16 January 2026
OIAD-1847
Phoebe Robertson
[FYI request #33016 email] Tēnā koe Phoebe
Thank you for your email of 27 November 2025 under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) of the Ministry for the Environment (the Ministry). Your full request is copied below as
Appendix 1.
I acknowledge your request for urgency in accordance with section 12(3) of the Act.
However, given the sensitive nature of the information you have requested, additional time is
required to make a decision on your request.
I am therefore writing to notify you that the Ministry is extending the timeframe for its
response to your request under section 15A(1)(b) of the Act, as consultations necessary to
make a decision on the request are such that a proper response cannot reasonably be made
within the original timeframe.
We wil now respond to your request on, if not before, 16 February 2026, which is an
extension of twenty working days.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of my decision on
this request, in accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. The relevant details can be found
at:
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz. Yours sincerely
Lachlan Brown Team Leader, Ministerial Services
Ministry for the Environment | Manatū Mō Te Taiao
PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143 | Freephone 0800 499 700 | environment.govt.nz
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Appendix 1: Full request
I am requesting information relating to the appointment, vetting, risk assessment, and
capability evaluation processes for the following current senior roles within Tūmatakōkiri and
People & Capability:
• General Manager – Tūmatakōkiri (Hakarangi Tichborne)
• Deputy Secretary – Tūmatakōkiri (Gina Rangi)
• General Manager – People & Capability / HR (Tracey Kaio)
For each appointment (internal or external), please provide:
A. Appointment Process & Decision-Making Documents
The full appointment process documentation, including:
• recruitment approach (internal, external, closed, open, direct appointment, acting)
• shortlisting or selection records
• interview records
• panel membership
• panel notes or assessment worksheets
• assessment matrices or competency scoring
• due diligence undertaken
• referee checks
• psychometric testing (if any)
• appointment recommendation papers
• approval documents (e.g., CE, DCE or PSC sign-off)
Any briefings, emails, memoranda, recommendations, or advice prepared for the CE, DCE,
HR GM or others regarding the appointment decision.
Any PSC engagement where senior leadership roles required consultation or advice under
the Public Service Act.
PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143 | Freephone 0800 499 700 | environment.govt.nz
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B. Risk Assessments & Conflict of Interest Checks
For each appointment:
• Any risk assessments, including:
• safety/leadership capability risks
• psychosocial risk implications
• previous conduct issues
• conflict-of-interest declarations
• integrity checks
• any red flags raised at the time of appointment
• analysis of suitability for people-leadership responsibility
• Any documentation relating to:
• prior allegations, complaints, or performance concerns
• prior involvement in incidents relating to conduct or safety
• how these were considered or mitigated in the appointment process
C. Training, Accreditation & Leadership Capability Framework
• The leadership capability and competency requirements for each role.
• Evidence of whether these were assessed.
• Training or accreditation required or completed (e.g.,:
• people-leadership training
• conflict management
• bul ying/harassment frameworks
• HSWA duties and psychosocial risk training
• PSC model standards training)
• Any documentation showing:
PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143 | Freephone 0800 499 700 | environment.govt.nz
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• unmet training requirements
• leadership development needs identified
• risk mitigation actions recommended prior to appointment
D. Complaints, Concerns and Escalation History (Role-Related)
For each role:
• Records of any complaints, concerns, allegations, or speaking-up matters raised
before or during their tenure relating to:
• bul ying
• harassment
• discrimination
• retaliation
• procedural unfairness
• unsafe leadership behaviour
• integrity concerns
• failures to follow HR, PSC or HSWA standards
• How these concerns were:
• triaged
• recorded
• escalated
• investigated
• resolved
• Whether any concerns led to:
• changes in duties
• performance processes
PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143 | Freephone 0800 499 700 | environment.govt.nz
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• disciplinary processes
• restructuring or reassignment
• risk mitigation actions
If any complaints or concerns were raised verbal y, please provide any notes, emails,
summaries, or managerial records relating to these.
E. HSWA Compliance Documentation (Leadership Appointments)
Any documentation assessing the HSWA s36 duty when appointing people leaders,
specifically relating to:
• psychosocial risk
• foreseeable harm
• suitability of managers to manage people
• safety controls
• post-appointment monitoring of risk
• Any health & safety hazard registers that include:
• leadership risk
• people-leadership behaviours
• complaints relating to harm
• Any documentation showing:
• risk flagged in Tūmatakōkiri
• monitoring of leadership safety performance
• interventions or controls put in place
F. Acting or Temporary Appointments
• For any interim or acting leadership arrangements:
• Appointment memos
PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143 | Freephone 0800 499 700 | environment.govt.nz
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• Delegation of authority
• Duties assigned
• Risk assessments
• Rationale for bypassing open recruitment (if applicable)
G. Limitations of Records
If any information requested does not exist, please confirm:
• Why the Ministry does not hold it
• Whether it was ever created
• Whether it was destroyed
• Whether it falls under the Ministry’s record-keeping obligations
• How senior appointments can be made without the requested documentation
• If any of the requested documents are already publicly available, please provide
direct links to the exact documents or pages.
PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143 | Freephone 0800 499 700 | environment.govt.nz
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