27 September 2023
C172193
Diana K
[FYI request #23912 email]
Tēnā koe Diana
Thank you for your email of 21 August 2023 to the Department of Corrections – Ara
Poutama Aotearoa, requesting information about OIA requests. Your request has been
considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).
We take our legislative obligations under the OIA seriously. We continuously work to
enhance our capabilities to uphold the principles of the OIA and promote open and
transparent government. We are committed to a culture of continuous improvement and
acknowledge there is always more we can do to enhance official information practice.
Corrections received approximately 15,000 pieces of correspondence in the 2022/23
financial year. Of these roughly 10,000 were requests made under the OIA, which is an
increase of 150% in OIAs responded to since the 2017/18 financial year.
You requested:
I request the number of OIA requests over the last three years broken down by month
and number of days to respond that Corrections has identified as being from media
or public organisations (such as the New Zealand Hearld or Taxpayers’ Union) and
therefore has been through the formal OIA process - ie. a table broken down number
of these OIAs by year, number recieved per month, and the number of working days
to respond. Further to this, I request how many of these OIAs were extended and how
many requests were sent out late.
I also request, the number of OIA requests over the last three years, broken down by
month received, that Corrections has not identified as being from media or public
organisations and the number of days it has taken to respond to each of those
requests. Further to this, I request how many of these OIAs were extended and how
many requests were sent out late.
Most OIA correspondence received directly at prisons or Community Corrections sites are
managed onsite. Work is underway to record these requests centrally, but we are currently
unable to capture this data. Therefore, your request for the number of OIA requests
NATIONAL OFFICE, WELLINGTON
Mayfair House, 44 – 52 The Terrace, Wellington, 6011, Private Box 1206, Wellington 6140,
Phone +64 4 460 3000
www.corrections.govt.nz
2
received by the Department of Corrections is refused under section 18(f) of the OIA, as the
information cannot be made available without substantial collation or research.
The figures provided in this response represent OIA requests received by Corrections’
Ministerial Services and Media teams at National Office as this is the data we currently
collate centrally. In accordance with Corrections’ reporting practices, statistics on responses
Corrections has sent are reported in the month the response was sent, rather than the
month the request was received.
We note you have requested information about requests which are made by media and
public organisations and have therefore been through “
the formal OIA process“.
Corrections
responds to all OIA requests in accordance with our legislative obligations, which remain
same regardless of whether or not the person making the request is doing so on behalf of a
media or public organisation.
Please find attached, as Appendix One, a table showing the total number of OIA responses
Corrections has responded to each month and year from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2023, as
wel as the average number of working days taken to respond, the number extended and
the number sent late. Responses are broken down by those identified as being sent to
public organisations and those sent to al other requesters.
Please note that this response may be published on Corrections’ website. Typical y,
responses are published quarterly, or as otherwise determined. Your personal information
including name and contact details will be removed for publication.
I trust the information provided is of assistance. I encourage you to raise any concerns
about this response with Corrections. Alternatively, you are advised of your right to also
raise any concerns with the Office of the Ombudsman. Contact details are: Office of the
Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wel ington 6143.
Ngā mihi
Rebecca Powell
Deputy Chief Executive - Acting
People and Capability
