Good morning,
I acknowledge receipt of your request and have forwarded it to the
appropriate department.
Kind regards,

Kaya Clement​​​​
Customer Service Officer |  West Coast Regional Council
[1][email address]  | [2]+64 3 768 0466 ext. 9071  |  [3]0272100841 [4]Facebook [5]Twitter [6]YouTube
[7]West Coast Regional Council Website

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Kevin Smith <[FOI #25796 email]>
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2024 1:02 AM
To: WCRC Information <[West Coast Regional Council request email]>
Subject: [BULK] Re: Official Information request - Buller Flooding July
2021.
 
Caution! This message was sent from outside your organization.

Dear West Coast Regional Council,

Following up on my OIA request of mid February.

Please only write messages directly relating to your request Buller
Flooding July 2021.. If you would like to ask for information that was not
in your original request, then file a new request.

The response to your request has been delayed. You can say that, by law,
the authority should normally have responded promptly and by March 19,
2024. (This date may be incorrect if the request was transferred to
another authority.)

Yours faithfully,

Kevin Smith

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #25796 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[8]https://us-east-2.protection.sophos.com?...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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Good morning Kevin

 

My apologies for the delay with your information request unfortunately
there was an admin error and your request was missed. Currently the staff
member who normally deals with the below is away until next week we have
made your request urgent and will get the information to you as soon as we
can.

 

 

Kind regards

Leah

 

Leah Buchanan​​​​
Business Support Officer |  West Coast Regional Council
[1][email address]  | [2]+64 3 744 7315  |  [3]021311948 [4]Facebook [5]Twitter [6]YouTube
[7]West Coast Regional Council Website

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Kevin Smith <[8][FOI #25796 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 9:58 AM
To: WCRC Information <[9][West Coast Regional Council request email]>
Subject: [BULK] Official Information request - Buller Flooding July 2021.

 

Caution! This message was sent from outside your organization.

Dear West Coast Regional Council,

I am seeking the correspondence between NIWA, NEMA, BDC and similar
agencies, to the West Coast Regional Council in the days prior to the July
2021, Buller River flood.

This is to cover the period from Tuesday 13th July 2021 through to midday
on the Saturday, 17th July.

As I am interested in weather and other warnings or advisories given, this
may also include correspondence to affiliated agencies, Civil Defence, NZ
Army, Emergency Management agencies.

I am compiling a book into both the lead up and response to the flooding.
This will be followed with later chapters investigating the causes of the
damage and the subsequent review and official report.

Yours faithfully,

Kevin Smith

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[10][FOI #25796 email]

Is [11][West Coast Regional Council request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to West Coast Regional Council? If so, please contact us using
this form:
[12]https://us-east-2.protection.sophos.com?...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[13]https://us-east-2.protection.sophos.com?...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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8. mailto:[FOI #25796 email]
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Good morning Kevin,

I am presently assisting the Council with processing information
requests.  Further to the below, I just wanted to provide you an update on
the processing of your request.  Once again we apologise for the
administrative error and the delay in picking it up. 

We have initiated a search of our systems for correspondence with a number
of agencies that may have corresponded with the Council in the period 13 –
17 July 2021.  This is likely to produce a large number of emails which we
will then go through and assess.  We may need to liaise further with other
staff and parties on your request, and you will appreciate that many of
these staff are presently involved in the current weather event. 

I will provide you a further update as we progress your request, in the
next week or so.  In the meantime, please contact me if you have any
queries.

Regards
Toni

 

Toni Morrison​​​​
Policy and Projects Consultant |  West Coast Regional Council
[1][email address]  | [2]+64 3 744 7308  |  [3]0272667633 [4]Facebook [5]Twitter [6]YouTube
[7]West Coast Regional Council Website

 

From: Leah Buchanan <[8][email address]>
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2024 10:17 AM
To: [9][FOI #25796 email]
Subject: REQ-2024-3046 - Buller Flooding July 2021.

 

Good morning Kevin

 

My apologies for the delay with your information request unfortunately
there was an admin error and your request was missed. Currently the staff
member who normally deals with the below is away until next week we have
made your request urgent and will get the information to you as soon as we
can.

 

 

Kind regards

Leah

 

Leah Buchanan​​​​
Business Support Officer |  West Coast Regional Council
[10][email address]  | [11]+64 3 744 7315  |  [12]021311948 [13]Facebook [14]Twitter [15]YouTube
[16]West Coast Regional Council Website

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Kevin Smith <[17][FOI #25796 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 9:58 AM
To: WCRC Information <[18][West Coast Regional Council request email]>
Subject: [BULK] Official Information request - Buller Flooding July 2021.

 

Caution! This message was sent from outside your organization.

Dear West Coast Regional Council,

I am seeking the correspondence between NIWA, NEMA, BDC and similar
agencies, to the West Coast Regional Council in the days prior to the July
2021, Buller River flood.

This is to cover the period from Tuesday 13th July 2021 through to midday
on the Saturday, 17th July.

As I am interested in weather and other warnings or advisories given, this
may also include correspondence to affiliated agencies, Civil Defence, NZ
Army, Emergency Management agencies.

I am compiling a book into both the lead up and response to the flooding.
This will be followed with later chapters investigating the causes of the
damage and the subsequent review and official report.

Yours faithfully,

Kevin Smith

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[19][FOI #25796 email]

Is [20][West Coast Regional Council request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to West Coast Regional Council? If so, please contact us using
this form:
[21]https://us-east-2.protection.sophos.com?...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[22]https://us-east-2.protection.sophos.com?...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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6. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzOW5ic...
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17. mailto:[FOI #25796 email]
18. mailto:[West Coast Regional Council request email]
19. mailto:[FOI #25796 email]
20. mailto:[West Coast Regional Council request email]
21. https://us-east-2.protection.sophos.com/...
22. https://us-east-2.protection.sophos.com/...

Dear Kevin,

 

Further to the below request seeking correspondence between NIWA, NEMA,
BDC and similar agencies and the West Coast Regional Council from the
period Tuesday 13th July 2021 through to midday on Saturday 17th July
2021, prior to the July 2021 Buller River flood, we have processed your
request in accordance with the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act (LGOIMA). 

 

We have not met the statutory timeframe within which we were required to
make a decision on your request.  We apologise for the initial
administrative error in logging your request and the subsequent time
required to process it.  It has taken more time to process than expected,
given constraints in staff availability and the resourcing required to
collate and assess it.    I understand that you have had telephone
conversations with Toni Morrison regarding the progress of your request. 

 

From your earlier phone conversations with Ms Morrison we understand that
you specifically seek correspondence that relates to when authorities were
first advised of the weather event and what actions were taken during the
period, with a particular view to emails regarding cooperation and
communication between WCRC and Buller District Council.  I understand you
do not seek copies of data such as incoming weather forecasts emailed to
WCRC over that period. 

 

We have decided to grant your request in part.  Please find attached part
of the information you have requested.  The information provided includes
copies of the correspondence you requested, with the following exceptions:

o Some correspondence to and between staff in the course of their duties
as part of the operational CDEM response to the event has been
withheld, under section 7(2)(f)(i) of LGOIMA.  This information is
withheld in order to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs
through the free and frank expression of opinions by or to Council
officers.  In a civil defence event, it is important that staff
operating in emergency control centres or during emergency responses
are able to freely communicate on significant events and issues, in
terms of appropriately and effectively gathering, assessing and
reviewing information.  It is considered that the public interest in
release is outweighed by the need to protect the Council’s operational
emergency management processes whereby staff need to feel free to take
advice and exchange information.  Release of some of this information
may inhibit the future exchange of free and frank opinions between
Council officers and advisors during an emergency event, which may
reduce the effectiveness of operational responses in future;
o Some information has been redacted to protect the privacy of
individuals (for example private contact details of individuals
included in the correspondence);
o We have not included copies of weather bulletins and warnings
received, or road reports from Fulton Hogan and NZTA, as we understand
that you do not seek these.

 

 

Once again we apologise for not meeting the statutory timeframe within
which we were to make a decision on your request.

 

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
[1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

 

Please contact me if you have any further queries.

 

Yours sincerely

Leah Buchanan

For and on behalf of

Darryl Lew

Chief Executive

 

 

 

 

 

Leah Buchanan​​​​
Business Support Officer |  West Coast Regional Council
[2][email address]  | [3]+64 3 744 7315  |  [4]+6421311948 [5]Facebook [6]Twitter [7]YouTube
[8]West Coast Regional Council Website

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

From: Toni Morrison <[9][email address]>
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2024 11:59 AM
To: [10][FOI #25796 email]
Subject: FW: REQ-2024-3046 - Buller Flooding July 2021.

 

Good morning Kevin,

I am presently assisting the Council with processing information
requests.  Further to the below, I just wanted to provide you an update on
the processing of your request.  Once again we apologise for the
administrative error and the delay in picking it up. 

We have initiated a search of our systems for correspondence with a number
of agencies that may have corresponded with the Council in the period 13 –
17 July 2021.  This is likely to produce a large number of emails which we
will then go through and assess.  We may need to liaise further with other
staff and parties on your request, and you will appreciate that many of
these staff are presently involved in the current weather event. 

I will provide you a further update as we progress your request, in the
next week or so.  In the meantime, please contact me if you have any
queries.

Regards
Toni

 

Toni Morrison​​​​
Policy and Projects Consultant |  West Coast Regional Council
[11][email address]  | [12]+64 3 744 7308  |  [13]0272667633 [14]Facebook [15]Twitter [16]YouTube
[17]West Coast Regional Council Website

 

From: Leah Buchanan <[18][email address]>
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2024 10:17 AM
To: [19][FOI #25796 email]
Subject: REQ-2024-3046 - Buller Flooding July 2021.

 

Good morning Kevin

 

My apologies for the delay with your information request unfortunately
there was an admin error and your request was missed. Currently the staff
member who normally deals with the below is away until next week we have
made your request urgent and will get the information to you as soon as we
can.

 

 

Kind regards

Leah

 

Leah Buchanan​​​​
Business Support Officer |  West Coast Regional Council
[20][email address]  | [21]+64 3 744 7315  |  [22]021311948 [23]Facebook [24]Twitter [25]YouTube
[26]West Coast Regional Council Website

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Kevin Smith <[27][FOI #25796 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 9:58 AM
To: WCRC Information <[28][West Coast Regional Council request email]>
Subject: [BULK] Official Information request - Buller Flooding July 2021.

 

Caution! This message was sent from outside your organization.

Dear West Coast Regional Council,

I am seeking the correspondence between NIWA, NEMA, BDC and similar
agencies, to the West Coast Regional Council in the days prior to the July
2021, Buller River flood.

This is to cover the period from Tuesday 13th July 2021 through to midday
on the Saturday, 17th July.

As I am interested in weather and other warnings or advisories given, this
may also include correspondence to affiliated agencies, Civil Defence, NZ
Army, Emergency Management agencies.

I am compiling a book into both the lead up and response to the flooding.
This will be followed with later chapters investigating the causes of the
damage and the subsequent review and official report.

Yours faithfully,

Kevin Smith

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[29][FOI #25796 email]

Is [30][West Coast Regional Council request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to West Coast Regional Council? If so, please contact us using
this form:
[31]https://us-east-2.protection.sophos.com?...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[32]https://us-east-2.protection.sophos.com?...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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