Boarding house inspections
Miss M Quicken made this Official Information request to Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Currently waiting for a response from Fire and Emergency New Zealand, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).
From: Miss M Quicken
Dear Fire and Emergency New Zealand,
Given the past issue re: boarding houses
- https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/36076150...
And attempted regulation to fix the situation
- https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/mem...
There are two hostels that have undergone change of use from residential to commercial;
1) House of Pirie (38 Pirie Street, Mt Victoria)
https://www.booking.com/hotel/nz/house-o...
2) Wellington Wibes Hostel, formerly House of Tawatawa (112 Quebec Street, Owhiro Bay)
https://www.booking.com/hotel/nz/house-o...
They could be defined as providing public access at large.
In addition both properties trade through other hotel booking platforms as well as AirBnB indicating year around use with 20 or more intended occupants in either properties with stays of both less than and over 28 days.
Despite all of this council is charging both of these commercial properties residential rates.
I would like to understand if Fire & Safety is applying any mitigations after the Loafers lodge on boarding houses that might fly past as residential property despite being commercial.
Please provide:
A) Evacuation procedure / scheme that you have approved on either of the two properties
B) Complaints received pertaining the two properties
C) Building visit / Investigations / inspection reports of these two properties
D) Advice provided to either MBIE (e.g Tenancy services) / other authorities re: Fire safety of these two properties
Yours faithfully,
Miss M Quicken
From: Miss M Quicken
Dear Fire and Emergency New Zealand,
Re: https://fyi.org.nz/request/33916-boardin...
Additionally please provide the review relating to building consent of the two properties, especially relating to the certificate of public use / public access provision these commercial premises would have.
https://www.fireandemergency.nz/building...
Yours faithfully,
Miss M Quicken
From: Official Information Requests
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Kia ora M Quicken
Thank you for your request(s) of 2 March via the FYI website. Section 12
of the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) provides that requests may only
be made by:
o a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
o a person who is in New Zealand
o a body corporate that is either incorporated in New Zealand; or
o a body corporate that has a place of business in New Zealand
For Fire and Emergency to consider your request as one under the OIA, can
you please provide evidence that you meet any of the criteria as noted in
section 12 so we can make a determination of your eligibility to make a
request under the OIA.
You may wish to provide any of the following:
o a copy of your New Zealand passport
o a copy of your New Zealand driver’s licence
o a copy of a recent utility bill (or other documentation addressed to
you) that evidences your residential address in New Zealand; or
o a copy of information that evidences you’re currently in New Zealand
Please navigate to our website to find our official information request
email address where you can send the requested evidence (we are unable to
provide it here as the FYI website removes email addresses automatically).
Thank you and we look forward to your reply.
Ngā mihi,
Information Requests Team
[1]Description: Cato Server:WORK IN PROGRESS:FENZ:FENZ_Assets:FENZ
Logos:FENZ logos _Supplied to FENZ:FENZ Logos png:FENZ Logo_CMYK.png
E: [2][FENZ request email]
W: [3]www.fireandemergency.nz
A: Fire and Emergency National Headquarters
Level 7, 42-52 Willis Street, Wellington Central
PO Box 2133, Wellington 6011
-----Original Message-----
From: Miss M Quicken <[FOI #33916 email]>
Sent: Monday, 2 March 2026 2:24 am
To: Official Information Requests
<[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Boarding house inspections
[You don't often get email from
[4][FOI #33916 email]. Learn why this is
important at [5]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Dear Fire and Emergency New Zealand,
Given the past issue re: boarding houses
-
[6]https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/36076150...
And attempted regulation to fix the situation
-
[7]https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/mem...
There are two hostels that have undergone change of use from residential
to commercial;
1) House of Pirie (38 Pirie Street, Mt Victoria)
[8]https://www.booking.com/hotel/nz/house-o...
2) Wellington Wibes Hostel, formerly House of Tawatawa (112 Quebec Street,
Owhiro Bay)
[9]https://www.booking.com/hotel/nz/house-o...
