Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street
DX SX10088 | Wellington
T 04 918 8800 |
F 04 918 8820
[email address] | www.justice.govt.nz
21 December 2023
C A Mattheiss
[FYI request #23552 email]
Our ref: OIA 108311
Tēnā koe C A Mattheiss
Request for medical records from the Coroners Court file for Lewis Verduyn
Thank you for your request of 24 November 2023 to the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry)
seeking, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), a legible copy of Mr Lewis Verduyn's
medical records, contained on the Coroners Court file.
As per your request of 29 October 2021 for “
I have asked for medical records to be enlarged
that were not legible in your report file”, the file label ed ‘
GP to GP transfer notes’ was sent to
you by the Coronial Case Manager via password protected PDF on 2 November 2021. Under
OIA 106180 you were again provided these medical notes by the Ministry on 23 November
2023. These are the only medical records contained on the Coroners Court file for Mr Lewis
Verduyn.
The coroner is functus officio, which means that now that the coroner has closed their inquiry,
they no longer have the ability to continue to investigate the matter or request information once
findings have been issued. Coronial Services or anyone from the Ministry are unable to make
enquires on your behalf to seek further information and regarding medical notes relating to Mr
Lewis Verduyn. The information you are seeking in this case is not held by the Ministry but
would need to be obtained from another person in order to respond to your request. Your
request is therefore refused under s 18(g) of the Official Information Act 1982 because the
Ministry does not hold any official information.
If you require any clarification of the information contained in this response, please contact Joe
Locke, Media & Social Media Manager, on 021 636 416, or email [email address]
If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to complain to the Ombudsman
under section 28(3) of the OIA. You can contact the Office of the Ombudsman by calling 0800
802 60; or emailing [email address].
I trust this information assists.
Nāku noa, nā
Jacquelyn Shannon
Group Manager, Courts and Tribunals, Regional Service Delivery
Ref:
108311