Dear Ministry for the Environment,

I am requesting information under the Official Information Act 1982.
This request concerns two responses from your Ministry, one issued by Hon Penny Simmonds, PS-COR1794/26-CORM-00148 to Pete Buxton dated 23 February 2026 regarding ship emissions and their potential environmental impacts. The second one is one I received on 16th January 2026 #25-OIAD-00029, again on the subject of ship emissions affecting weather events from Jo Gascoigne General Manager – RMA Operations Ministry for the Environment.
1. Prior admission of non‑monitoring
In a ministerial response to me (date: 16 January 2026, reference: 25-OIAD-00029 , the Ministry confirmed that:
Maritime New Zealand does not monitor ship emissions, and
the Ministry for the Environment does not hold monitoring systems or datasets relating to ship‑generated atmospheric emissions.
This establishes that no monitoring is undertaken.
2. Subsequent claim of “no evidence”
In a separate ministerial response dated 23 February 2026 to Mr Pete Buxton (reference PS‑COR1794/26‑CORM‑00148), the Minister stated:
“The Ministry for the Environment does not hold any evidence to suggest that localised instances of atmospheric emissions pollution contribute directly to localised weather events.”
This statement appears to rely on the absence of evidence, despite the Ministry’s earlier admission that no monitoring is conducted that could generate such evidence.
I therefore request the following information:
1. Monitoring and data holdings
1.1 All documents, reports, internal emails, briefing notes, or datasets held by the Ministry that relate to monitoring of ship emissions (including SOₓ, NOₓ, particulates, CO₂, and other atmospheric pollutants) from 1 January 2015 to the present.
1.2 Any documents that record or describe decisions not to monitor ship emissions, including the reasons for those decisions.
2. Basis for the “no evidence” statement
2.1 All scientific advice, internal communications, briefing notes, or other material used to support the Minister’s statement that the Ministry “does not hold any evidence” that localised emissions contribute to localised weather events.
2.2 Any documents that explain how the Ministry distinguishes between:
“no evidence because the phenomenon has been investigated”, and
“no evidence because the Ministry does not monitor or study the phenomenon.”
3. Reconciliation of the two ministerial positions
3.1 Any internal analysis, discussion, or advice addressing how the Ministry reconciles:
the admission that ship emissions are not monitored, with
the public statement that the Ministry “does not hold any evidence” regarding the effects of ship emissions on localised weather events.
3.2 Any documents that discuss whether the “no evidence” statement could be misleading in cases where the Ministry does not collect data.
4. Policy and communication guidance
4.1 Any internal guidance, policy documents, or communication protocols that instruct staff on the use of the phrase “does not hold any evidence” in ministerial correspondence.
4.2 Any documents that specify whether officials are required to disclose non‑monitoring when making “no evidence” statements.
Format
Electronic copies (PDF or similar) are preferred.
If any part of this request is likely to be refused or considered substantial, please contact me so I may refine it.
Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

Nigel Gray