11 April 2024
OIAD-953
Tom Bennion
[FYI request #25722 email]
Tēnā koe Tom,
Thank you for your email of 13 February 2024 to the Ministry for the Environment (the Ministry)
requesting the following under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act):
Could I have all advice of MfE to the government related to the extension of the date
to notify freshwater plans, and in particular advice about impacts on water quality and
on iwi.
Also any related papers presented to Cabinet and Cabinet decisions.
On 8 March 2024, the Ministry notified you that the timeframe for responding to your request
was being extended under section 15A(1)(b) of the Act as the consultations necessary to
make a decision on the request were such that a proper response could not reasonably be
made within the original timeframe.
The Ministry has identified six documents in scope of your request, as per the attached
document schedule.
I am releasing one document to you in full. I am releasing one document to you with some
information withheld under the following sections of the Act:
• 9(2)(g)(i) - to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank
expression of opinions by or between or to Ministers of the Crown or members of an
organisation or officers and employees of any public service agency or organisation in
the course of their duty; and
• 9(2)(h) - to maintain legal professional privilege.
Four of the documents in scope of your request are publicly available and I must therefore
refuse these under section 18(d) of the Act. Links to these documents have been provided in
the attached document schedule.
In terms of section 9(1) of the Act, I am satisfied that, in the circumstances, the withholding of
this information is not outweighed by other considerations that render it desirable to make the
information available in the public interest.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Office of the Ombudsman of my
decisions relating to this request, in accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. The relevant
details can be found on their website at:
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz. Please note that, due to the public interest in our work, the Ministry publishes responses to
requests for official information on our
OIA responses page shortly after the response has
been sent. If you have any queries about this, please feel free to contact our Ministerial
Services team:
[email address]. Nāku noa, nā,
Hayden Johnston
General Manager – Natural Environment Policy
Ministry for the Environment | Manatū Mō Te Taiao
Document schedule
Doc Document date Content
Decisions OIA sections
no.
applied
1 11 December
CAB 377 - Replacing the
Released 9(2)(h); 9(2)(g)(i)
2023
National Policy Statement for
in part
Freshwater 2020, and
addressing its implementation in
the interim
2 11 December
CAB-23-MIN 0486 - Replacing
Released N/A
2023
the National Policy Statement
in full
for Freshwater 2020, and
addressing its implementation in
the interim
3 4 December
CAB-23-MIN-0473 - Repealing
Refused
18(d): the
2023
the Natural and Built
in full
document is
Environment Act 2023 and the
availabl
e here.
Spatial Planning Act 2023
4 4 December
CAB-371 – Repealing the
Refused
18(d): the
2023
Natural and Built Environment
in full
document is
Act and the Spatial Planning Act
availabl
e here.
5 18 December
CAB-23-0499 - Resource
Refused
18(d): the
2023
Management (Natural and Built in full
document is
Environment and Spatial
availabl
e here.
Planning Repeal and Interim
Fast-track Consenting) Bil :
Approval for Introduction
6 18 December
CAB-372 - Resource
Refused
18(d): the
2023
Management (Natural and Built in full
document is
Environment and Spatial
availabl
e here.
Planning Repeal and Interim
Fast-track Consenting) Bil :
Approval for Introduction
