OIAD-5208 – Summary of OIA requests made by Kevin Hackwell and response from DOC
Concerns were raised in 2017 of a higher-than-normal number of kiwi deaths at Cape
Sanctuary. These matters were extensively reported in the media in 2018. An independent
review, the Shanks Review, was conducted in 2022 to investigate these matters. This report
included analysis of the event and robust recommendations for both DOC and Cape Sanctuary.
2018
Kevin Hackwell, Chief Conservation Advisor at Forest and Bird, made no OIA requests in 2018.
2019
In March, April and May of 2019, Mr Hackwell made OIA requests seeking to understand the
issues surrounding the welfare of kiwi at Cape Sanctuary. He asked a series of questions relating
to:
Adherence to the kiwi best practice manual
Kiwi health checks
Permitting requirements
Wildlife permits and potential wildlife offences
Reports to the Minister of Conservation
DOC provided narrative responses to his initial questions and released a series of reports and
manuals including kiwi handling manuals, wildlife permits, and the details of site visits and
supporting emails.
In July 2019 Mr Hackwell made two further requests that were critical of DOC’s initial OIA
responses. He asked further questions and sought correspondence and information that had
been inadvertently omitted from DOC’s initial replies. DOC’s response included additional
correspondence about permits, site visits and meetings, and additional documents covering
memos to the Minister, Standard Operating Procedures and task assignments.
In October 2019, concerned about missing information, Mr Hackwell made a request to have all
searches for information redone. These were completed and additional emails and documents
were identified and supplied.
2020
Mr Hackwell made no OIA requests in 2020.
2021
In October 2021, Mr Hackwell asked for all information sent to Cape Sanctuary’s legal
representatives. DOC’s response included correspondence, kiwi management reports and two
internal reports conducted by DOC, which were subsequently replaced in full by the
independent Shanks Review.
In December 2021 Mr Hackwell expressed concern about his and others personal information
being released to Cape Sanctuary and himself. He asked for all emails generated about the
internal reports and all information between DOC and Cape Sanctuary legal representatives.
The request was refused as it required substantial collation and research. He then asked for
reconsideration of this decision. Correspondence was sent in tranches to him in May, August
and September 2022.
2022
In July and August 2022, Mr Hackwell asked for further clarification on the reasons for the
release of some personal information in the October 2021 request.
In July 2022, knowing that an internal investigation about the handling of the October 2021 OIA
response was underway, he asked for a copy of the investigation report. As the report had not
yet been prepared, this was refused. Mr Hackwell made a further request for the report in
August 2022 and this was supplied.
In November 2022, Mr Hackwell asked for a timeline and supporting documents of what DOC
did after they knew about the release of personal information to him. DOC provided the timeline
of events, indicated that he had received some emails in previous responses and stated that the
remainder would be supplied to him in January 2023. These emails were supplied on 30 January
2023.
2023
In early March 2023, Mr Hackwell asked for all information sent to the independent reviewer on
Cape Sanctuary. This information included reports, manuals, wildlife permits, documents and
emails about kiwi handling was released in two tranches to him in April and May 2023.
Later in March, Mr Hackwell sought and received all correspondence associated with
consultations on the Shanks Review and all correspondence on the preparation of his earlier
request.
In May 2023, Mr Hackwell asked for all communication and correspondence on the injury of a
little spotted kiwi at Cape Sanctuary. He received a summary document and a response which
confirmed that he had previously been sent all relevant information in previous OIAs.
In June 2023, Mr Hackwell asked for all communication with the Broadcasting Standards
Authority regarding a complaint in 2018; correspondence regarding a protected disclosure
made about Cape Sanctuary; and for more information about redactions in the Shanks
material. Correspondence was supplied for two questions, while information about the
Protected Disclosure was withheld.
