Forestry Industry – External Influence Over Public Communications and Decision‑Making
Nigel Gray made this Official Information request to New Zealand Transport Agency
Currently waiting for a response from New Zealand Transport Agency, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).
From: Nigel Gray
Dear New Zealand Transport Agency,
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
From: Official Correspondence
New Zealand Transport Agency
Kia ora Nigel
This email acknowledges your below request for information made under the Official Information Act 1982.
Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate section of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi for response. They will contact you if they require clarification of your request, more time to respond, or if your request has been transferred to another organisation to respond to. Unless more time is required, NZ Transport Agency will send a response to you within 20 working days of receiving your request – in this instance on or before 20 March 2026.
If you would like to discuss your request with NZ Transport Agency, please contact us by email at [NZTA request email].
Ngā mihi
Ministerial Services
Te Waka Kōtuia | Engagement & Partnerships
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
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-----Original Message-----
From: Nigel Gray <[FOI #33803 email]>
Sent: Sunday, 22 February 2026 10:23 am
To: Official Correspondence <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Forestry Industry – External Influence Over Public Communications and Decision Making
[You don't often get email from [FOI #33803 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Dear New Zealand Transport Agency,
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
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This message, together with any attachments, may contain information that is classified and/or subject to legal privilege. Any classification markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in any way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by return email and then destroy the original message. This communication may be accessed or retained by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi for information assurance purposes.
hide quoted sections
From: Official Correspondence
New Zealand Transport Agency
Kia ora Nigel
Thank you for your request under the Official Informaiton Act 1982.
In order to respond to your request, we wish to clairfy point 4 with you.
Can you please confirm whether you want meeting information only about
meetings with the forestry industry representatives about slash events? Or
whether you want meeting information about any/all meetings with forestry
industry representatives.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Ngā mihi
Chanell
Ministerial Services
Te Waka Kōtuia | Engagement & Partnerships
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
[1]Connect with us on Social Media
[2][IMG]
-----Original Message-----
From: Nigel Gray <[3][FOI #33803 email]>
Sent: Sunday, 22 February 2026 10:23 am
To: Official Correspondence <[4][email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Forestry Industry – External
Influence Over Public Communications and Decision-Making
[You don't often get email from
[5][FOI #33803 email]. Learn why this is
important at [6]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Dear New Zealand Transport Agency,
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:
[7][FOI #33803 email]
Is [8][NZTA request email] the wrong address for Official
Information requests to New Zealand Transport Agency? If so, please
contact us using this form:
[9]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[10]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
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 message, together with any attachments, may contain information that
is classified and/or subject to legal privilege. Any classification
markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you
must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in any
way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us
immediately by return email and then destroy the original message. This
communication may be accessed or retained by NZ Transport Agency Waka
Kotahi for information assurance purposes.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.nzta.govt.nz/contact-us/conn...
2. https://nzta.govt.nz/
3. mailto:[FOI #33803 email]
4. mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[FOI #33803 email]
6. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
7. mailto:[FOI #33803 email]
8. mailto:[NZTA request email]
9. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
10. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
hide quoted sections
From: Nigel Gray
Dear Official Correspondence,
Kia ora,
Thanks for your email.
To confirm:
I am requesting all meetings with forestry industry representatives, regardless of whether slash events were discussed. The subject or purpose of each meeting can be listed in the response.
Ngā mihi,
Nigel
Yours sincerely,
Nigel Gray
From: Official Correspondence
New Zealand Transport Agency
Kia ora Nigel
Thank you for your earlier clarification.
NZTA has begun trying to locate relevant information for your request,
however it is appearing to be complex with so many touch points around the
organisation, as well as the timeframe of information requested.
Are you able to assist us in narrowing/refining the scope of your request
to either specific regions of New Zealand or specific NZTA projects? Could
the timeframe also be reduced?
We look forward to hearing from you.
Ngā mihi
Chanell
Ministerial Services
Te Waka Kōtuia | Engagement & Partnerships
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
[1]Connect with us on Social Media
[2][IMG]
-----Original Message-----
From: Nigel Gray <[3][FOI #33803 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 25 February 2026 5:33 pm
To: Official Correspondence <[4][email address]>
Subject: Re: OIA-21219 REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION
Dear Official Correspondence,
Kia ora,
Thanks for your email.
To confirm:
I am requesting all meetings with forestry industry representatives,
regardless of whether slash events were discussed. The subject or purpose
of each meeting can be listed in the response.
Ngā mihi,
Nigel
Yours sincerely,
Nigel Gray
-----Original Message-----
Kia ora Nigel
Thank you for your request under the Official Informaiton Act 1982.
In order to respond to your request, we wish to clairfy point 4 with you.
Can you please confirm whether you want meeting information only about
meetings with the forestry industry representatives about slash events?
Or whether you want meeting information about any/all meetings with
forestry industry representatives.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Ngā mihi
Chanell
Ministerial Services
Te Waka Kōtuia | Engagement & Partnerships NZ Transport Agency Waka
Kotahi
[1]Connect with us on Social Media
[2][IMG]
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[5][FOI #33803 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[6]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
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 message, together with any attachments, may contain information that
is classified and/or subject to legal privilege. Any classification
markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you
must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in any
way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us
immediately by return email and then destroy the original message. This
communication may be accessed or retained by NZ Transport Agency Waka
Kotahi for information assurance purposes.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.nzta.govt.nz/contact-us/conn...
2. https://nzta.govt.nz/
3. mailto:[FOI #33803 email]
4. mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[FOI #33803 email]
6. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
hide quoted sections
From: Nigel Gray
Dear Official Correspondence,
Kia ora Chanell,
Thanks for your message.
I am not able to narrow the request by region or project. The matters covered in my request — including briefings, key‑message documents, communications strategies, external input into public statements, and meetings with forestry‑sector representatives — are not limited to any particular region of New Zealand, and may arise across multiple parts of NZTA.
The scope is already limited to:
• final versions of documents only (not drafts, emails, or internal discussions), and
• a defined timeframe (1 January 2021 – present).
If NZTA considers that some parts of the request would require substantial collation or research, please process the remainder of the request and identify which specific parts you believe would require refinement.
I am happy to consider targeted refinement if NZTA can specify which clause(s) create difficulty and why, as required under section 18B of the OIA.
Ngā mihi,
Nigel Gray
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