OIAD-4689
22 January 2024
Micky Turner
[FYI request #29237 email]
Tēnā koe Micky
Thank you for your request to the Department of Conservation, received on 18 November
2024, in which you asked for:
“…the following information covering the years 2022, 2023 & 2024:
•
All Emails & Documents to do with the Earthquake Strengthening of the Chateau
Tongariro.
•
Including all internal emails between DOC and CBRE Ltd.”
We have considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982.
For context, the Chateau Tongariro (
Chateau) was transferred to the Department in March
2023. At that time, the Department was provided with a copy of a detailed seismic
assessment (
WSP DSA) commissioned by the previous lease (attached).
Since then, the Department commissioned an initial seismic assessment report for the old
fire station/garage, a gap analysis based on the WSP DSA, a peer review of the WSP DSA
and a high-level cost estimate for potential seismic strengthening solutions of the main hotel.
At this stage, further work would be required to confirm the exact seismic work required and
associated costs. For clarity, the Department has not engaged CBRE Ltd to undertake any
work relating to seismic strengthening.
We also provide links to related information previously released under the Official Information
Act:
• OIAD-3881: Initial Seismic Assessment Report 29 September 2023:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/about-doc/oia/2024/april/oiad-3881-
attachment-2.pdf
• OIAD-4599: Peer Review Report for WSP Detailed Seismic Assessment:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/about-doc/oia/2024/november/oiad-
4599-attachment-1.pdf
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• OIAD-3433: Building Condition Appraisal:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/about-doc/oia/2023/november/oiad-
3433-attachment-1.pdf
Your questions and our responses are listed below in respect of the years 2022, 2023 and
2024:
1. All emails and documents to do with earthquake strengthening of the Chateau
Tongariro.
Item
Date
Document description
Decision
1
25 August to 12
Emails relating to the WSP DSA gap
Released in part
September
analysis and initial seismic assessment
2023
report.
2
12 September
Chateau Tongariro – Memo Gap Analysis Released in part
2023
3
29 September
Initial Seismic Assessment Report
Released in full
2023
4
19 April to 6
Emails relating to Seismic Strengthening
Released in part
June 2024
Costs
5
6 June 2024
Seismic estimate report 2024 Chateau
Released in full
6
24 May to 19
Emails relating to DSA peer review
Released in part
August 2024
7
19 August 2024
Chateau Tongariro DSA Peer Review
Released in full
Report
2. All emails between DOC and CBRE Ltd
Item
Date
Document description
Decision
1
6 May to 10
Various emails between the Department
Released in part
September
and CBRE
2024
We have also identified the one in scope document which is withheld in full for the reason set
out below:
• “
CBRE Part A – Feasibility Review DRAFT 0724” this document is withheld in full
subject to section 9(2)(i) – to enable the Minister of the Crown or any department or
organisation holding the information to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage,
commercial activities.
I have decided to release the relevant parts of the documents listed above, subject to
information being withheld under one or more of the following sections of the Official
Information Act, as applicable:
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• personal contact details of officials, under section 9(2)(a) – to protect the privacy of
natural persons, including deceased people,
• commercially sensitive information, under section 9(2)(b)(ii) – to protect the
commercial position of the person who supplied the information, or who is the subject
of the information; and
• advice still under consideration, section 9(2)(f)(iv) – to maintain the current
constitutional conventions protecting the confidentiality of advice tendered by
Ministers and officials
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 Official Information Act.
Please note that this letter (with your personal details removed) and attached documents
may be published on the Department’s website.
If you would like to discuss this response with us, please contact Julie Chuor, Project Lead
by email to [email address].
Nāku noa, nā
CJ Juby
Director, Business Services
Department of Conservation
Te Papa Atawhai
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