44 Bowen Street
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
22 September 2025
Ohakune Ratepayers and Residents' Society Inc.
[FYI request #29044 email]
REF: OIA-19197
Dear Ohakune Ratepayers Association
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email
of 4 August 2025 requesting correspondence between NZ Transport Agency
Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and GHD or Ruapehu District Council (RDC) regarding the State Highway 49
(SH49)/Teitei Drive intersection.
I appreciate your patience while waiting for this response.
The extension to your request was necessary in order to facilitate a thorough and robust search of our
databases for relevant documentation. As a result of this search, we have found just one document,
an invoice from RDC containing both business-as-usual streetlamp repair costs, and the Ohakune
Carrot Park [SH49/Teitei Drive intersection] funding.
Due to the other line items containing pricing for maintenance operations, I am refusing a copy of the
invoice under section 9(2)(j) of the Act. This section al ows for the withholding of information to enable
a Minister of the Crown or any public service agency or organisation holding the information to carry
on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations).
I can however provide an extract of the relevant information from the invoice as enclosed as
• Attachment 1: Ruapehu District Council invoice (extract).pdf
Despite having additional details from the invoice which we could use to hone our search, no further
correspondence between NZTA, GHD and/or RDC has been found. On this basis, I am refusing this
part of your request under section 18(e) of the Act. This section al ows for the withholding of
information as the document al eged to contain the information requested does not exist or, despite
reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found.
Unfortunately, despite the extensive search, no relevant applications, plans or schematics can be
found. On this basis I am also refusing this aspect of your request under section 18(e) of the Act.
With respect to the information that has been withheld and refused, I do not consider there are any
other factors which would render it desirable, in the public interest, to make the information available.
Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision to
partially withhold and refuse information for this request. The contact details for the Ombudsman can
be located at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
If you would like to discuss this reply with NZTA, please contact Ministerial Services, by email to
[NZTA request email]
Yours sincerely
Jackie Smith
Manager – Ministerial Services
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