Ref: JCOIA-195
K Jack
Email: [FYI request #28586 email]
Dear K Jack,
Thank you for your email of 30 September 2024 requesting, under the Official Information
Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
“Please provide:
- Any drafts, summaries, and/or final copies of the initial report of the Science System
Advisory Group (SSAG) due to have been provided to the government in June, and any
communications regarding this initial report;
- All communications (email, text, phone, etc.) between your office and the chair of the
SSAG Sir Peter Gluckman;
- All materials held by your office related to the selection/invitation of Sir Peter Gluckman
as SSAG chair.”
On 18 October I extended the time available to respond to your request until 26 November
2024 under section 15A(1)(b) of the Act.
I have identified four documents in scope of part one of your request as listed below:
Title
Decision
1 Final SSAG report – Phase 1
Withheld in full
under section
9(2)(f)(iv) and
under section
18(d)
2 Executive summary and recommendations of SSAG report –
Withheld in full
Phase 1
under section
9(2)(f)(iv) and
under section
18(d)
3 MBIE’s potential response to SSAG recommendations 23 July
Withheld in full
24
under section
9(2)(f)(iv)
4 MBIE’s potential response to the SSAG report 7 Aug 24
Withheld in full
under section
9(2)(f)(iv)
I have identified seven emails from Sir Peter Gluckman, in his capacity as chair of the SSAG,
in scope of part two of your request as listed below:
Date
Title
Decision
1 17
Review of the science system
Released with
December
redactions under
2023
sections 9(2)(a)
and 9(2)(g)(i)
2 14 January Herman Hauser had agreed
Released with
2024
redactions under
section 9(2)(a)
3 16 January Re: Contact Details (Orson Glubb)
Released with
2024
redactions under
sections 9(2)(a)
and 9(2)(g)(i)
4 24 March
Title withheld under section 9(2)(f)(iv)
Released with
2024
redactions under
sections 9(2)(a)
and 9(2)(f)(iv)
5 23 March
Re: Media enquiry: Science and Universities
Released with
2024
review
redactions under
sections 9(2)(a)
and 9(2)(g)(i)
6 19
Title withheld under section 9(2)(f)(iv)
Released with
September
redactions under
2024
sections 9(2)(a),
9(2)(f)(iv) and
9(2)(g)(i)
7 3
Title withheld under section 9(2)(f)(iv)
Released with
September
redactions under
2024
sections 9(2)(a)
and 9(2)(f)(iv)
I have identified four documents in scope of part three of your request as listed below:
Date
Title
Decision
1 20
2324-1430 Science Advisory Group
Released with
December
redactions under
2023
sections 9(2)(a)
2 10 January 2324- 1506 Letter of appointment, Science
Released with
2024
System Advisory Group
redactions under
sections 9(2)(a)
3 19 January 2324-1626 Science System Advisory Group
Released with
2024
Membership Update
redactions under
sections 9(2)(a)
4 7 February Terms of Reference - Science System Advisory
Withheld in full
2024
Group
under section
18(d)
I am withholding five documents in full. Please find a copy of the remaining documents
enclosed.
Please note some of the information has been withheld under the following sections of the
Act:
• Section 6(a) – as the making available of the information would be likely to prejudice
the security or defence of New Zealand or the international relations of the
Government of New Zealand.
• Section 9(2)(a) – to protect the privacy of natural persons.
• Section 9(2)(f)(iv) to maintain the constitutional conventions for the time being
which protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and
officials;
• Section 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;
• Section 18(d) – refusal of request as the information requested will soon be publicly
available.
The terms of reference of the Science Systems Advisory Group are available at the following
link
: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/28134-terms-of-reference-science-skills-
advisory-group
I do not consider that the withholding of any information is outweighed by public interest
considerations in making the information available.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision,
in accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. Information about how to make a complaint is
available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely,
Hon Judith Collins KC
Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology
