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Acknowledgement of your Official Information Act Request 26-OIAD-00449
​Kia ora Nigel Gray.,

Thank you for your Official Information Act request received
on 23/02/2026.

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Ngā mihi nui

Ministerial Services Team
Ministry for the Environment – Manatū Mō Te Taiao
Email: [3][MFE request email] Website: [4]www.mfe.govt.nz 
8 Willis Street, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011



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Kia ora Nigel
Please find attached a response to your request.
Ngā mihi

Ministerial Services Team 

Ministry for the Environment – Manatū Mō Te Taiao

Email: [1][MFE request email] Website: [2]www.mfe.govt.nz 

8 Willis Street, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011

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From: Nigel Gray <[FOI #33818 email]>
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2026 5:06 AM
To: OIA <[MFE request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Request for information regarding
the basis of “no evidence” claims about ship emissions and weather impacts
 
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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

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