Thank you for contacting Hon. Penny Simmonds, Member of Parliament for
Invercargill, Minister for the Environment, Minister for Vocational
Education and Associate Minister for Social Development & Employment.
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The Office of Hon. Penny Simmonds
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Dear Katie

On behalf of Hon Penny Simmonds, Minister for the Environment, I confirm receipt of this OIA request.

Kind regards

Office of Hon Penny Simmonds
Minister for the Environment │Vocational Education
Associate Minister for Social Development & Employment

Authorised by Hon Penny Simmonds, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

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-----Original Message-----
From: Kate A <[FOI #32442 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 2 October 2025 10:18 AM
To: Penny Simmonds (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Information on the Product Stewardship Scheme

Tēnā koe Minister

Pursuant to the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following information. I have itemised my request into clear sections, consistent with the Ombudsman’s guidance for specificity and ease of processing.

1. Correspondence and Advice with Specified Organisations
Please provide all briefings, memos, meeting advice notes, and correspondence (including emails, letters, and file notes) between you and your office staff, and the following organisations, from 1 January 2025 to the present:
a) The Trust for the Destruction of Synthetic Refrigerants (Cool-Safe)
b) A-Gas New Zealand
c) Beijer Ref and any subsidiaries
d) RefDestruct
e) Heat Pump Suppliers Association
f) Institute of Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers of New Zealand (IHRACE)

2. Synthetic Refrigerants Product Stewardship Scheme Please provide all briefings, memos, and advice prepared for you or your office regarding the synthetic refrigerants product stewardship scheme, from 1 January 2025 to the present.

3. Meeting-Specific Briefings and Notes
Please provide all briefing papers, meeting notes, memos, or other advice prepared for your office in advance of, or following, the following meetings:
a) A-Gas New Zealand meeting with Mitchell Williamson – 5 March 2025
b) Chemical Destruction Services meeting with Clifton Madgwick, Michelle Kazor, and Aimie Hines – 27 March 2025
c) Trust for the Destruction of Synthetic Refrigerants (Cool-Safe) meeting with Janine Brinsdon and Michelle Kazor – 1 April 2025
d) Heat Pump Suppliers Association meeting with Darryl Rochester and Greg Picker – 15 May 2025

4. Timeliness of Response
I draw your attention to section 15(1)(b) of the Official Information Act, which requires that information be made available “as soon as reasonably practicable.” The Ombudsman has also made clear that agencies should not delay releasing information until the maximum statutory timeframe, nor hold all material for release in a single batch if some is available earlier.

Accordingly, I request that the material covered by this request be released progressively and without undue delay, in tranches if necessary, as soon as it is identified and ready for release.

Ngā mihi nui,

Kate A

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