2 August 2023
Matthew Hooton
[FYI request #23429 email]
Ref: OIA-2023/24-0007
Dear Matthew Hooton
Official Information Act request relating to new medical school at the University of
Waikato
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on 7 July 2023.
You requested:
“Under the OIA, could I please have all written advice prepared by DPMC over the last
ten years for ministers and other government agencies on the question of a new
Medical School at the University of Waikato, including arguments made for and
against.
This includes any brief notes, talking points etc prepared for prime ministers ahead of
Cabinet meetings, Cabinet committee meetings, and other meetings with ministers,
officials and other stakeholders. “”
Your request for information is extremely broad. A search was conducted to identify briefing
notes and talking points prepared for the Prime Minister ahead of Cabinet meetings and
Cabinet Committee meetings. This search returned hundreds of pages of documents that
would require manual identification and collation of the information you have requested. As
such, we are refusing your request in full under section 18(f) of the Act, as to provide the
information requested would require substantial collation and research and significantly
impact on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s other operations.
On 10 July 2023, we contacted you explaining that as your request is broad, and we invited
you to refine your request, such as narrowing the time frame, to avoid having to refuse your
request in full under section 18(f) of the Act. On 10 July 2023, you replied stating you wish to
proceed with your original request.
Should you wish to resubmit a new request, with a narrower time frame, we will re-consider
our decision on this request.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
We do not intend to publish this response on the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet’s website.
Yours sincerely
Clare Ward
Executive Director
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
4773646
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz