OIAD-3841 and OIAD-3781
6 March 2024
Stephen Prendergast
[email address]
[FYI request #25641 email]
Tēnā koe Stephen
Thank you for your requests to the Department of Conservation, in which you asked for:
7 February 2024 (OIAD-3781):
Please provide key emails / documents from 1 August 2023 between DOC and MBIE
or Calibre or other parties on the possible transfer or assignment, or sub licence, of
the current (RAL) Whakapapa ski field concession(s).
29 February 2024 (OIAD-3841):
Please supply communications from 20 June 2023 between DOC and The
Minister(s), or MBIE, or RAL / Calibre, or PTL on the possibility of sub licencing the
operation of Turoa ski field. Also include any internal discussions by DOC on what
period the sub licence would cover and what conditions might be considered or
imposed.
We have considered your request under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (OIA).
As you know, the Department has processed several OIA requests from you concerning
Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL) and related matters (16 since July 2023). When we receive OIA
requests, we review what information can be provided. If it appears that the requests may
capture a significant volume of information, or we are unclear what specific information you
are seeking, we generally consult with you to confirm these points.
Each of the two requests noted above would require the Department to search through a
significant volume of emails and documents discussing RAL, Mt Ruapehu, concessions and
licenses to identify information potentially in scope. In this case, we have not been able to
identify a proposed refinement for your request which would mitigate the issues in providing
you with a substantive response.
As you are aware, RAL’s ski field concessions are in the form of licences. This means that
when we undertake document searches for the above OIA requests, documents about the
concession type are also captured. Any other proposed refinement limits information to
documents already in the process of being released to you under your other OIA requests, or
to information that you have already received.
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For your reference, the Department has provided relevant advice about Whakapapa and
Tūroa ski fields to the Minister of Conservation. These documents do not relate primarily to
the issue of sub-licensing, and do not include communications, so we did not consider it
sufficient to offer as a refinement option for these requests. These documents are also
already being provided to you (OIAD-3715). Similarly, you have already received all
correspondence between agencies concerning concessions and Mt Ruapehu (OIAD-3585).
In these circumstances, we have considered section 18B of the OIA but concluded that use
of this provision would not assist in this case. Due to the issues noted above, we are refusing
these two requests under section 18(f) of the OIA, as responding would require substantial
collation and research.
We wil continue to work with you in responding to your current OIA requests, and any further
requests that you may make. In making future requests, we suggest you continue to avoid
seeking all documents or correspondence, or email correspondence across a wide or
unlimited range of parties, as this may present similar issues.
You are entitled to seek an investigation and review of my decision by writing to an
Ombudsman as provided by section 28(3) of the Of icial Information Act.
If you would like to discuss this response with us, please contact
[email address]
Nāku noa, nā
Stacey Wrenn
Senior Manager, Regulatory Services
Department of Conservation
Te Papa Atawhai
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