They could be defined as providing public access at large.
In addition both properties trade through other hotel booking platforms as
well as AirBnB indicating year around use with 20 or more intended
occupants in either properties with stays of both less than and over 28
days.
Despite all of this council is charging both of these commercial
properties residential rates.
I would like to understand if Fire & Safety is applying any mitigations
after the Loafers lodge on boarding houses that might fly past as
residential property despite being commercial.
Please provide:
A) Evacuation procedure / scheme that you have approved on either of the
two properties
B) Complaints received pertaining the two properties
C) Building visit / Investigations / inspection reports of these two
properties
D) Advice provided to either MBIE (e.g Tenancy services) / other
authorities re: Fire safety of these two properties
Yours faithfully,
Miss M Quicken
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[10][FOI #33916 email]
Is [11][FENZ request email] the wrong address
for Official Information requests to Fire and Emergency New Zealand? If
so, please contact us using this form:
[12]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:
[13]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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice: This email and any attachments may contain information that may
be subject to an obligation of confidence or the subject of legal
privilege.
If you received it in error:
1. Please let us know immediately by return email and then delete
the email and your reply.
2. You must not use, copy or disclose any of the information
contained in this email.
There is no warranty that this email is error or virus free.
If this is a private communication, it does not represent the views of the
organisation.
References
Visible links
2. mailto:[FENZ request email]
3. http://www.fireandemergency.nz/
4. mailto:[FOI #33916 email]
5. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
6. https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/36076150...
7. https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/mem...
8. https://www.booking.com/hotel/nz/house-o...
9. https://www.booking.com/hotel/nz/house-o...
10. mailto:[FOI #33916 email]
11. mailto:[FENZ request email]
12. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
13. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
14. http://www.facebook.com/fireandemergencynz
15. http://www.youtube.com/fireandemergencynz
16. http://www.twitter.com/FireEmergencyNZ
17. http://www.instagram.com/fireandemergenc...
18. http://www.linkedin.com/company/fireande...
19. http://www.fireandemergency.nz/
hide quoted sections
From: Miss M Quicken
Dear Official Information Requests,
I will make a complaint to ombudsman then. You are not entitled to a gatekeeping process that you dictate on breaching privacy of a person in order to avoid these requests.
Yours sincerely,
Miss M Quicken
From: Miss M Quicken
Dear Official Information Requests,
Since you are in Wellington
Address: Spark Store Willis St Level 7, 42/52 Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011
I can visit your headquarters physically tomorrow Tuesday or I can send a physical letter to you.
However you are not able to escape the 20 day time limit this way as nothing in the act says that this delays the request.
Please let me know that you are available tomorrow on Tuesday.
Yours sincerely,
Miss M Quicken
From: Official Information Requests
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Kia ora M Quicken
Thank you for your further correspondence. We can assure you that we are
not seeking to create unnecessary barriers to your request. However,
section 12 of the OIA sets out who may make a request under the Act. Where
a request is made under a name that does not enable us to reasonably
confirm eligibility, we take reasonable steps to satisfy ourselves that
the requester meets the criteria set out in section 12. The Ombudsman’s
website advises “Agencies are allowed to ask you to give them information
so they can check you meet the eligibility requirements of the OIA.”
Any information provided will be used solely for the purpose of
determining eligibility and handled in accordance with the Privacy Act
2020. We have also suggested an avenue to provide the information to us
directly to avoid publishing your personal information on the FYI website.
Ngā mihi,
Information Requests Team
[1]Description: Cato Server:WORK IN PROGRESS:FENZ:FENZ_Assets:FENZ
Logos:FENZ logos _Supplied to FENZ:FENZ Logos png:FENZ Logo_CMYK.png
E: [2][FENZ request email]
W: [3]www.fireandemergency.nz
A: Fire and Emergency National Headquarters
Level 7, 42-52 Willis Street, Wellington Central
PO Box 2133, Wellington 6011
-----Original Message-----
From: Miss M Quicken <[FOI #33916 email]>
Sent: Monday, 2 March 2026 4:12 pm
To: Official Information Requests
<[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Boarding house inspections
[You don't often get email from
[4][FOI #33916 email]. Learn why this is
important at [5]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Dear Official Information Requests,
I will make a complaint to ombudsman then. You are not entitled to a
gatekeeping process that you dictate on breaching privacy of a person in
order to avoid these requests.
