify Rath's prior conduct,
which was a simple Google/LexisNexis search away, I'd appreciate it if you
could confirm that was the case.

 

Yours sincerely,

Shaun Brown

 

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

 

Kia ora Shaun

 

Attached is a response to your Official Information Act request.

 

Regards

 

Pete Hill

Kaitohutohu Tumuaki Principal Advisor

Ministerial Support and Official Correspondence

 

[email address] | DDI 04 460 2784 | MOB 027 235 8389

 

Wellington Office, Level 7, Radio New Zealand House, 155 The Terrace PO
Box 5501, Wellington 6145, New Zealand

[19]https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
| data.linz.govt.nz

 

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

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

[20][FOI #23204 email]

 

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

[21]https://apc01.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.

 

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

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

This message contains information, which may be in confidence and may be
subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, you
must not peruse, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this message. If you
have received this message in error, please notify us immediately (Phone
0800 665 463 or [email address]) and destroy the original message. LINZ
accepts no responsibility for changes to this email, or for any
attachments, after its transmission from LINZ. Thank You.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.linz.govt.nz/
3. http://www.linz.govt.nz/
http://www.linz.govt.nz/
4. http://www.data.linz.govt.nz/
http://www.data.linz.govt.nz/
5. https://www.facebook.com/landinformation...
6. https://www.linkedin.com/company/land-in...
7. https://twitter.com/LandInfoNZ
8. https://www.youtube.com/user/linzvideoof...
9. mailto:[email address]
10. https://www.linz.govt.nz/
11. http://www.linz.govt.nz/
http://www.linz.govt.nz/
12. http://www.data.linz.govt.nz/
http://www.data.linz.govt.nz/
13. https://www.facebook.com/landinformation...
14. https://www.linkedin.com/company/land-in...
15. https://twitter.com/LandInfoNZ
16. https://www.youtube.com/user/linzvideoof...
17. mailto:[FOI #23204 email]
18. mailto:[LINZ request email]
19. http://www.linz.govt.nz/
20. mailto:[FOI #23204 email]
21. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Dear Shaun

 

Attached is a response to your request of 6 July 2023.

 

Regards

 

Pete Hill
Senior Business Partner / Hoa Kōtui Pakihi Matua

Ministerial and Government Services

 

[1][email address] | DDI 04 460 2784 | MOB 027 235 8389

 

 

  Wellington Office, Level 7, Radio New Zealand
House, 155 The Terrace
[2]Toitu Te Whenua colour PO Box 5501, Wellington 6145, New Zealand
logo
[3]www.linz.govt.nz | [4]data.linz.govt.nz

 

[5]link to facebook          [6]link to
LinkedIn          [7]link to
Twitter          [8]Link to YouTube

 

 

 

From: Ministerial Support
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2023 8:55 AM
To: Shaun Brown <[FOI #23204 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - In re: Colin David Rath

 

Dear Shaun

 

Thank you for your email of 6 July 2023.

 

We are currently considering the issues that you have raised.

 

We are also reviewing the information that has been redacted from the
Overseas Investment Assessment Report.

 

I will write to you again once we have completed our review of the
redactions and completed our standard third-party consultation.

 

Regards

 

Pete Hill
Kaitohutohu Tumuaki Principal Advisor

Ministerial Support and Official Correspondence

 

[9][email address] | DDI 04 460 2784 | MOB 027 235 8389

 

 

  Wellington Office, Level 7, Radio New Zealand
House, 155 The Terrace
[10]Toitu Te Whenua colour PO Box 5501, Wellington 6145, New Zealand
logo
[11]www.linz.govt.nz | [12]data.linz.govt.nz

 

[13]link to facebook          [14]link to
LinkedIn          [15]link to
Twitter          [16]Link to YouTube

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Shaun Brown <[17][FOI #23204 email]>
Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2023 12:58 PM
To: Ministerial Support <[18][LINZ request email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - In re: Colin David Rath

 

Dear Ministerial Support,

 

I'm aware that you usually make a lot of redactions in regards privacy,
etc, but:

1) Rath is a convicted criminal.

2) Rath is a foreigner, not a New Zealander.

3) At the time of the 2018 decision, it was well known and entirely public
that Rath had bilked a bunch of investors and financial institutions in
the US out of money.

 

It is obviously in the public interest, overcoming any Section 9
objections, for the public to know if LINZ completely ignores the conduct
of prospective investors in determining whether they are of "good
character".

 

Assuming that you conducted a minimal look into Rath's character, you were
aware of the court cases against Rath in the US and how they came about.
Assuming that these were indeed identified by the LINZ employees involved,
then what was said about Rath's previous legal trouble and your
conclusions as to how he could be considered of "good character" despite
his prior conduct is absolutely relevant. Would you care to disclose those
properly, or should I go to the Ombudsman to challenge this absurd
violation of the OIA?

 

Alternatively, if you completely failed to identify Rath's prior conduct,
which was a simple Google/LexisNexis search away, I'd appreciate it if you
could confirm that was the case.

 

Yours sincerely,

Shaun Brown

 

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

 

Kia ora Shaun

 

Attached is a response to your Official Information Act request.

 

Regards

 

Pete Hill

Kaitohutohu Tumuaki Principal Advisor

Ministerial Support and Official Correspondence

 

[email address] | DDI 04 460 2784 | MOB 027 235 8389

 

Wellington Office, Level 7, Radio New Zealand House, 155 The Terrace PO
Box 5501, Wellington 6145, New Zealand

[19]https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
| data.linz.govt.nz

 

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

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

[20][FOI #23204 email]

 

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

[21]https://apc01.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.

 

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

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

This message contains information, which may be in confidence and may be
subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, you
must not peruse, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this message. If you
have received this message in error, please notify us immediately (Phone
0800 665 463 or [email address]) and destroy the original message. LINZ
accepts no responsibility for changes to this email, or for any
attachments, after its transmission from LINZ. Thank You.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.linz.govt.nz/
3. http://www.linz.govt.nz/
http://www.linz.govt.nz/
4. http://www.data.linz.govt.nz/
http://www.data.linz.govt.nz/
5. https://www.facebook.com/landinformation...
6. https://www.linkedin.com/company/land-in...
7. https://twitter.com/LandInfoNZ
8. https://www.youtube.com/user/linzvideoof...
9. mailto:[email address]
10. https://www.linz.govt.nz/
11. http://www.linz.govt.nz/
http://www.linz.govt.nz/
12. http://www.data.linz.govt.nz/
http://www.data.linz.govt.nz/
13. https://www.facebook.com/landinformation...
14. https://www.linkedin.com/company/land-in...
15. https://twitter.com/LandInfoNZ
16. https://www.youtube.com/user/linzvideoof...
17. mailto:[FOI #23204 email]
18. mailto:[LINZ request email]
19. http://www.linz.govt.nz/
20. mailto:[FOI #23204 email]
21. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections