Penalties, admonishments, warnings, or other actions taken by ECan against bus operators
Cody C made this Official Information request to Canterbury Regional Council
The request was successful.
      From: Cody C
      
    
    Dear Canterbury Regional Council,
Please provide the following information for the period from 1 January 2022 to the present regarding public bus operators contracted by ECan:
1. A detailed list of all penalties, admonishments, warnings, or other actions taken by ECan against bus operators.
* Include the date, nature, and reason for each penalty or action.
* Specify whether the penalty was financial, contractual, or otherwise.
* The specific reasons for these penalties or actions, broken down by category, including but not limited to:
a) Service delivery failures (e.g., missed trips, late services, or failure to meet schedule adherence requirements).
b) Breaches of safety regulations or operational standards.
c) Customer complaints leading to formal remedial actions.
d) Instances where the actions or omissions of bus operators brought ECan or the public transport service into disrepute, such as public complaints, media reports, or incidents resulting in reputational harm.
2. Copies of the relevant sections of contracts with bus operators outlining:
* Performance benchmarks and standards.
* Enforcement powers, including penalty clauses.
* Provisions related to reputational harm or misconduct.
As penalties, admonishments, or reputational concerns regarding contracted bus operators should be rare, I expect that collating this information will not require substantial time or resources.
Yours faithfully,
Cody C
        From: LGOIMA
        Canterbury Regional Council
      
    
    Kia ora Cody
Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA): Request for information
I refer to your email dated 16/1/2025.
As you might be aware, LGOIMA applies to all requests for information that we receive. We are able to respond immediately to some requests, but in instances where we need to collate information we do so and respond in accordance with our specified process.
Under LGOIMA, Environment Canterbury has 20 working days to respond to your request. Your request has been passed to the person(s) responsible for responding and you will be contacted as soon as possible but no later than 14/2/2025.
Your LGOIMA reference number is 2993C.
Ngā mihi
Environment Canterbury
-----Original Message-----
From: Cody C <[FOI #29767 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 16 January 2025 9:32 am
To: LGOIMA <[ECAN request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Penalties, admonishments, warnings, or other actions taken by ECan against bus operators
[You don't often get email from [FOI #29767 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
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Dear Canterbury Regional Council,
Please provide the following information for the period from 1 January 2022 to the present regarding public bus operators contracted by ECan:
1. A detailed list of all penalties, admonishments, warnings, or other actions taken by ECan against bus operators.
* Include the date, nature, and reason for each penalty or action.
* Specify whether the penalty was financial, contractual, or otherwise.
* The specific reasons for these penalties or actions, broken down by category, including but not limited to:
a) Service delivery failures (e.g., missed trips, late services, or failure to meet schedule adherence requirements).
b) Breaches of safety regulations or operational standards.
c) Customer complaints leading to formal remedial actions.
d) Instances where the actions or omissions of bus operators brought ECan or the public transport service into disrepute, such as public complaints, media reports, or incidents resulting in reputational harm.
2. Copies of the relevant sections of contracts with bus operators outlining:
* Performance benchmarks and standards.
* Enforcement powers, including penalty clauses.
* Provisions related to reputational harm or misconduct.
As penalties, admonishments, or reputational concerns regarding contracted bus operators should be rare, I expect that collating this information will not require substantial time or resources.
Yours faithfully,
Cody C
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LGOIMA
Environment Canterbury
 [Environment Canterbury] <https://www.ecan.govt.nz/?utm_source=ema...>
<tel:>
<tel:>
[ECAN request email]<mailto:[ECAN request email]> PO Box 345, Christchurch 8140
Customer Services: 0800 324 636<tel:0800324636>
24 Hours: 0800 76 55 88<tel:0800765588>
ecan.govt.nz<https://www.ecan.govt.nz/?utm_source=ema...>
[Facebook]<https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentCant...> [Twitter] <https://twitter.com/ECan> [YouTube] <https://www.youtube.com/user/ECanGovt> [Instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/environment_ca...>
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        From: LGOIMA
        Canterbury Regional Council
      
    
    Kia ora Cody
 
The Public Transport team has reviewed your LGOIMA request (attached) and
 has determined the following refinement.
 
We understand your request to focus on formal penalties, admonishments,
 warnings, or other actions that have been issued to bus operator over the
 past two years. This would constitute our use of formal contractual
 mechanisms aimed at achieving desired outcomes from our operators. This
 excludes day-to-day informal performance management communications.
 ‘Informal communication’ would require the substantial collation and
 research through 25,000+ emails and we would therefore need to refuse this
 part based on section 17(f) of the Local Government Official Information &
 Meetings Act 1987.
 