Yours sincerely,
Miss M Quicken
-----Original Message-----
Kia ora M Quicken
Thank you for your request(s) of 2 March via the FYI website. Section 12
of the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) provides that requests may
only be made by:
o a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident o a person who is in New
Zealand o a body corporate that is either incorporated in New Zealand;
or o a body corporate that has a place of business in New Zealand
For Fire and Emergency to consider your request as one under the OIA, can
you please provide evidence that you meet any of the criteria as noted in
section 12 so we can make a determination of your eligibility to make a
request under the OIA.
You may wish to provide any of the following:
o a copy of your New Zealand passport
o a copy of your New Zealand driver’s licence o a copy of a recent
utility bill (or other documentation addressed to
you) that evidences your residential address in New Zealand; or o a copy
of information that evidences you’re currently in New Zealand
Please navigate to our website to find our official information request
email address where you can send the requested evidence (we are unable to
provide it here as the FYI website removes email addresses automatically).
Thank you and we look forward to your reply.
Ngā mihi,
Information Requests Team
[1]Description: Cato Server:WORK IN PROGRESS:FENZ:FENZ_Assets:FENZ
Logos:FENZ logos _Supplied to FENZ:FENZ Logos png:FENZ Logo_CMYK.png
E: [2][FENZ request email]
W: [3][6]www.fireandemergency.nz
A: Fire and Emergency National Headquarters
Level 7, 42-52 Willis Street, Wellington Central
PO Box 2133, Wellington 6011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[7][FOI #33916 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[8]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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
[9][IMG][10][IMG][11][IMG][12][IMG][13][IMG][14][IMG]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice: This email and any attachments may contain information that may
be subject to an obligation of confidence or the subject of legal
privilege.
If you received it in error:
1. Please let us know immediately by return email and then delete
the email and your reply.
2. You must not use, copy or disclose any of the information
contained in this email.
There is no warranty that this email is error or virus free.
If this is a private communication, it does not represent the views of the
organisation.
References
Visible links
2. mailto:[FENZ request email]
3. http://www.fireandemergency.nz/
4. mailto:[FOI #33916 email]
5. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
6. http://www.fireandemergency.nz/
7. mailto:[FOI #33916 email]
8. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
9. http://www.facebook.com/fireandemergencynz
10. http://www.youtube.com/fireandemergencynz
11. http://www.twitter.com/FireEmergencyNZ
12. http://www.instagram.com/fireandemergenc...
13. http://www.linkedin.com/company/fireande...
14. http://www.fireandemergency.nz/
hide quoted sections
From: Miss M Quicken
Dear Official Information Requests,
> We have also suggested an avenue to provide the information to us
directly to avoid publishing your personal information on the FYI website.
There is no private personal information in either request or response.
Everything is under public interest pertaining commercial enterprises where you still have the ability to redact personal identifiers per normal process when and if necessary.
You neither need to collect any personal information given I can come visit or send you a letter as ombudsman guidance outlines that where a postmarked letter is sufficient for these purposes.
I still request for you to respond publicly to FYI. FYI also provides snailmail address for you to send materials if necessarily.
Yours sincerely,
Miss M Quicken
From: Miss M Quicken
Dear Official Information Requests,
Please find the guidance from the ombudsman relating that postmarked letter is sufficient for the purposes
https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/site...
There is no need and you should not collect identification documents when it is not necessary.
Under the New Zealand Privacy Act you are not to collect personal identification documents when it is not necessary.
And it is chilling precedent against public interest where public interest information requires exposure such as this.
