M Herle
Whare Kaupapa Atawhai/
Conservation House 18
Manners Street Te Aro,
fyi-request-33601-
Wellington
[email address]
6011
11 March 2026
doc.govt.nz
Ref: OIAD-6047
Tēnā koe M Herle,
Thank you for your request to the Department of Conservation (DOC), received on 27 January
2026, in which you asked for information on the funding given to Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP)
within the time frame of January 2023 – present. Specifically, you requested:
- The total amount of funding ZIP has received from DOC in the specified time frame,
including funding that would extend beyond present day (e.g., ending in 2029).
- The total number of contracts held by ZIP from DOC in the specified time frame
- Text on the deliverables that correspond to the funding ZIP has received from DOC
(What is the money being used for)
- Information on total contract lengths and/or funding lengths for the specified time
frame
- Information the areas of New Zealand that ZIP is using the funding to work within
- Email correspondence and any other correspondence that was involved in the
process of deciding and awarding said funding to ZIP including, but not limited to,
correspondence from Ben Reddiex, Brent Beaven, Stephanie Rowe, and Rachel
Kirkman to and from representatives at ZIP or internally between one another at DOC.
We have considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the OIA).
On 12 February 2026 we extended the timeframe to respond to your request to 11 March 2026
due to the consultation necessary.
Your questions and our responses are listed below:
1. The total amount of funding ZIP has received from DOC in the specified time frame,
including funding that would extend beyond present day (e.g., ending in 2029).
2. The total number of contracts held by ZIP from DOC in the specified time frame
3. Text on the deliverables that correspond to the funding ZIP has received from DOC
(What is the money being used for)
4. Information on total contract lengths and/or funding lengths for the specified time frame
5. Information the areas of New Zealand that ZIP is using the funding to work within
This information is included in the attached table.
6. Email correspondence and any other correspondence that was involved in the process of
deciding and awarding said funding to ZIP including, but not limited to, correspondence
from Ben Reddiex, Brent Beaven, Stephanie Rowe, and Rachel Kirkman to and from
representatives at ZIP or internally between one another at DOC.
A number of projects that have involved DOC funding ZIP have evolved over time and there
have been a range of types of communications. The wording in your request that asks for
‘correspondence that was involved in the process of deciding and awarding said funding’
as well as the large number of potential people involved means the correspondence
potentially in scope of this request is not easily defined. This makes it extremely difficult as
a result to scope your request accurately, as under the Act we are required to provide you
with all information in scope of your request. The information you seek, in its current form
would require substantial collation. Therefore, this question is refused under section 18(f)
of the OIA.
I have borne in mind section 18B of the Official Information Act but concluded that use of
this provision would not assist in this case.
You are entitled to seek an investigation and review of my decision by writing to an
Ombudsman as provided by section 28(3) of the OIA.
Please note that this letter (with your personal details removed) may be published on DOC’s
website.
Nāku noa, nā
Ben Reddiex
Director Biodiversity National Programmes
Department of Conservation
Te Papa Atawhai
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