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Your request (138411) has been updated. To add additional comments, reply
to this email.

Jennah (Hawke's Bay Regional Council)

23 Feb 2026, 08:20 NZDT

Kia ora Nigel,

Thank you for sending this through. We have forwarded this on to the
relevant part of the organisation and they will be in contact.
 
In the meantime, if you have any other questions, do let us know and we
will be happy to help.

Ngā mihi,
Jennah

Hawke's Bay Regional Council

Nigel Gray

22 Feb 2026, 10:10 NZDT

Caution: This email is from outside of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.
Do not click links or open attachments unless you are certain the content
is safe. If this email claims to be from a HBRC staff member, do not click
on any links or attachments and contact the ServiceDesk immediately.

Dear Hawke's Bay Regional Council,
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

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[1][FOI #33799 email]

Is [2][Hawke's Bay Regional Council request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Hawke's Bay Regional Council? If so, please contact us
using this form:
[3]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
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If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
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page.

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Kia ora Nigel

 

This email is acknowledgment that Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has
received your LGOIMA request dated 22 February 2026 and will respond with
a decision as soon as practicable, within the statutory timeframe 23 March
2026, being 20 working days after the day your request was received.

 

Regards

Donna

Good afternoon Nigel

 

This email relates to your LGOIMA request dated 23 February 2026. The
Council advises the decision to provide the information we hold in
response to your questions 1, 2, 3 and 5.

However because your Q4 (following) is not specified with due
particularity and is for a significant amount of information requiring
substantial research and collation we ask you to refine it so that we can
provide the most useful and accurate response possible within the scope of
the Act and the capacity of Council resources.

 

You’ve requested:

4. Meetings With Forestry Sector Representatives - a list of all meetings
since 1 January 2021 between HBRC 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, include date, attendees and subject or purpose of the
meeting

 

Firstly, we need the names of forestry sector representatives, lobby
groups and PR/Comms firms (in line with LGOIMA s10(2) requests shall be
specified with due particularity). Without specifics it is virtually
impossible to find relevant records in Council’s information systems.

Secondly, because HBRC’s two Forestry Compliance Officers have only been
on the job and actively monitoring forestry compliance for 6 months we ask
whether you will agree to shorten the timeframe – for the period from 1
June 2025.

Please note that a search across all of Council’s records for the period
from 1 January 2021 would likely incur a significant charge due to the
substantial research and collation required.

 

Please respond with your refined Q4 by close of business Friday 13 March
2026.

In the meantime the Council will provide the information for questions 1,
2, 3 and 5 as soon as practicable.

 

Regards,

Leeanne

 

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| |Leeanne Hooper |
| |Team Leader Governance |
| |06 835 9200 | 027 253 5993 |
| |----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |Hawke's Bay Regional Council | Te Kaunihera ā-rohe o Te Matau a Māui |
| |159 Dalton Street, Napier 4110 | [1]hbrc.govt.nz |
| | |
| |Enhancing Our Environment Together | Te Whakapakari Tahi I Tō Tātau |
| |Taiao |
|-+----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |[2][IMG] [3][IMG] [4][IMG] |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

    Let us know how we’re doing, [5]give your feedback here.
This communication, including any attachments, is confidential. Refer
to the [6]disclaimer on our website.

 

  [7][IMG]

 

References

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1. https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/
2. https://www.facebook.com/HBRegionalCounc...
3. https://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkes-...
4. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ0cdZf...
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6. https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/our-council/abo...
7. https://www.hbcoast.co.nz/what-happens-n...

Kia ora Nigel Gray,

We're keen to hear what you thought of our customer service. Please take a
moment to answer one simple question by clicking either link below:

How would you rate the support you received?

[1]Good, I'm satisfied

[2]Bad, I'm unsatisfied

Here's a reminder of what this request was about:

Jennah (Hawke's Bay Regional Council)

23 Feb 2026, 08:20 NZDT

Kia ora Nigel,

Thank you for sending this through. We have forwarded this on to the
relevant part of the organisation and they will be in contact.
 
In the meantime, if you have any other questions, do let us know and we
will be happy to help.

Ngā mihi,
Jennah

Hawke's Bay Regional Council

Nigel Gray

22 Feb 2026, 10:10 NZDT

Caution: This email is from outside of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.
Do not click links or open attachments unless you are certain the content
is safe. If this email claims to be from a HBRC staff member, do not click
on any links or attachments and contact the ServiceDesk immediately.