Please let me know if you would be either available tomorrow or please confirm the address that I can send postmarked letter that satisfies the requirement if you still insist on that.
Yours sincerely,
Miss M Quicken
From: Official Information Requests
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Kia ora M Quicken
As noted previously, under section 12 of the OIA, requests are treated as
official information requests if the requester meets the eligibility
criteria. As outlined in Ombudsman guidance: " With requests submitted by
post the origin of the request will usually be clear from the post mark,
and the requester will normally provide a return address, which should
provide sufficient assurance that the requester is in New Zealand, and
therefore eligible."
We are unable to accommodate in-person visits to our office. Once
eligibility is confirmed via your posted letter, we will progress your
request. Any information provided for this purpose will be handled in
accordance with the Privacy Act 2020.
The 20-working day period under section 15 of the OIA commences once a
valid request has been received. Please send your postmarked letter to the
following address:
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Information Requests Team
Level 7, 42-52 Willis Street
Wellington Central 6011
As requested, we will still send our reply to you via the FYI website.
Ngā mihi,
Information Requests Team
[1]Description: Cato Server:WORK IN PROGRESS:FENZ:FENZ_Assets:FENZ
Logos:FENZ logos _Supplied to FENZ:FENZ Logos png:FENZ Logo_CMYK.png
E: [2][FENZ request email]
W: [3]www.fireandemergency.nz
A: Fire and Emergency National Headquarters
Level 7, 42-52 Willis Street, Wellington Central
PO Box 2133, Wellington 6011
-----Original Message-----
From: Miss M Quicken <[FOI #33916 email]>
Sent: Monday, 2 March 2026 4:51 pm
To: Official Information Requests
<[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Boarding house inspections
Dear Official Information Requests,
Please find the guidance from the ombudsman relating that postmarked
letter is sufficient for the purposes
[4]https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/site...
There is no need and you should not collect identification documents when
it is not necessary.
Under the New Zealand Privacy Act you are not to collect personal
identification documents when it is not necessary.
And it is chilling precedent against public interest where public interest
information requires exposure such as this.
Please let me know if you would be either available tomorrow or please
confirm the address that I can send postmarked letter that satisfies the
requirement if you still insist on that.
Yours sincerely,
Miss M Quicken
-----Original Message-----
Kia ora M Quicken
Thank you for your further correspondence. We can assure you that we are
not seeking to create unnecessary barriers to your request. However,
section 12 of the OIA sets out who may make a request under the Act.
Where a request is made under a name that does not enable us to
reasonably confirm eligibility, we take reasonable steps to satisfy
ourselves that the requester meets the criteria set out in section 12.
The Ombudsman’s website advises “Agencies are allowed to ask you to give
them information so they can check you meet the eligibility requirements
of the OIA.”
Any information provided will be used solely for the purpose of
determining eligibility and handled in accordance with the Privacy Act
2020. We have also suggested an avenue to provide the information to us
directly to avoid publishing your personal information on the FYI website.
Ngā mihi,
Information Requests Team
[1]Description: Cato Server:WORK IN PROGRESS:FENZ:FENZ_Assets:FENZ
Logos:FENZ logos _Supplied to FENZ:FENZ Logos png:FENZ Logo_CMYK.png
E: [2][FENZ request email]
W: [3][5]www.fireandemergency.nz
A: Fire and Emergency National Headquarters
Level 7, 42-52 Willis Street, Wellington Central
PO Box 2133, Wellington 6011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[6][FOI #33916 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[7]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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
[8][IMG][9][IMG][10][IMG][11][IMG][12][IMG][13][IMG]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice: This email and any attachments may contain information that may
be subject to an obligation of confidence or the subject of legal
privilege.
If you received it in error:
1. Please let us know immediately by return email and then delete
the email and your reply.
2. You must not use, copy or disclose any of the information
contained in this email.
There is no warranty that this email is error or virus free.
If this is a private communication, it does not represent the views of the
organisation.