Ngâ mihi,
Environment Canterbury
LGOIMA
 [1]Environment Canterbury
 Environment Canterbury
 PO Box 345, Christchurch 8140
 [2][ECAN request email] Customer Services: [3]0800 324 636
 24 Hours: [4]0800 76 55 88
 [5]ecan.govt.nz
 [6]Facebook   [7]Twitter   [8]YouTube  
 [9]Instagram
References
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      From: Cody C
      
    
    Dear LGOIMA,
Yes - that is what I am looking for on element 1 of the request. I would still require element 2.
Yours sincerely,
Cody C
        From: LGOIMA
        Canterbury Regional Council
      
    
    Kia ora Cody
Thank you for your response. This email is to notify you that the new due date for a response to your request will be 25 February 2025.
Kind regards
LGOIMA Team
-----Original Message-----
From: Cody C <[FOI #29767 email]>
Sent: Monday, 27 January 2025 4:08 pm
To: LGOIMA <[ECAN request email]>
Subject: Re: LGOIMA 2993C - Suggestion for refinement
Caution: This is an email from an external party. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments.
Dear LGOIMA,
Yes - that is what I am looking for on element 1 of the request. I would still require element 2.
Yours sincerely,
Cody C
-----Original Message-----
Kia ora Cody
The Public Transport team has reviewed your LGOIMA request (attached) and has determined the following refinement.
We understand your request to focus on formal penalties, admonishments, warnings, or other actions that have been issued to bus operator over the past two years. This would constitute our use of formal contractual mechanisms aimed at achieving desired outcomes from our operators. This excludes day-to-day informal performance management communications.
 'Informal communication' would require the substantial collation and research through 25,000+ emails and we would therefore need to refuse this part based on section 17(f) of the Local Government Official Information & Meetings Act 1987.
Ngâ mihi,
Environment Canterbury
LGOIMA
 [1]Environment Canterbury
 Environment Canterbury
 PO Box 345, Christchurch 8140
 [2][ECAN request email] Customer Services: [3]0800 324 636
 24 Hours: [4]0800 76 55 88
 [5]ecan.govt.nz
 [6]Facebook [7]Twitter [8]YouTube
 [9]Instagram
References
Visible links
 1. https://www.ecan.govt.nz/?utm_source=ema...
 2. mailto:[ECAN request email]
 3. file:///tmp/tel:0800324636
 4. file:///tmp/tel:0800765588
 5. https://www.ecan.govt.nz/?utm_source=ema...
 6. https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentCant...
 7. https://twitter.com/ECan
 8. https://www.youtube.com/user/ECanGovt
 9. https://www.instagram.com/environment_ca...
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #29767 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
LGOIMA
Environment Canterbury
 [Environment Canterbury] <https://www.ecan.govt.nz/?utm_source=ema...>
<tel:>
<tel:>
[ECAN request email]<mailto:[ECAN request email]> PO Box 345, Christchurch 8140
Customer Services: 0800 324 636<tel:0800324636>
24 Hours: 0800 76 55 88<tel:0800765588>
ecan.govt.nz<https://www.ecan.govt.nz/?utm_source=ema...>
[Facebook]<https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentCant...> [Twitter] <https://twitter.com/ECan> [YouTube] <https://www.youtube.com/user/ECanGovt> [Instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/environment_ca...>
hide quoted sections
      From: Cody C
      
    
    Dear LGOIMA,
Is this request on track for a response on, or before, 25 February?
Yours sincerely,
Cody C
        From: LGOIMA
        Canterbury Regional Council
      
    
    Kia ora Cody
We are currently working through your request and will provide a response to your request by 25th February.
Kind regards
LGOIMA Team
-----Original Message-----
From: Cody C <[FOI #29767 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 18 February 2025 8:51 am
To: LGOIMA <[ECAN request email]>
Subject: Re: Update: LGOIMA 2993C - Suggestion for refinement
Caution: This is an email from an external party. Please take care when clicking links or opening attachments.
Dear LGOIMA,
Is this request on track for a response on, or before, 25 February?
Yours sincerely,
Cody C
-----Original Message-----
Kia ora Cody
Thank you for your response. This email is to notify you that the new due date for a response to your request will be 25 February 2025.
Kind regards
LGOIMA Team
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #29767 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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        From: LGOIMA
        Canterbury Regional Council
      
    
    Kia ora Cody,
 
Please find our extension request attached.
 
