Cam Slater
Conservation House
18-32 Manners Street
Wellington 6011
[FYI request #30956 email]
doc.govt.nz
Ref: OIAD-5208
6 August 2025
Tēnā koe Cam
Thank you for your request to the Department of Conservation (DOC), received on 12 May
2025, in which you asked for:
1. all correspondence between DoC & Forest & Bird about the Cape Sanctuary from
2018 to 2024
2. all correspondence/ responses to OIAS between DoC & Kevin Hackwell about the
Cape Sanctuary from 2018 to 2024
3. all internal correspondence from Nicola Toki about the Cape Sanctuary while she was
employed by DoC
4. all correspondence/ responses to OIAS between DoC & Nicola Toki about the Cape
Sanctuary from 2018 to 2024
We have considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the OIA).
On 10 June 2025 I notified you that request 1, relating to correspondence between DOC and
Forest & Bird, was refused under section 18(f). I also extended the timeframe to respond to the
remainder of your request to 6 August 2025, due to the large quantity of information and
consultation necessary to make a decision.
DOC works closely with both Cape Sanctuary and Forest & Bird on several threatened species
programmes and workstreams, including kiwi, shore plover, and others. Accordingly, there is a
large volume of correspondence between these parties and the individuals working for them.
Your requests and our responses are below.
Request 1. all correspondence between DoC & Forest & Bird about the Cape Sanctuary from
2018 to 2024 I refer you to my letter of 10 June 2025.
Request 2. all correspondence/responses to OIAS between DoC & Kevin Hackwell about the
Cape Sanctuary from 2018 to 2024
As noted in my correspondence of 21 May and 10 June 2025, your request is administratively
challenging to deal with due to the volume of information requested.
Your request for all correspondence between DOC and Kevin Hackwell is refused in
accordance with section 18(f), as the information cannot be made available without substantial
collation or research.
We have decided to meet your request for responses to OIAs made by Kevin Hackwell by
providing a summary in preference to providing full copies of the information. We are permitted
to do this under section 16(2) of the OIA because otherwise it would impair the efficient
administration of DOC.
I refer you to item 1 listed in the document schedule at the end of this letter.
Request 3. all internal correspondence from Nicola Toki about the Cape Sanctuary while she
was employed by DoC
I refer you to item 2 listed in the document schedule at the end of this letter.
Request 4. all correspondence/responses to OIAS between DoC & Nicola Toki about the Cape
Sanctuary from 2018 to 2024
I refer you to item 3 listed in the document schedule at the end of this letter.
I have decided to release the relevant parts of the documents listed, subject to
information being withheld under one or more of the following sections of the OIA, as applicable:
• personal information, under section 9(2)(a) – to protect the privacy of natural persons,
including deceased people,
• free and frank expression under section 9(2)(g)(i) – to maintain the effective conduct of
public affairs.
In making my decision, I have considered the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of the
OIA and determined there are no public interests that outweigh the grounds for withholding.
Information unrelated to your request is redacted and labelled ‘out of scope.’
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 OIA.
Please note that this letter (with your personal details removed) and attached documents may
be published on DOC’s website.
If you would like to discuss this response with us, please contac
t [email address]. Nāku noa, nā
Kelley Reeve
Director Governance and Government Services
Department of Conservation
Te Papa Atawhai
2
Document schedule
Item
Date
Document description
Decision
1
Undated
Summary of requests made by Kevin Hackwell
Released in full
from 2018-2024.
2
Various
Compilation of internal correspondence from
Released in part
Nicola Toki relating to Cape Sanctuary while she
was employed by DOC.
3
Various
Compilation of correspondence and responses
Released in part
to OIAs relating to Cape Sanctuary between
DOC and Nicola Toki between 2018-2024.
3
