22 December 2023
T Murray
By email:
[FYI request #25109 email]
Tēnā koe T Murray
Thank you for your request, received on 9 December 2023, for the following information under the
Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act):
•
“The date, time and location of your initial meeting with the new Minister for your
department;
•
A list of attendees at this meeting
•
The cost of any flights and accommodation for staff who reside outside of wellington to
attend this meeting
•
Any documentation provided at the meeting
•
Al notes (including handwritten notes) taken at the meeting by department staff;
•
A copy of any emails sent by department attendees or all staff communications regarding
the meeting with the new Minister.”
At the time of your request arrangements for a meeting with the Minister were stil to be confirmed.
However, despite those arrangements only being finalised after the date of your request we have
decided, in the interests of efficiency for this request, to provide you with information that was
created after your request was made.
The Electricity Authority met with Hon Simeon Brown (Minister for Energy) on Monday 18
December 2023 at 6pm at the Minister’s office in Wellington. The following board members
attended:
• Anna Kominik (Board Chair)
• Allan Dawson
• Paula Rose
• Lana Stockman
• Dr Cristiano Marantes
The following senior staff members attended:
• Sarah Gil ies (Chief Executive)
• Andrew Mil er (General Manager - Market Policy)
There was no cost for these board members and staff to attend as all were already in Wellington
for the Authority Board meeting.
Level 7, AON Centre, 1 Wil is Street, PO Box 10041, Wellington, New Zealand -
WEB www.ea.govt.nz
The Authority provided the Minister with three documents at the meeting. The Market Development
Advisory Group’s
Price discovery in a renewables-based electricity system – Final
recommendations paper is
available on our website. The other two documents are being withheld
under section 18(d) of the Act as they were shared with the Minister in confidence and wil be
made publicly available in January 2024.
The Authority did not take any notes at the meeting therefore this part of your request is refused
under section 18(e) on the basis that the document does not exist.
The Authority has interpreted your request for “
emails sent by department attendees or all staff
communications regarding the meeting with the new Minister” to be in regard to the meeting on
Monday 18 December 2023 at 6pm. We have identified 8 emails within scope of this request; these
are attached to the letter. Some information is being withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act to
protect the privacy of natural persons. We have also redacted parts of the emails that are not
within the scope of your request.
I am satisfied, in terms of section 9(1) of the Act, that the need to withhold the information referred
to above is not outweighed by other considerations that render it desirable, in the public interest, to
make the information available.
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 at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact us by emailing
[email address].
Nāku noa, nā
Airihi Mahuika
GM Legal, Monitoring and Compliance
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