18 October 2024
Stephen Prendergast
[FYI request #28257 email]
Tēnā koe Stephen
Thank you for your request to the Department of Conservation, received on 31 August 2024,
in which you asked for:
1. All correspondence since 1 Jan 2024 between DOC and other Crown agencies
regarding costs to make good the Whakapapa ski concession area, and
associated facilities. For instance, lift removal, remediation, ski field buildings, ski
club lodges and related infrastructure such as reticulated services etc. Please
include all, identified costs such as DOC internal personnel, contract resources as
backfil where staff are assigned, or fixed term employees tasked to manage or
participate in this work.
Please provide the information in 6 monthly periods where this is available.
2. The forecast income loss that DOC wil experience as a result of the cessation of
ski field operations. Including discussions with other crown agencies.
3. Al internal DOC correspondence identifying how these figures were determined,
and the degree of confidence.
4. Al documentation and correspondence from 1 Jan 2024 that addresses scenarios
to reduce or mitigate the financial impact of such an outcome.
5. Al ministerial briefings or updates which address this outcome.
We have considered your request under the Of icial Information Act 1982.
On 18 September 2024 you clarified (or refined) your request by confirming that you were
seeking information from 1 January 2024 and that in regard to question 4 you seek
information that covers operating scenarios which reduce the requirement for make good
activities.
On 26 September 2024 we extended the timeframe to respond to your request to 18 October
2024 due to the large quantity of information sought and consultation required to facilitate its
release.
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Under section 15(1)(a) of the Official Information Act, I have decided to grant your request.
However, more time is required to prepare the response for release. We expect to be able to
provide you with the final documentation no later than 23 October 2024. We apologise for
any inconvenience that this may cause.
For your reference, some information wil be withheld under section 9 of the Official
Information Act as applicable.
In making my decision, I have considered the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of
the Official Information Act and determined there are no public interests that outweigh the
grounds for withholding.
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.
Nāku noa, nā
Phil ippa Fox
Director Regulatory Authorisations
Department of Conservation
Te Papa Atawhai
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