DOIA REQ 0027937 Dr Robert Shaw Response Letter 2.pdf

5 June 2026

Ref: DOIA-REQ-0027937

Dr Robert Shaw
Email: [FYI request #33719 email]

Tēnā koe Dr Robert Shaw

Thank you for your request of 13 February 2026 to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
(DPMC) requesting, under the Oﬃcial Information Act 1982 (the Act), the fol owing information:

Could you please provide me with copies of all documents which went to Cabinet or Ministers
regarding options or decision-making that pertains to the proposed terminal to import fossil fuels
from overseas. Thank you.

On 17 February 2026, your request was transferred to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment. We understand your request to relate to the proposed LNG import facility.

Please ﬁnd attached the documentation relevant to your request, as shown in the table below.
  #  Document name  Document  Released  Withholding sections – OIA
date
or
withheld
1
Cabinet Submission -  -
Refused
18(d) – Information is publicly available
LNG and options
at: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/building-

and-energy/energy-and-natural-
resources/energy-generation-and-
markets/gas-market/lng-in-new-
zealand
2
BRIEFING-REQ-
14 May 2025  Partially
s 9(2)(a), s 9(2)(ba)(i), 9(2)(g)(i)
0014218 Meeting
released
with Clarus on 15
May 2025
3
BRIEFING-REQ-
9 July 2025
Partially
s 9(2)(a), s 9(2)(ba)(i)
0017428
released
Procurement
overview for the
importation of
Liquefied Natural
Gas
4
BRIEFING-REQ-
21 July 2025  Partially
s 9(2)(a), s 9(2)(b)(ii), s 9(2)(f)(iv), s
0017895 Addressing
released
9(2)(i), s 9(2)(g)(i)
the Energy Gap

5
BRIEFING_REQ-
8 September  Partially
s 9(2)(a), s 9(2)(i), 9(2)(g)(i), s 9(2)(b)(ii)
0020603 [Title
2025
released
Withheld]
6
BRIEFING-REQ-
26
Refused
18(d) – Information is publicly available
0021520 LNG import  September
at:
facility services
2025
https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocume
Phase One
nt/31676-lng-import-facility-services-
procurement
phase-one-procurement-documents-
documents
briefing-req-0021520
7
BRIEFING-REQ-
29 October
Partially
s 9(2)(a)
0022891 Approach
2025
released
for Options analysis
on the LNG import
terminal and
alternatives
8
BRIEFING REQ
24
Partially
s 9(2)(a), s 9(2)(ba)(i), s 9(2)(i),
0024340 LNG and
November
released
s 9(2)(f)(iv), s 9(2)(g)(i)
Options Analysis:
2025

Draft Cabinet Paper
s 18(d) Information is publicly available
and Business Case
at:
https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocume
nt/31755-minute-government-
investment-in-dry-year-risk-cover-
consideration-of-an-lng-import-facility

https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocume
nt/31754-government-investment-in-
dry-year-risk-cover-consideration-of-an-
lng-import-facility

9
BRIEFING-REQ-
10
Partially
s 9(2)(a), s 9(2)(h), s 9(2)(b)(ii), s
0025042 LNG Import  December
released
9(2)(f)(iv), s 9(2)(j);
Facility Cabinet
2025

Paper for Lodging
s 18(d) Information is publicly available
at:
https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocume
nt/31755-minute-government-
investment-in-dry-year-risk-cover-
consideration-of-an-lng-import-facility

https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocume
nt/31754-government-investment-in-
dry-year-risk-cover-consideration-of-an-
lng-import-facility

10  BRIEFING-REQ-
15
Partially
s 9(2)(a), s 9(2)(i)
0025404
December
released
Accelerated Delivery  2025
Solution

Procurement
Approach
11  BRIEFING REQ -
29 January
Partially
s 9(2)(a), s 9(2)(f)(iv)
0026675 - Update
2026
released
on LNG shortlisted
options and
legislative design

Please note some information has been withheld under the fol owing sections of the Act:
•  6(a) as the making available of that information would be likely to prejudice the security or
defence of New Zealand or the international relations of the Government of New Zealand;
•  9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural persons;
•  9(2)(b)(i ), to protect information where the making available of the 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)(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)(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;
•  9(2)(h), to maintain legal professional privilege; and
•  9(2)(i), to enable a Minister of the Crown or any public service agency or organisation holding
the information to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities.
•  18(d) the information requested is or will soon be publicly available.

I do not consider that the withholding of this information is outweighed by public interest
considerations in making the information available.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.
Nāku noa, nā

Rebecca Heerdegen
Policy Director
Energy Markets