29 November 2023
File Ref: OIAPR-1274023063-24137
Bruce
By email: [FYI request #24642 email]
Tēnā koe Bruce
Request for information 2023-269
I refer to your request for information dated 03 November 2023, which was received by Greater
Wel ington Regional Council (Greater Wel ington) on 03 November 2023. You have requested the
fol owing:
“I would like al documents regarding the decision to close the Wel ington Bus Interchange on
February 11 2022. I'm particularly interested in inter-agency correspondence, meetings and phone
cal s prior to the decision to close the interchange, and in threat assessments to staff and
passengers.”
Greater Wellington’s response follows:
The Interchange closure referred to in this request occurred during the protest occupation of
Parliament in 2022. The discussion concerning closure of the interchange was commenced between
Greater Wel ington and Wel ington City Council infrastructure teams fol owing damage to the train
station toilets. The request was made by Greater Wel ington to avoid unnecessary occupation of the
facilities, any further damage to facilities, and to improve security within the interchange facility.
The Wel ington Bus interchange is owned by Wel ington City Council, so the final decision to close
the facility was made by them. However, Metlink’s decision was to remove al bus services from the
interchange prior to the decision to close the facility in order to remove the possibility of vandalism
or damage from the occupation.
Please see Attachment 1 for al correspondence regarding the closure of the Wel ington Bus
Interchange on 11 February 2022.
Attachment 2 includes a security report regarding the Interchange closure.
Wel ington office
Upper Hutt
Masterton office
0800 496 734
PO Box 11646
PO Box 40847
PO Box 41
www.gw.govt.nz
Manners St, Wel ington 6142
1056 Fergusson Drive
Masterton 5840
[Wellington Regional Council request email]
An internal systems search prior to 11 February 2022, returned 3 additional relevant emails which
have been included in Attachment 1.
Please note that contact numbers have been redacted from attachment 1 under section 7(2)(a) of
the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (the Act) in order to protect the
privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural persons.
We have considered whether the public interest in the requested information outweighs Greater
Wel ington’s need to withhold certain aspects of the requested information. As a result, we do not
consider that the public interest outweighs Greater Wel ington’s reason for withholding parts of the
document under the ground identified above.
No formal assessment of staff and passenger safety was conducted and therefore this part of your
request is refused under section 17(e) of the Act on the basis that the document al eged to contain
the information requested does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found.
When refusing under this section we are required to consider consulting the requestor. We have
considered this, however, believe our decision to refuse this part of your request is unlikely to
change.
If you have any concerns with the decision(s) referred to in this letter, you have the right to request
an investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 27(3) of the Act.
Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official information requests
where possible. Our response to your request wil be published shortly on Greater Wel ington’s
website with your personal information removed.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Samantha Gain
Kaiwhakahaere Matua Waka-ā-atea | Group Manager Metlink
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