OC250717

26 August 2025

Nathan Jones
[FYI request #31898 email]

Tēnā koe Nathan,

I refer to your request dated 6 August 2025 that was partially transferred to the Ministry of
Transport from the New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) seeking the following under the
Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act):

“1. Al  written correspondence (including emails, letters, meeting minutes, and internal
memos) between Tesla and Ministry of Transport, or any of their representatives, relating
to the Clean Car Discount scheme.
2. This request covers the period from 1 January 2020 to 31 October 2023, or to the most
recent date of record available.”

There are five email chains in scope of your request that are enclosed. The document schedule
attached as Annex 1 outlines how the documents requested have been treated under the Act.
Certain information is withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the privacy of natural
persons and refused under section 18(d) of the Act as the information requested is or wil  soon be
publicly available.

With regard to the information that has been withheld under section 9 of the Act, I am satisfied that
the reasons for withholding the information at this time are not outweighed by public interest
considerations that would make it desirable to make the information available.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review of this response by the Ombudsman, in
accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. The relevant details can be found on the Ombudsman’s
website www.ombudsman.parliament.nz

The Ministry publishes our Of icial Information Act responses and the information contained in our
reply to you may be published on the Ministry’s website. Before publishing we wil  remove any
personal or identifiable information.

Nāku noa, nā

Nick Paterson
Manager, Environment

transport.govt.nz | hei-arataki.nz
HEAD OFFICE: PO Box 3175, Wellington 6140, New Zealand. PH: +64 4 439 9000
AUCKLAND OFFICE: NZ Government Auckland Policy Office, PO Box 106483, Auckland 1143, New Zealand. PH: +64 4 439 9000

Annex 1: Document Schedule
Doc #  Date
Title of Document
Decision on request
Email from: Nick Paterson to [Name
Withheld]
1
19/09/2024
Released with some information withheld under
Subject: RE: query regarding proactive
section 9(2)(a).
release
Released with some information withheld under
section 9(2)(a).
Email from: Nick Paterson to [Name
Withheld]
The letter referenced in this correspondence is
2
11/07/2024
refused under section 18(d) as it is publicly
Subject: RE Letter from Tesla to Ministry of  available here (see page 47):
Transport
https://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Proa
ctive-Release-Clean-Car-Standard-5-September-
2024-amended-v2.pdf
Email from: Nick Paterson to [Name
3
10/06/2024  Withheld]
Released with some information withheld under
Subject: RE: Clean Car Standard review
section 9(2)(a).
Released with some information withheld under
Email from: [Name Withheld] to Tarien
section 9(2)(a).
Knoetze
The draft regulations are refused under section
4
2/09/2022
Subject: Re: Legally Privileged – Draft
18(d). The 2022 Regulations are publicly available
Clean Vehicle Standard regulations -
here:
consultation
https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/20
22/0285/18.0/LMS773853.html
Email from: [Name Withheld] to Tarien
Knoetze
5
10/08/2022
Released with some information withheld under
Subject: Re: Ministry of Transport – Clean
section 9(2)(a).
Vehicle Standard regulations

transport.govt.nz | hei-arataki.nz

Page 2 of 2

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Email 3
Amber Dickson
From:
Nick Paterson
Sent:
Monday, 10 June 2024 3:05 pm
To:
s 9(2)(a)
Cc:
Gayelene Wright
Subject:
RE: Clean Car Standard review
Hi s 9(2)(a)
We were directed to consult specifically with those bodies with respect to the review.  If there are changes
proposed by the Minister, as a result of the review, it would be a decision of Cabinet on whether to publicly
consult on those changes.
Kind regards
Nick
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Nick Paterson
THE
Ts 9(2)(a)
| E: [email address] |  www.transport.govt.nz
ACT
From:s 9(2)(a)
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Sent: Monday, June 10, 2024 2:50 PM
To: Nick Paterson <[email address]>
Cc: Gayelene Wright <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Clean Car Standard review
Thank Nick,
For clarity, have you been directed to consult industry bodies or only those specific industry bodies? I
INFORMATION
note Drive Electric, which is an industry body, isn't on the list.
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Will there be public consultation on any changes to the standards proposed as a result of the
review?
Regards
s 9(2)(a)
OFFICIAL
On Mon, Jun 10, 2024 at 1:47 PM Nick Paterson <[email address]> wrote:
Hi s 9(2)(a)
Thank you for your email.  Yes, I am the manager for the Environment team at the Ministry of Transport which
is responsible for the Clean Car Standard review.  Stakeholder engagement for these reviews is at the
direction of the Minister of Transport.  The Minister of Transport directed the Ministry to consult industry
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bodies (i.e. MIA, VIA, and MTA) and also AA with respect to this review.  The Ministry has not consulted directly
with vehicle manufacturers as part of this review.
Kind regards
Nick
Nick Paterson (he / his / Mr)
Manager – Environment
Te Manatū Waka Ministry of Transport
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T: s 9(2)(a)
| E: [email address] |  www.transport.govt.nz
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From:s 9(2)(a)

