2 July 2024
Anon
[FYI request #26927 email]
Kia ora
Your Official Information Act request, reference: GOV-032554
Thank you for your email of 22 May 2024, asking for the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
I am writing to request copies of general contractual agreements between ACC and external legal
counsel for representation on reviews, appeals or any other matters pertaining to conflicts with
claimants.
I request all internal policies, rules, guidelines, process, memos, and all other documents, pertaining
to:
(1) When to hire external legal counsel to assist with disputes with claimants; and
(2) Conditions of the contractual agreement; and
(3) Required notifications to claimants that external legal counsel has been contracted to represent
ACC and the nature and limits to that representation (for what purpose); and
(4) Required notification to claimants as to what information ACC will be sharing with the external
legal counsel (e.g., specific to a claim, complaint on claim, review or Court litigation); and
(5) In what instances it is appropriate for ACC employees to cc external legal counsel into
communications with claimants; and
(6) How a claimant may obtain the service agreement between ACC and the external legal counsel,
to ensure that ACC employees are not sharing information outside of the contracted agreement.
1. ACC is required to make a decision about whether to grant or refuse your request as soon as reasonably
practicable and within 20 working days of receiving the request. ACC considers this request is one of
multiple requests made by the same requester, which may affect ACC’s decision to grant or refuse the
request.
2. In order for ACC to make a decision on this request, ACC requests that you provide:
a. Your full name and confirmation of your identity, and
b. the reasons for the request.
3. We ask that this information be provided as soon as possible to enable us to make a decision on your
requests. This may include ACC extending the timeframe for responding, charging for the request, or
refusing to grant the request because:
a. ACC has already provided this information in an earlier request; and/or
b. the information requested cannot be made available without substantial collation or research;
and/or
c. the request is frivolous or vexatious or the information requested is trivial; and/or
d. the request may relate to matters including proceedings under Part 5 of the Accident
Compensation Act 2001.
4. If you would prefer, this information can be provided confidentially to ACC at the following address:
Manager OIA Services, ACC, PO Box 242, Wellington, or by email to
[email address]. Any
information/documentation provided establishing your identity will be used solely for that purpose and
destroyed after. Please reference this request when doing so:
GOV-032554
GOV-032554 Page 1 of 2
5. We look forward to receiving the information requested at paragraph 2.
If you have any questions about this letter, please get in touch
You can email me at
[email address]. If you are not happy with this letter, you can also
contact the Ombudsman
via [email address] or by phoning 0800 802 602. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz. Ngā mihi
Christopher Johnston
Manager Official Information Act Services
Government Engagement
GOV-032554 Page 2 of 2
Document Outline