References
Visible links
2. mailto:[FENZ request email]
3. http://www.fireandemergency.nz/
4. https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/site...
5. http://www.fireandemergency.nz/
6. mailto:[FOI #33916 email]
7. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
8. http://www.facebook.com/fireandemergencynz
9. http://www.youtube.com/fireandemergencynz
10. http://www.twitter.com/FireEmergencyNZ
11. http://www.instagram.com/fireandemergenc...
12. http://www.linkedin.com/company/fireande...
13. http://www.fireandemergency.nz/
hide quoted sections
From: Miss M Quicken
Dear Official Information Requests,
Please find also the below guidance from the ombudsman:
However, the eligibility requirement is not about imposing unnecessary barriers to legitimate requests. Agencies should only query eligibility if there is a genuine need to do so, and they should be mindful of their obligation to provide reasonable assistance to requesters.7 Time taken to confirm eligibility may mean less time is available for processing a request that is subsequently confirmed to be valid. With that in mind, agencies should endeavour to resolve any doubts about a requester’s eligibility as soon as possible.
Please let me know what exactly is your genuine need here to confirm eligibility ?
Further on why do you insist on collecting private personal information when you do not have under privacy act any reason to do so ?
Also again re: timeline that is incorrect -
You do not have authority to delay responding to request;
Any request whether it is invalid or valid attains 20 day response time - you are not allowed to delay responding to a request especially when you impose artificial barriers to requesting parties.
The ombudsman guidance is very clear about it. I have formally complained to ombudsman regarding your handling of these requests. I will also follow up with privacy complaint re: unreasonable collection of private information you are not entitled to.
I ask that you act in good faith and you should release these documents regardless when you have no genuine need to attempt blocking or delaying the requests as you have done in every instance I can see.
Yours sincerely,
Miss M Quicken
From: Official Information Requests
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Kia ora M Quicken
As outlined in a previous reply to you, we can assure you that we are not
seeking to create unnecessary barriers to your request. Where a request is
made in circumstances where eligibility cannot reasonably be inferred, our
usual approach is to seek confirmation. This is not specific to your
request or its subject matter.
In this instance, your request was submitted via an online platform under
a name and email address that did not enable us to reasonably infer
whether the eligibility criteria in section 12 were met, and no
information was included from which eligibility could otherwise be
determined. In those circumstances, it is our practice to seek
confirmation.
Consistent with guidance issued by the Office of the Ombudsman, a
postmarked letter confirming your eligibility is sufficient if you do not
wish to provide identification documents. In our view, seeking
confirmation of eligibility in these circumstances does not constitutes an
artificial barrier or an unreasonable collection of personal information.
Any information provided for this purpose will be handled in accordance
with the Privacy Act 2020.
We note that you have lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman and will
engage with that process if required.
Ngā mihi,
Information Requests Team
[1]Description: Cato Server:WORK IN PROGRESS:FENZ:FENZ_Assets:FENZ
Logos:FENZ logos _Supplied to FENZ:FENZ Logos png:FENZ Logo_CMYK.png
E: [2][FENZ request email]
W: [3]www.fireandemergency.nz
A: Fire and Emergency National Headquarters
Level 7, 42-52 Willis Street, Wellington Central
PO Box 2133, Wellington 6011
-----Original Message-----
From: Miss M Quicken <[FOI #33916 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 3 March 2026 5:14 pm
To: Official Information Requests
<[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Boarding house inspections -
Ref: 21003
Dear Official Information Requests,
Please find also the below guidance from the ombudsman:
However, the eligibility requirement is not about imposing unnecessary
barriers to legitimate requests. Agencies should only query eligibility if
there is a genuine need to do so, and they should be mindful of their
obligation to provide reasonable assistance to requesters.7 Time taken to
confirm eligibility may mean less time is available for processing a
request that is subsequently confirmed to be valid. With that in mind,
agencies should endeavour to resolve any doubts about a requester’s
eligibility as soon as possible.
Please let me know what exactly is your genuine need here to confirm
eligibility ?
