28 November 2025
OIAD-1778
Kate A
[FYI request #32443 email] Tēnā koe Kate
Thank you for your email of 2 October 2025 requesting the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act) of the Ministry for the Environment (the Ministry):
1. Correspondence with Specified Organisations
Please provide all correspondence (including emails, letters, file notes, and meeting
records) between the Ministry for the Environment 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 by the Ministry for, or
provided to, the Minister for the Environment 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
by the Ministry for the Minister for the Environment 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
As you will be aware, on 28 October 2025 the Ministry refused the first part of your request
under section 18(f) of the Act, as the information requested cannot be made available
without substantial collation and research.
PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143 | Freephone 0800 499 700 | environment.govt.nz
1
I have identified 36 documents in scope of the remaining two parts of your request.
I am releasing two documents to you in full.
I am releasing 15 documents to you in part, with some information withheld under the
following sections of the Act:
9(2)(ba)(i) to protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence or which
any person has been or could be compelled to provide under the authority of
any enactment, where the making available of the information would be
likely to prejudice the supply of similar information, or information from the
same source, and it is in the public interest that such information should
continue to be supplied.
9(2)(b)(ii) where the making available of information would be likely unreasonably to
prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the
subject of the information.
9(2)(f)(iv) to maintain the constitutional conventions for the time being which protect
the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials.
9(2)(g)(i) to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank
expression of opinions by or between or to Ministers of the Crown or
members of an organisation or officers and employees of any public service
agency or organisation in the course of their duty.
I am withholding 19 documents in full under sections 9(2)(ba)(i) and 9(2)(f)(iv) of the Act.
In terms of section 9(1) of the Act, I am satisfied that, in the circumstances, the withholding
of information in this request is not outweighed by other considerations that render it
desirable to make the information available in the public interest.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Office of the Ombudsman of
my decisions relating to this request, in accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. The
relevant details can be found a
t: www.ombudsman.parliament.nz. Please note that due to the public interest in our work, the Ministry publishes responses to
requests for official information shortly after the response has been sent on our website at:
https://environment.govt.nz/about-us/official-information-act-requests/. If you have any
queries about this, please feel free to contact our Ministerial Services team at:
[email address]. Nāku noa, nā
Glenn Wigley
General Manager – Waste & HSNO Policy
Ministry for the Environment | Manatū Mō Te Taiao
PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143 | Freephone 0800 499 700 | environment.govt.nz
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Document schedule
#
Code
Title
Decision
Grounds
1
BRF-
Appendix 2 – CDS attendee biographies
Released in full
6018
2
N/A
Meeting with Cool-Safe - agenda
Released in part
9(2)(f)(iv)
3
N/A
Meeting with Janine Brinson – talking points
Released in full
and agenda
4
BRF-
Amendment to the Emissions Trading
Released in part
9(2)(b)(ii), 9(2)(g)(i), 9(2)(f)(iv)
6018
Scheme Climate Change (General
Exemptions)
5
BRF-
Appendix 1, Talking Points
Released in part
9(2)(ba)(i)
6018
6
BRF-
Appendix 1 New Zealand’s annual bulk HFC Released in part
9(2)(f)(iv)
6334
imports and
quotas
7
BRF-
Appendix 2 COPA hierarchy for end-of-life
Released in part
9(2)(f)(iv)
6334
gas treatment
8
BRF-
Appendix 1 New Zealand’s annual bulk HFC Released in part
9(2)(f)(iv)
5978
import quota
9
BRF-
Appendix 2, Overview of New Zealand’s
Released in part
9(2)(ba)(i)
5978
refrigerants sector, used gases focus.pdf
PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143 | Freephone 0800 499 700 | environment.govt.nz
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#
Code
Title
Decision
Grounds
10 BRF-
Appendix 3 In-scope gases that are not
Released in part
9(2)(b)(ii)
5978
covered by the ETS
11 BRF-
Appendix 4, History between the Trust and
Released in part
9(2)(b)(ii)
5978
IRHACE.pdf
12 BRF-
Meeting with A-Gas - 5 March 2025
Released in part
9(2)(ba)(i)
5925
13 BRF-
Meeting with Cool-Safe
Released in part
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
6032
14 BRF-
Meeting Note Heat Pump Suppliers
Released in part
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i), 9(2)(g)(i)
6178
Association of New Zealand
15 N/A
RPSS KMs for Kara and Sam at Officials 20-
Released in part
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i), 9(2)(g)(i)
5-2025.docx
16 N/A
Synthetic refrigerants - Deep dive with
Released in part
9(2)(f)(iv)
Minister Simmonds, May 2025
17 N/A
WR Item for Minister on SLF progress and
Released in part
9(2)(g)(i), 9(2)(ba)(i)
licensing (1)
18 N/A
Stakeholder engagement prep and notes – A Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
-Gas
19 N/A
Stakeholder engagement prep and notes -
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
HPSA
20 N/A
Stakeholder engagement prep and notes – -
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
IRHACE
21 N/A
Stakeholder engagement prep and notes –
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
Refdestruct
PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143 | Freephone 0800 499 700 | environment.govt.nz
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#
Code
Title
Decision
Grounds
22 N/A
Stakeholder engagement prep and notes –
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
Cool Safe
23 N/A
Amendment options meeting with Cool Safe
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
24 BRF-
[Title withheld]
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
6344
25 BRF-
Appendix 3 New PSO organisational
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
6334
structure
26 BRF-
Appendix 4 Summary of June 2025
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
6334
stakeholder feedback
27 BRF-
Appendix 5 Pros and cons of the competition Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
6334
policy options
28
BRF-
[Title withheld]
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
2978
29 BRF-
[Title withheld]
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
5978
30 N/A
Cool Safe meeting notes 19-06-25
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
31 N/A
Meeting notes for discussion with Trust
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
Board 28 August
32 N/A
PSS Feedback Letter – August 2025
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
33 N/A
PSS Feedback Letter – 25 August 2025
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
34 N/A
Letter to MfE – 8 Sept 2025
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
35 N/A
Letter to Minister for the Environment – 9
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
Sept 2025
36 N/A
TDSR – Hon. Simmonds, 16 Sept 2025
Withheld in full
9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(ba)(i)
PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143 | Freephone 0800 499 700 | environment.govt.nz
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