133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
17 January 2024
Rohan Lloyd
By email: [FYI request #24946 email]
Ref:
H2023033269
Tēnā koe Rohan
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health | Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 29 November 2023 for information regarding approved
tobacco retailers in the Northland area. Please find a response to each part of your request
below:
The number of "Approved Smoked Tobacco Retailer" applications in Northland
The Ministry has not approved any applications for any retailer in New Zealand. Following the
formation of the new Government the Tobacco Regulatory Authority (TRA) suspended receiving
new applications for the Approved Smoked Tobacco Retailer scheme on 1 December 2023,
which was due to close on 3 December 2023.
List of the retailers that have applied
Information relating to this part of your request is withheld in full under section 9(2)(b)(i ) of the
Act, as information would be likely to prejudice the commercial position of the person who
supplied the information. I have considered the countervailing public interest in release in
making this decision and consider that it does not outweigh the need to withhold at this time.
Please note, applicants provided their information to the Ministry in confidence, as part of the
application process.
PART 2:
Any information you have about the number of retail locations in Northland. In particular,
any documents that would prove or disprove the Prime Ministers claim.
The Ministry does not hold the current number of tobacco outlets in Northland, as there is no
licencing scheme at present. I am therefore unable to provide you with this information under
section 18(g) of the Act. The maximum number of retailers that may be approved through the
Approved Smoked Tobacco Retailer scheme, by location, is published in the Gazet e. The
number of potential retail locations in Northland if the scheme proceeds can be calculated by
adding the approved numbers in rural and urban Northland. The Gazette Notice can be found
here:
https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2023-sl4301.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this decision, please feel
free to contact the OIA Services Team on
: [email address].
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Manatū Hauora website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-
official-information-act-requests.
Nāku noa, nā,
Dr Andrew Old
Deputy Director-General
Public Health Agency | Te Pou Hauora Tūmatanui
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