Ngā mihi,
Environment Canterbury
LGOIMA
 [1]Environment Canterbury
 Environment Canterbury
 PO Box 345, Christchurch 8140
 [2][ECAN request email] Customer Services: [3]0800 324 636
 24 Hours: [4]0800 76 55 88
 [5]ecan.govt.nz
 [6]Facebook   [7]Twitter   [8]YouTube  
 [9]Instagram
References
Visible links
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 5. https://www.ecan.govt.nz/?utm_source=ema...
 6. https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentCant...
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 8. https://www.youtube.com/user/ECanGovt
 9. https://www.instagram.com/environment_ca...
      From: Cody C
      
    
    Dear Giles,
You have waited the maximum permissible period for refining a request, then waited the maximum period for providing an initial response, then have requested a further extension purportedly to enable consultations.
With respect, it was entirely foreseeable that consultation with bus operators may have been required at the time of the original request being made. So, why did this not happen 26 business days ago?
Yours sincerely,
Cody C
        From: LGOIMA
        Canterbury Regional Council
      
    
    Kia ora Cody
 
We have established that your reason for seeking urgency is valid.
 
Currently, we are consulting with the operators, and we have received
 feedback from one operator. A meeting with the second operator is
 scheduled this afternoon. Our PT team member can prioritise your work and
 will provide the information by close of business on Monday 3 March, and
 if possible, earlier.
 
This should allow time for you to meet your deadline of 5 March.
 
Ngā mihi,
Environment Canterbury
 
 
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From: Cody Cooper <[1][email address]>
 Sent: Friday, February 28, 2025 10:51 AM
 To: Stefanie Rixecker <[2][email address]>
 Subject: RFI on penalties, admonishments, warnings, or other actions taken
 by Environment Canterbury against bus operators
 
You don't often get email from [3][email address]. [4]Learn why this
 is important
Caution: This is an email from an external party. Please take care when
 clicking links or opening attachments.
 
Good morning, Stefanie.
 
RE: Email dated 16 January 2025 requesting information on penalties,
 admonishments, warnings, or other actions taken by Environment Canterbury
 against bus operators from 1 January 2022 to the present date.
 
ECan has waited the maximum permissible period for refining a request,
 then waited the maximum period for providing an initial response, then
 requested a further extension purportedly to enable consultations with bus
 operators.
 
As I outlined to Giles on 24 February, it was entirely foreseeable that
 consultation with bus operators may have been required at the time of the
 original request being made. I asked why this did not happen, then, 26
 business days ago. Giles has elected not to respond.
 
On the face of it, this appears to be deliberate obstruction by ECan to
 inhibit this information being released. Further, this should not require
 substantial collation given that - I would hope - there should be
 relatively few admonishments. Lastly, this information should be readily
 available given recent media and public interest.
 
Actions requested
I am now making a request under Part 2, Section 10(3) of LGOIMA to provide
 this information under urgency as the information requested is required to
 enable a fulsome response to Christchurch City Council’s consultation on
 the Oram Avenue bus layover which closes 5 March.
 
If I have not heard back from you by close of business 2 March, I will be
 requesting an immediate review via. the Office of the Ombudsman.
 
Regards, Cody Cooper
 
LGOIMA
 [5]Environment Canterbury
 Environment Canterbury
 PO Box 345, Christchurch 8140
 [6][ECAN request email] Customer Services: [7]0800 324 636
 24 Hours: [8]0800 76 55 88
 [9]ecan.govt.nz
 [10]Facebook   [11]Twitter   [12]YouTube  
 [13]Instagram
References
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        From: LGOIMA
        Canterbury Regional Council
      
    
    Kia ora Cody
 
Please find our response letter and the following documents attached:
 
o LGOIMA 2993C - Instance and Balance based KPI’s.xlsx
o Tab1: Monitoring Database
 o Tab2: Excel missed trips
 o Tab3: Balance Scorecard (BSC) deductions
 
o LGOIMA 2993C – Safety breaches in Complaints and Incidents DB’s.xlsx
o Tab1:Feedback Database
 o Tab2: Incident Database
 
o Chch – UA_Performance Regime_Redacted.pdf
 
o Timaru – Performance Regime_Redacted.pdf
 
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
 
Ngâ mihi
Environment Canterbury
LGOIMA
Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
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