Hon Simeon Brown
MP for Pakuranga
Minister for Energy
Minister for Auckland
Minister of Local Government
Deputy Leader of the House
Minister of Transport
P Robins
[email address]
Dear P Robins,
Your Official Information Act 1982 request, reference OIA24-451, 452, 453 and 455
Thank you for your requests of 30 October 2024 for the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
OIA24-451) all communications via any form or medium within your office including yourself
and with other ministers and ministers office in relation to my OIA request on October 22
2024;
OIA24-452) any meeting notes and minutes recorded by you or your office for meetings held
on 12 and 26 September 2024;
OIA24-453) any electronic messages via any medium sent or recieved by your office related
to fast track consenting on 6 October 2024; and
OIA24-455) all electronic communications via any medium related to your press release
entitled 'Next steps on Electrifying New Zealand' on 26 August 2024.
Response to your request
OIA24-451: Searches of our information systems have not identified any communications within my
office or with other Ministers’ offices relating to your previous request OIA24-429. I am
therefore refusing this part of your request under section 18(e) of the Act as the document(s)
alleged to contain the information requested does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts to
locate it, cannot be found.
OIA24-452:
Neither I nor any members of my office hold a record of any meeting notes or minutes for the
meetings held on 12 and 26 September. Therefore, I am refusing your request under section
18(e) of the Act as the document(s) alleged to contain the information requested does not
exist or, despite reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found.
OIA24-453
Searches of our information systems have identified communications that fall in scope of
your request. I am releasing these communications in full. These communications are
attached as part of
Appendix A.
OIA24-455
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160 New Zealand
+64 4 817 6804 | [Simeon Brown request email] | www.beehive.govt.nz
Hon Simeon Brown
MP for Pakuranga
Minister for Energy
Minister for Auckland
Minister of Local Government
Deputy Leader of the House
Minister of Transport
Searches of our information systems have identified communications that fall in scope of
your request. I am partially releasing these communications. Some information has been
withheld under section 9(2)(g)(i) of the Act. These communications are attached as part of
Appendix B.
Consideration of public interest
As is required by section 9(1) of the Act, I have considered whether the withholding of
information is outweighed by other public interest considerations which would make it
desirable to make this information available. In this instance, I do not consider this to be the
case.
Access to the Ombudsman
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 www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
or freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely,
Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Transport
Minister for Energy
Minister of Local Government
Minister for Auckland
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160 New Zealand
+64 4 817 6804 | [Simeon Brown request email] | www.beehive.govt.nz
Hon Simeon Brown
MP for Pakuranga
Minister for Energy
Minister for Auckland
Minister of Local Government
Deputy Leader of the House
Minister of Transport
Appendix A – Text messages between [S9(2)(a)] and Hon Simeon Brown
Date
Time
From
Text Message
[S9(2)(a)]
“Good mix of
projects on the fast
track list”
6 October
17:09
Appendix B – Text messages between Hon Simeon Brown and Hon Chris Bishop
Date
Time
From
Text Message
Hon Chris Bishop
“Makes electrify
hard for
Wednesday am”
Hon Simeon
“It does”
Brown
Hon Chris Bishop
“[S9(2)(g)(i)]
”
Hon Simeon
“Yeah”
Brown
Hon Chris Bishop
“why don’t I just
announce it all in
my LGNZ speech
on Thursday. I’m
basically going to
run through
everything in RM
Bill 2 and the
national direction
changes.”
Hon Chris Bishop
“Which includes all
that stuff”
Hon Simeon
“That sounds like a
Brown
good plan”
Hon Chris Bishop
“It means it isn’t
highlighted that
much. [S9(2)(g)(i)]”
Hon Simeon
“Let’s discuss after
19 August
10:43
Brown
cab”
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160 New Zealand
+64 4 817 6804 | [Simeon Brown request email] | www.beehive.govt.nz