Dear Hawke's Bay Regional Council,
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

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[3][FOI #33799 email]

Is [4][Hawke's Bay Regional Council request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Hawke's Bay Regional Council? If so, please contact us
using this form:
[5]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[6]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This email is a service from Hawke's Bay Regional Council.
[LE456V-R45ZJ]

References

Visible links
1. https://hbrcsupport.hbrc.govt.nz/request...
2. https://hbrcsupport.hbrc.govt.nz/request...
3. mailto:[FOI #33799 email]
4. mailto:[Hawke's Bay Regional Council request email]
5. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
6. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

Good afternoon Nigel

 

 

Please find below our responses to your LGOIMA request OIR-26-036.

 

Questions/Responses for OIR-26-036 - Forestry

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

 

Response:

Following Cyclone Gabrielle HBRC commissioned a report on the make-up of
the woody debris that washed up against bridges, on beaches and ended up
on flooded areas. The link to that report is included in this media
release [1]Regional Council woody debris report shows mixed results | Home
| Hawke's Bay Regional Council.

The report was not formally received by the Council at a meeting nor as
part of any briefing.

HBRC actively promoted a woody debris study via Facebook.

Facebook post – 11 April 2023

o Announced the release of the woody debris report
o Reiterated message: “little evidence of slash”
o Linked to both summary and full report
o Post URL:
[2]https://www.facebook.com/hbregionalcounc...
[3][facebook.com]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Media release: “Regional Council woody debris report shows mixed results”

o Published: 12 April 2023
o Purpose: Identify the origin and composition of woody debris across
rivers, bridges, floodplains and beaches
o Scope: 17 surveyed sites across Hawke’s Bay
o Link:
[4]https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/home/article/14...

Key findings communicated by HBRC:

o Debris was a mix of pine, willow, poplar and other (incl. native)
species
o Composition differed by catchment
o “Little evidence of slash” at most locations
o Majority of pine assessed as coming from:

o Hillslope erosion
o Streambank collapse
o Wind‑thrown trees

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Managing erosion on my farm” – HBRC Farmers Hub
Emphasises sediment loading, waterway impacts, and erosion risks, and
promotes trees (including poplars and forestry plantings) as mitigation
tools.
[5]https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/environment/far...
[6][hbrc.govt.nz]

Relevance to forestry impacts:
While framed as advice, this page acknowledges that erosion contributes
millions of tonnes of sediment annually into waterways — an issue strongly
connected to land-use practices including forestry

show quoted sections

Good morning Nigel

 

Given that you have not confirmed your willingness to pay for the
provision of the information as per our 2 April email (following), your
request has now been marked as completed and Council will take no further
action in response.

 

Kind regards

Leeanne

 

From: Governance Team
Sent: Thursday, 2 April 2026 2:22 pm
To: '[FOI #33799 email]'
<[FOI #33799 email]>
Subject: LGOIMA Request HBRC reference OIR-26-036 - response

 

Good afternoon Nigel

 

Please find below our responses to your LGOIMA request OIR-26-036.

 

Questions/Responses for OIR-26-036 - Forestry

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

 

Response:

Following Cyclone Gabrielle HBRC commissioned a report on the make-up of
the woody debris that washed up against bridges, on beaches and ended up
on flooded areas. The link to that report is included in this media
release [1]Regional Council woody debris report shows mixed results | Home
| Hawke's Bay Regional Council.

The report was not formally received by the Council at a meeting nor as
part of any briefing.

HBRC actively promoted a woody debris study via Facebook.

Facebook post – 11 April 2023

o Announced the release of the woody debris report
o Reiterated message: “little evidence of slash”
o Linked to both summary and full report
o Post URL:
[2]https://www.facebook.com/hbregionalcounc...
[3][facebook.com]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Media release: “Regional Council woody debris report shows mixed results”

o Published: 12 April 2023
o Purpose: Identify the origin and composition of woody debris across
rivers, bridges, floodplains and beaches
o Scope: 17 surveyed sites across Hawke’s Bay
o Link:
[4]https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/home/article/14...

Key findings communicated by HBRC:

o Debris was a mix of pine, willow, poplar and other (incl. native)
species
o Composition differed by catchment
o “Little evidence of slash” at most locations
o Majority of pine assessed as coming from:

o Hillslope erosion
o Streambank collapse
o Wind‑thrown trees

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Managing erosion on my farm” – HBRC Farmers Hub
Emphasises sediment loading, waterway impacts, and erosion risks, and
promotes trees (including poplars and forestry plantings) as mitigation
tools.
[5]https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/environment/far...
[6][hbrc.govt.nz]

Relevance to forestry impacts:
While framed as advice, this page acknowledges that erosion contributes
millions of tonnes of sediment annually into waterways — an issue strongly
connected to land-use practices including forestry

show quoted sections

Good morning Nigel

Thank you for your email. So that everything is clear I've added in red
text showing Council's response to each of your queries.

And again, 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 [1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602

Kind regards

Leeanne

 

show quoted sections