Ref: 2324-1294

Kia ora Stephen Prendergast,

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 12 December 2023 requesting, under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:

‘Information on the withdrawal of WHL from RAL bid

On 8 September a Treasury email  Identified that Kanoa had advised there
was only 1 viable commercial operator who are bidding for Turoa only.

This request is for key internal and external correspondence related to
the withdrawal of WHL from the bidding process  for  Whakapapa Ski Field
.’

Please note that the days from 25 December 2023 to 15 January 2024
(inclusive) are defined as non- working days in the Act and are not
counted in the calculation for the response due date. This may affect the
time period for responding to your request.

 

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and no
later than 31 January 2024, being 20 working days after the day your
request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then,
we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.  If you have any
enquiries regarding your request feel free to contact us via email to
[1][MBIE request email].

Nâku noa, nâ

Ministerial Services

Corporate Services, Finance & Enablement

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 |  PO Box 1473 Wellington 6140

 

 

References

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1. mailto:[MBIE request email]

Kia ora

Please find attached a letter from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment regarding your recent request for Official Information (DOIA 2324-1294).

Ngā mihi

Ministerial Services
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140

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Dear Stephen

Thank you for your email. The information relating to your request (DOIA 2324-1294), which asked for correspondence related to Whakapapa Holdings Limited’s (WHL) withdrawal from the bidding process, does not exist at the date of your request (12 December 2023).

As explained in our response, the Treasury’s email of 8 September 2023 was not confirmation that any applicants withdrew from the bidding process. Rather, it explained Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) identification of a viable bid for Cabinet’s consideration.

Please note, the approach taken for your request was not principally focused on the Treasury’s email. MBIE focused on key internal and external correspondence related to the withdrawal of WHL. As the information does not exist within the time of your request, it was refused under section 18(e) of the Act, as the document alleged to contain the information requested does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found.

Therefore, the refusal grounds still apply, and no reconsideration is needed.

Whilst we have not reconsidered our response, we have identified one email that relates to WHL’s withdrawal from the bidding process. Please note that this email is out of the date range of your request (and therefore, out of scope). However, in good faith, and due to the considerable public interest in this topic, we have made this information available to you.

Please note some information has been withheld under the following section of the Act: 9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural persons.

Ngâ mihi

Ministerial Services
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140

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