Sent: Monday, June 10, 2024 1:20 PM
To: Nick Paterson <[email address]>
Subject: Clean Car Standard review
Hi Nick,
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I'm handling New Zealand Government relations for Tesla,and I'm told you are the point of contact
for the Clean Car Standard review, is that correct?
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Are there comms or other material you're sharing with stakeholders about the review? Is there a
deadline that you would like to receive comment by?
Regards
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--
s 9(2)(a)
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Email 4
Amber Dickson
From:
s 9(2)(a)
Sent:
Friday, 2 September 2022 12:31 pm
To:
Tarien Knoetze
Subject:
Re: Legally Privileged - Draft Clean Vehicle Standard regulations - consultation
Attachments:
image001.png
Hi Tarien,
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on these draft regulations.
Tesla has no comments.
Regards,
1982
s 9(2)(a)
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On Tue, 16 Aug 2022, 10:40 am Tarien Knoetze, <[email address]> wrote:
ACT
Good morning
Thank you for responding to the Ministry of Transport confirming your agreement to the conditions
UNDER
on which we will share the draft Clean Vehicle Standard regulations with you. To confirm, you have
agreed to receive the draft regulations on the following conditions:
1.
The draft is received on a confidential basis
2.
The draft is legally privileged, and legal privilege is not waived by the sharing of the draft with
INFORMATION
you (being a named individual)
RELEASED
3.
The draft will not be shared within, or beyond, your organisation, other than to the named
individuals
4.
The draft will only be discussed between the named individuals
5.
If at any stage a request is made to your organisation for the draft, you will immediately
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contact the Ministry of Transport and take such reasonable steps as required to consult with us
before responding to the request.
Please provide any comments on the draft regulations to me by 5pm Friday 2 September 2022. We
appreciate your assistance in working within condensed timeframes. The timeframes are necessary
to ensure that the regulations are in force by 1 December 2022.
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Kind regards
Tarien Knoetze (she/her)
Kaiwhakaneke Āwhina | Programme Assistant COVID-19 Response
Te Manatū Waka Ministry of Transport
M:s 9(2)(a)
| E: [email address] | transport.govt.nz
The l nked image cannot be d splayed The f le may have been moved enamed o deleted Ve ify that the l nk po n s to the co ect file and location
Te Manatū Waka is a COVID-19 vaccinated workplace. To meet our workplace safety
requirements you will be asked to provide proof of vaccination when you visit our offices
1982
THE
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MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
Wellington (Head Office) | Ground Floor, 3 Queens Wharf | PO Box 3175 | Wellington 6011 | NEW ZEALAND | Tel:
+64 4 439 9000 |
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Auckland | NZ Government Auckland Policy Office | 45 Queen Street | PO Box 106238 | Auckland City | Auckland
1143 | NEW ZEALAND | Tel: +64 4 439 9000 |
Disclaimer: This email is only intended to be read by the named recipient. It may contain information which is
confidential, proprietary or the subject of legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient you must delete this
email and may not use any information contained in it. Legal privilege is not waived because you have read this
email.
Please consider the environment before printing this email.
INFORMATION
RELEASED
The Draft Regulations referenced are refused under section 18(d). The 2022 Regulations are publicly
available here: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2022/0285/18.0/LMS773853.html
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(v)
If at any stage a request is made to your organisation for the draft, you will immediately
contact the Ministry of Transport and take such reasonable steps as required to consult with us
before responding to the request.
Before confirming that you will receive the draft, please have regard to any legal obligations your
organisation may have around disclosure or making information public. Please let us know if you will
be unable to keep the draft confidential given any specific obligations on your organisation.
Please respond by Friday 12 August 2022. We will look to provide the draft regulations (presuming
confirmation of the above) on or around Monday 15 August 2022.
Kind regards
Tarien Knoetze (she/her)
Kaiwhakaneke Āwhina | Programme Assistant COVID-19 Response
Te Manatū Waka Ministry of Transport
M:s 9(2)(a)
| E: [email address] | transport.govt.nz
<image001.png>
Te Manatū Waka is a COVID-19 vaccinated workplace. To meet our workplace safety
1982
requirements you will be asked to provide proof of vaccination when you visit our offices
THE
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
ACT
Wellington (Head Office) | Ground Floor, 3 Queens Wharf | PO Box 3175 | Wellington 6011 | NEW
ZEALAND | Tel: +64 4 439 9000 |
Auckland | NZ Government Auckland Policy Office | 45 Queen Street | PO Box 106238 | Auckland
City | Auckland 1143 | NEW ZEALAND | Tel: +64 4 439 9000 |
UNDER
Disclaimer: This email is only intended to be read by the named recipient. It may contain information
which is confidential, proprietary or the subject of legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient
you must delete this email and may not use any information contained in it. Legal privilege is not
waived because you have read this email.
Please consider the environment before printing this email.
INFORMATION
RELEASED
OFFICIAL
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Document Outline