Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,

Pursuant to the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following information regarding the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s involvement in the regulation and development of the industrial hemp (iHemp) sector in New Zealand:

1. **MBIE’s Role and Activities**
All documents or communications (including internal reports, policy papers, or ministerial briefings) outlining MBIE’s responsibilities or activities in relation to the industrial hemp sector. This includes but is not limited to:

* Innovation or research grants,
* Regulatory input or enforcement,
* Policy development or industry consultation.

2. **Interagency Communications on Duplication**
All communications (including emails, meeting minutes, or joint working documents) with:

* Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI),
* Ministry of Health (Medsafe),
* Ministry for the Environment (MfE),
regarding any shared responsibilities, duplication of regulatory roles, or joint initiatives for hemp licensing, compliance, research, or standard-setting.

3. **Overlapping Mandates or Inefficiencies**
Any internal assessments, policy reviews, or consultation feedback identifying concerns about:

* overlapping jurisdiction or role confusion across agencies,
* cost inefficiencies or administrative duplication in the industrial hemp regulatory framework.

4. **Governance and Coordination Documents**
Any frameworks, memoranda of understanding, interdepartmental protocols, or governance structures used by MBIE to coordinate hemp regulation or industry support with other government departments.

I request the information in electronic format, where practicable. Should any part of this request be declined, please specify the reason with reference to the relevant section(s) of the Act.

I look forward to your response within the statutory timeframe of 20 working days.

Yours faithfully,

SPENCER JONES