12 December 2023
Ref: DOIA 2324-1089
Stephen Prendergast
[FYI request #24704 email]
Tēnā koe Stephen Prendergast
On 21 November 2023, part of your request under the Official Information Act (1982) was transferred to
the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE). Specifical y, the part of your request for
the following information:
Key documents and reports between Te Arawhiti and other government departments
regarding the management of the concessions.
This request covers the period 1 January 2023 onwards.
MBIE has identified the fol owing 11 documents to be within scope of your request:
# Date
Type
Document Title
Decision
2223-3806 Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited – Proceeding
1 12 May 2023
Briefing
with negotiations – Talking Points for Cabinet on 15
18(d)
May 2023
2223-3901 Ruapehu Alpine Lifts – Negotiation
Aide
2 17 May 2023
Parameters – Cabinet Paper for Ministerial
18(d)
Memoire Consultation
2223-3951 Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited –
Aide
3 19 May 2023
Negotiations parameters– Talking Points for Cabinet
18(d)
Memoire on 22 May 2023
2223-4186 Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited – Final Deal –
4 9 June 2023
Briefing
18(d)
Talking points for Cabinet 12 June 2023
5 21 June 2023
Briefing
2223-4334 Post watershed options
18(d)
2324-0655 Update on Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited
31 August
Withhold in
6
Briefing
(in liquidation) (RAL) - recent developments and next
2023
ful
steps
2324-0716 Cover Briefing - Ruapehu Alpine Lifts
8 September
Cover
Withhold in
7
Limited (In Liquidation) (RAL) – option for
2023
Briefing
ful
government support
2324-0753 Draft Cabinet paper: Ruapehu Alpine Lifts
22 September
Withhold in
8
Briefing
Limited (In Liquidation) (RAL) – options for
2023
ful
government support
2 October
Cabinet
Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited (In Liquidation) (RAL) –
Withhold in
9 2023
Paper
options for government support
ful
2 October
Cabinet
CAB-23-SUB-0456 Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited:
Withhold in
10 2023
Summary Options for Government Support
ful
2 October
Cabinet
CAB-23-MIN-0456: Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited:
Withhold in
11 2023
Minute
Options for Government Support
ful
As five documents within scope of your request are already publicly available, MBIE is refusing the release
of these documents under section 18(d) as the information requested is, or will soon be, publicly
available:
The briefing material already released is available on the MBIE website, and can be accessed at the
following link
: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/document-
library/search?keywords=ruapehualpinelifts&df=&dt=&submit=Search&sort=desc&start=0
Please note some information contained within these proactively released documents have been
withheld.
Cabinet gave Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit (Kānoa – RDU) the mandate to
lead negotiations in relation to a possible restructuring of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited (in
liquation/receivership) (RAL). Kānoa – RDU is currently working on the options and final conditions of the
sale of RAL, and they are stil being actively considered by the Crown. Due to the sensitive nature of these
works and the proposal/bids, and the ongoing process to find a solution, MBIE is withholding the
following in full:
•
2324-0655 Update on Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited (in liquidation) (RAL) - recent
developments and next steps;
•
2324-0716 Cover Briefing - Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited (In Liquidation) (RAL) – option for
government support;
•
2324-0753 Draft Cabinet paper: Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited (In Liquidation) (RAL) – options
for government support;
•
Cabinet Paper: Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited (In Liquidation) (RAL) – options for government
support;
•
CAB-23-SUB-0456 Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited: Options for Government Support; and
•
CAB-23-MIN-0456: Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited: Options for Government Support.
Please note MBIE is withholding the release of these documents under the fol owing sections of the Act:
•
9(2)(b)(i ), to protect information where the making available of the information would be
likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who
is the subject of the information;
•
9(2)(i), to enable a Minister of the Crown or any public service agency or organisation holding
the information to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities; and
•
9(2)(j), to enable a Minister of the Crown or any public service agency or organisation holding
the information to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including
commercial and industrial negotiations).
Please note that the Minister of Conservation grants concession agreements, therefore, the Department
of Conservation (DOC) oversees the management of the concessions for RAL. DOC would be more
appropriate to comment on questions regarding the management of the RAL concessions.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further assistance,
please contac
t [email address].
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.
Nāku noa, nā
Tane Dewes
Manager Operations Support and Improvement
Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit