Dear Ministry for Primary Industries,
Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following information for the period 1 January 2021 – present.
1. Briefings and Key Messages
Copies of any briefings, talking points, or key‑message documents prepared for senior leadership or elected officials that relate to:
forestry slash events
erosion or sedimentation linked to forestry
public communications about forestry impacts
2. Communications Strategy and Perception Management
Copies of any communications plans or strategy documents that include reference to:
“stakeholder messaging”
“public perception”
“communications risks”
“industry engagement”
…where these terms relate to forestry or forestry‑related environmental impacts.
3. External Input Into Public Statements (Refined Clause)
Copies of any final versions of public statements (including press releases, website updates, advisories, or social media posts) relating to forestry that were reviewed, edited, or approved by any external party.
For each such document, please also provide:
a) the name of the external party involved b) the nature of their input (e.g., review, edits, approval) c) the date on which their input occurred
This request does not seek drafts, internal discussions, or emails — only the final published versions and the record of external input.
4. Meetings With Forestry‑Sector Representatives
A list of all meetings held since 1 January 2021 between your agency and:
forestry industry representatives
forestry lobby groups
PR or communications firms acting for forestry interests
the Forest Owners Association
Te Uru Rākau / NZ Forest Service
For each meeting, please provide:
date
attendees
subject or purpose of the meeting
I am not requesting minutes or detailed notes — only the meeting list.
5. Conflict‑of‑Interest Declarations
Copies of any conflict‑of‑interest declarations made by staff involved in:
forestry‑related policy
forestry compliance or enforcement
environmental monitoring relating to forestry
forestry‑related public communications
Format
Please provide all information in digital form. If any part of this request is refused, please provide the grounds for refusal and release all remaining material.

Yours faithfully,

Nigel Gray

Dear Official Information Act,
Kia ora,

Thank you for your email. I am happy to refine the timeframe for items 1 and 2 only, as these may involve a larger volume of material.

Please refine sections 1 and 2 of my request to cover the period:
1 March 2023 – 22 February 2026.

For sections 3, 4, and 5, I do not agree that a refinement is necessary. These sections request:

only final versions of public statements that had external input (not drafts or correspondence)

a simple list of meetings with forestry‑sector representatives

conflict‑of‑interest declarations, which are discrete, already‑held documents

These items are narrow, specific, and do not require substantial collation or research.

Please proceed with the request on this basis.

Ngā mihi,
Nigel Gray

Yours sincerely,

Nigel Gray

Dear Official Information Act,
Kia ora Michelle,

Thank you for your letter dated 5 March 2026 advising of the section 14 transfer.

I confirm that the timeframe 1 March 2023 – 22 February 2026 applies to sections 1 and 2 only, as per my refinement of 2 March 2026.

For clarity, the transferred portion relates to section 1 of my request, which I agreed to refine to that timeframe.

Sections 3, 4, and 5 remain unchanged and continue to apply to the period 1 January 2021 – present, as these items are narrow, discrete, and do not require substantial collation.

Please proceed on this basis.

Ngā mihi,
Nigel Gray