4 December 2023
T. Smith
By email: [FYI request #24721 email]
Tēnā koe T. Smith
Official information request for communications of James Kierstead
I refer to your request for information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act)
dated 12 November 2023:
“Please provide all communications between James Kierstead and:
−
the Tax Payers Union (TPU) and any persons employed by the TPU,
−
the Free Speech Union (FSU) and any persons employed by the FSU;
−
the ACT Party (ACT) and any persons employed by ACT; and
−
the NZ Initiative (NZI) and any persons employed or volunteering with the
NZI.
Although I am largely interested in any emails from Dr. Kierstead's university-
hosted email address, if he has a university-provided personal device I am also
interested in any other forms of communications between himself and the above
list of organisations and people.
To assist with the the inquiry, and to reduce the workload associated with the
request, I am only interested in any emails (or other communication) that have
occurred within the last 12 months.”
Under the University’
s Acceptable Use of Information Systems Statute, limited personal
activities are permitted on University information systems. Any communications Dr
Kierstead has had with the above named organisations were done so in his personal
capacity. As the information is not held in relation to his employment as member of the
academic staff of the university; or an officer or employee of the university, this
information is not considered to be official information held by the University.
As such, your request is refused in accordance with s18(g) of the Act as the information
requested is not held by the University and there are no grounds for believing that the
information is held by another agency that is subject to the Act.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of the
decisions made regarding this request. Information about how to make a complaint is
available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact me at
[VUW request email].
Ngā mihi nui
Blair Doherty
Senior Advisor, Official Information and Privacy
Legal Services
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington