Kia ora Suze

Christchurch City Holdings Ltd is now in receipt of your LGOIMA request. Your request is dated 4 April 2024.

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than Friday 3 May 2024, being 20 working days after the day your request was received by CCHL. This timeframe includes a public holiday which will be observed on Thursday 25 April 2024 (Anzac Day).

If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension to that timeframe.

Ngâ mihi
Christchurch City Holdings

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Kia ora Suze

CCHL wishes to advise an extension of time is required to respond to your request, CCHL will provide you with its response no later than close of business on Friday 10 May 2024.

Ngâ mihi

Sue

Sue Taylor | Executive Assistant
[email address]

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Kia ora Suze

I refer to your request dated 4 April 2024 for the following information:

1. What do the two letters from CIAL and CCHL actually mean in practice?
2. What are the project costs to date?
3. What debt has been incurred to finance the proposal to date?
4. What current ongoing expenditures will be canceled?
5. What is the number of full-time equivalent staff planned for the quarter April-June 2024 on the project?
6. What is the number of consultants working on the project?
7. What is the return on the land in its current use?
8. How much more dividend could CIAL return if all project costs were stopped and the land sold?
9. Is the Tarras Community Fund still open for applications, and will it remain open?

CCHL’s response
Question number 1:
CCHL has publicly stated that we continue to see Central Otago as a high growth region, and as such one that needs to resolve what role sustainable aviation will play in supporting that growth. There are options, one of which is a new airport in Tarras and as that will not be a static conversation, it is difficult to say that this, or any transport project in Central Otago, is definitively 'on hold'.

However, we do acknowledge the strategic context around that decision has changed in recent times. This includes new direction at a national and regional level on infrastructure priorities, and how we adapt to a future that provides for sustainable tourism. In addition to this, CCHL and Council, as our ultimate shareholder, have signalled we are operating in a more capital constrained environment. With this in mind, the CIAL Board has decided it is appropriate they take time to reflect on what this means for the Central Otago project. CCHL is supportive of that, and together with CIAL, we will remain an engaged stakeholder as the region grapples with these issues.

Question number 2 - 8:
The information included in your questions numbered 2 to 8 above is considered commercially sensitive and therefore we have decided to refuse your request to access that information under the following sections of the LGOIMA – Section (7(2)(b)(i)) is a trade secret or prejudice commercial position, (7(2)(b)(ii)) commercial activities (7(2)(h)), or negotiations (7(2)(i)).

In CCHL’s view the reasons for withholding these details are not outweighed by public interest considerations in section 7(1) favouring their release.

Question number 9:
Christchurch Airport has previously made the commitment to continue to have the Community Fund in place for as long as it owns its land in Tarras (see https://www.centralotagoairport.co.nz/up...). That commitment remains. If there were to be any change in that, Christchurch Airport would first discuss that with the Community Fund Committee overseeing the Fund.”

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 http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/ or freephone 0800 802 602.

Ngâ mihi

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Good afternoon Suze

I have been alerted to the below request which was in our junk email box.

Our last response to you was on 10 May. If there has been a further request, can you please forward by return. We do not have a record of an email request in between.

Ngā mihi
Sue

Sue Taylor | Executive Assistant
[email address]
DDI: +64 3 941-7161 | Mobile +64 21 341 329
Christchurch City Holdings Ltd, Level 1, 151 Cambridge Tce,
PO Box 1151, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand

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Ata mārie Suze

Christchurch City Holdings Ltd is now in receipt of your LGOIMA request. Your request although dated 25 May, has only now been received as noted through correspondence below due to SPAM filters on the email box. Thank you for the link provided to the FYI site to view.

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than Tuesday 30 July, being 20 working days after the day your request was received by CCHL.

If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension to the timeframe.

Ngā mihi
Christchurch City Holdings

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Kia ora Suze

CCHL wishes to advise an extension of time is required to respond to your request, CCHL will provide you with its response no later than close of business on Friday 2 August 2024.

Ngā mihi
Christchurch City Holdings.

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Hi Suze, thank you for your ongoing interest in CIAL’s activities in Central Otago.

As previously advised, CIAL are taking time to reflect on a range of new and evolving factors that will ultimately determine whether Central Otago requires new aviation capacity, in what location, to what scope and with what related co-investment. The process of engaging with the region, other stakeholders and relevant central government agencies on these matters is expected to take some time and will be important inputs into any detailed business case that is developed in the future, if an appropriate opportunity eventuates.

In other words, whether a new international airport proceeds at Tarras in the future is a matter for the region to solve. It is our expectation that as a landowner and experienced airport operator CIAL will engage in and contribute to those conversations, as required and where relevant. Indeed, they have released a significant amount of information from the preliminary work they undertook on aeronautical viability which is of benefit to a wide range of stakeholders. I am satisfied that CIAL have responded appropriately in listening to a range of views, including our own as a shareholder, in taking time to reconsider their approach. That decision has also reflected on and responded to the high level of public interest that had previously been shown on this matter.

What they are not doing is proceeding with a Greenfield airport development in the manner you have outlined in your email. I would note that QAC and QLDC own land and aviation assets that will also be relevant to regional considerations and future decisions. Likewise, we are conscious that consideration will also be given to existing airport capacity in Dunedin and Invercargill.

As such, I am also satisfied that the information you have asked for 1-7 is commercially sensitive given this is just one option that the region could consider in addressing future aviation needs.

In respect of your request for information relating to KPMG’s Investment Review of CIAL, this was proactively released in February 2024 and found on our website here: https://www.cchl.co.nz/uploads/images/CC...

You have the right to request the Ombudsman to review this decision. Complaints can be sent by email to [email address], by fax to (04) 471 2254, or by post to The Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.

Kind regards

Paul Silk
Christchurch City Holdings Limited

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