1 September 2025
DC
[FYI request #31680 email]
Kia ora DC
Your Official Information Act request, reference: GOV-041736
Thank you for your request of 21 July, asking for for the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
1. Communications Regarding Reviewer Departure
•
Any correspondence (including emails, memos, Teams chats, or meeting notes)
between members of the Executive Leadership Team or the ACC Board that refer to,
discuss, or relate to any changes to the reviewers appointed to the Cultural Review,
particularly any reference to Doug Craig no longer being involved.
2. Internal Discussion or Documentation
•
Any internal ACC documentation or communication that records or explains the
rationale, decision-making, or process regarding a change to the appointed Cultural
Review reviewers.
•
This includes any briefing notes, risk considerations, communications with the
reviewers, or updates provided to the Executive Team or Board or Minister.
3. Complaints or Concerns (If Any Exist)
•
If any complaints, concerns, or feedback were received internally (by ACC staff or Board
members) relating to either of the independent reviewers, I request copies of those
communications.
On 18 August 2025, we emailed you to advise that we were extending our timeframe to make a decision
on your request to 1 September 2025. This letter sets out our decision on your request.
Our decision, as set out in this letter, complies with our obligations under section 15 of the Act, which
requires that decisions on requests are made within the timeframes allowed under the Act.
Our decision
We have reviewed our files and identified information which we consider falls within the scope of the
request. Please note that in responding to the request, we have focused on communications with the
Board rather than the Executive Leadership Team, given that the independent review was
commissioned by the Board and all decisions relating to the review sit with the Board.
The table below sets out the key documents identified in scope of your request. We are preparing them
for release.
Document #
Document title
Date
1
Email from Doug Craig to David Hunt
26 June 2025
2
Email from David Hunt to Doug Craig
26 June 2025
3
Email from David Hunt to Board
26 June 2025
4
Email from David Hunt to Doug Craig
26 June 2025
5
Email from Doug Craig to David Hunt
26 June 2025
GOV-041736 Page 1 of 2
6
Email on behalf of David Hunt to Doug Craig
27 June 2025
7
Letter from David Hunt to Doug Craig
27 June 2025
8
Email on behalf of David Hunt
27 June 2025
Some information will be withheld from these documents under one or more of the following grounds:
• Section 9(2)(a) – to maintain the privacy of individuals
• Section 9(2)(ba)(i) – on the basis that the information is subject to an obligation of confidence
and the release of the information would be likely to prejudice the supply of similar information,
or information from the same source
• Section 9(2)(h) – on the basis that the information is legally privileged.
In doing so, we have considered the public interest in making the withheld information available and
have determined that it does not outweigh the interests being protected.
If you have any questions about this response, please get in touch
You can email ACC a
t [email address], who will forward on your query.
If you are not happy with this response, you can also contact the Ombudsman via
[email address] or by phoning 0800 802 602. Information about how to make a
complaint is available a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz. Ngā mihi
Jan Dawson
Acting Chair
Accident Compensation Corporation
GOV-041736 Page 2 of 2