Further on why do you insist on collecting private personal information
when you do not have under privacy act any reason to do so ?
Also again re: timeline that is incorrect -
You do not have authority to delay responding to request;
Any request whether it is invalid or valid attains 20 day response time -
you are not allowed to delay responding to a request especially when you
impose artificial barriers to requesting parties.
The ombudsman guidance is very clear about it. I have formally complained
to ombudsman regarding your handling of these requests. I will also follow
up with privacy complaint re: unreasonable collection of private
information you are not entitled to.
I ask that you act in good faith and you should release these documents
regardless when you have no genuine need to attempt blocking or delaying
the requests as you have done in every instance I can see.
Yours sincerely,
Miss M Quicken
-----Original Message-----
Kia ora M Quicken
As noted previously, under section 12 of the OIA, requests are treated as
official information requests if the requester meets the eligibility
criteria. As outlined in Ombudsman guidance: " With requests submitted by
post the origin of the request will usually be clear from the post mark,
and the requester will normally provide a return address, which should
provide sufficient assurance that the requester is in New Zealand, and
therefore eligible."
We are unable to accommodate in-person visits to our office. Once
eligibility is confirmed via your posted letter, we will progress your
request. Any information provided for this purpose will be handled in
accordance with the Privacy Act 2020.
The 20-working day period under section 15 of the OIA commences once a
valid request has been received. Please send your postmarked letter to
the following address:
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Information Requests Team
Level 7, 42-52 Willis Street
Wellington Central 6011
As requested, we will still send our reply to you via the FYI website.
Ngā mihi,
Information Requests Team
[1]Description: Cato Server:WORK IN PROGRESS:FENZ:FENZ_Assets:FENZ
Logos:FENZ logos _Supplied to FENZ:FENZ Logos png:FENZ Logo_CMYK.png
E: [2][FENZ request email]
W: [3][4]www.fireandemergency.nz
A: Fire and Emergency National Headquarters
Level 7, 42-52 Willis Street, Wellington Central
PO Box 2133, Wellington 6011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[5][FOI #33916 email]
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
[7][IMG][8][IMG][9][IMG][10][IMG][11][IMG][12][IMG]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice: This email and any attachments may contain information that may
be subject to an obligation of confidence or the subject of legal
privilege.
If you received it in error:
1. Please let us know immediately by return email and then delete
the email and your reply.
2. You must not use, copy or disclose any of the information
contained in this email.
There is no warranty that this email is error or virus free.
If this is a private communication, it does not represent the views of the
organisation.
References
Visible links
2. mailto:[FENZ request email]
3. http://www.fireandemergency.nz/
4. http://www.fireandemergency.nz/
5. mailto:[FOI #33916 email]
6. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
7. http://www.facebook.com/fireandemergencynz
8. http://www.youtube.com/fireandemergencynz
9. http://www.twitter.com/FireEmergencyNZ
10. http://www.instagram.com/fireandemergenc...
11. http://www.linkedin.com/company/fireande...
12. http://www.fireandemergency.nz/
hide quoted sections
From: Miss M Quicken
Dear Official Information Requests,
> In those circumstances, it is our practice to seek
confirmation.
This is inconsistent with guidance from Ombudsman.
You should not be doing this as normal practice but only when you have genuine reason to do so case-by-case basis.
You are the only agency I have seen doing this and there must be a reason for you to impose artificial obstacles whilst providing incorrect guidance breaching privacy act that supposedly people need to have an ID to ask. I will be making further enquiries re: your process also.
Please again explain the reason why do you need to do this ?
I remind you that it does not require request being labeled as OIA request for it to being one.
Also please find ombdusman guidance re: fyi / online requests
https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/reso...
Please re-think your process and how you collect personal information.
Yours sincerely,
Miss M Quicken
From: Official Information Requests
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Kia ora Miss Quicken
We have explained the basis on which eligibility confirmation has been
sought in this case. That position remains unchanged.
As previously advised, a postmarked letter confirming that you meet the
eligibility criteria in section 12 of the OIA will be sufficient if you do
not wish to provide identification documents. Once eligibility is
confirmed, we will proceed with your request in accordance with the OIA.
We will not be entering into further correspondence on this point. We note
your complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman and will engage with that
process if required.
Ngā mihi,
Information Requests Team
[1]Description: Cato Server:WORK IN PROGRESS:FENZ:FENZ_Assets:FENZ
Logos:FENZ logos _Supplied to FENZ:FENZ Logos png:FENZ Logo_CMYK.png
E: [2][FENZ request email]
W: [3]www.fireandemergency.nz
A: Fire and Emergency National Headquarters
Level 7, 42-52 Willis Street, Wellington Central
PO Box 2133, Wellington 6011
-----Original Message-----
From: Miss M Quicken <[FOI #33916 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 4 March 2026 3:58 pm
To: Official Information Requests
<[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Boarding house inspections -
Ref: 21003
Dear Official Information Requests,
> In those circumstances, it is our practice to seek
confirmation.
This is inconsistent with guidance from Ombudsman.
You should not be doing this as normal practice but only when you have
genuine reason to do so case-by-case basis.
You are the only agency I have seen doing this and there must be a reason
for you to impose artificial obstacles whilst providing incorrect guidance
breaching privacy act that supposedly people need to have an ID to ask. I
will be making further enquiries re: your process also.
Please again explain the reason why do you need to do this ?
I remind you that it does not require request being labeled as OIA request
for it to being one.
Also please find ombdusman guidance re: fyi / online requests
[4]https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/reso...
Please re-think your process and how you collect personal information.
Yours sincerely,
Miss M Quicken
-----Original Message-----
Kia ora M Quicken
As outlined in a previous reply to you, we can assure you that we are not
seeking to create unnecessary barriers to your request. Where a request
is made in circumstances where eligibility cannot reasonably be inferred,
our usual approach is to seek confirmation. This is not specific to your
request or its subject matter.
In this instance, your request was submitted via an online platform under
a name and email address that did not enable us to reasonably infer
whether the eligibility criteria in section 12 were met, and no
information was included from which eligibility could otherwise be
determined. In those circumstances, it is our practice to seek
confirmation.
Consistent with guidance issued by the Office of the Ombudsman, a
postmarked letter confirming your eligibility is sufficient if you do not
wish to provide identification documents. In our view, seeking
confirmation of eligibility in these circumstances does not constitutes
an artificial barrier or an unreasonable collection of personal
information.
Any information provided for this purpose will be handled in accordance
with the Privacy Act 2020.
We note that you have lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman and will
engage with that process if required.
Ngā mihi,
Information Requests Team
[1]Description: Cato Server:WORK IN PROGRESS:FENZ:FENZ_Assets:FENZ
Logos:FENZ logos _Supplied to FENZ:FENZ Logos png:FENZ Logo_CMYK.png
E: [2][FENZ request email]
W: [3][5]www.fireandemergency.nz
A: Fire and Emergency National Headquarters
Level 7, 42-52 Willis Street, Wellington Central
PO Box 2133, Wellington 6011
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Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[6][FOI #33916 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[7]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.
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References
Visible links
2. mailto:[FENZ request email]
3. http://www.fireandemergency.nz/
4. https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/reso...
5. http://www.fireandemergency.nz/
6. mailto:[FOI #33916 email]
7. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
8. http://www.facebook.com/fireandemergencynz
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12. http://www.linkedin.com/company/fireande...
13. http://www.fireandemergency.nz/
hide quoted sections
From: Miss M Quicken
Dear Official Information Requests,
> We will not be entering into further correspondence on this point. We note
your complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman and will engage with that
process if required.
You have the statutory obligation to respond to OIA requests whether or not I have complained to Ombudsman.
If your policy is incorrect, I will have to question it and it does not make you immune from OIA statutes.
Yours sincerely,
Miss M Quicken
Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence (note: this contains the same information already available above).
