Nigel Gray
Whare Kaupapa Atawhai | Conservation House
18 Manners Street, Wellington 6011
[FYI request #34149 email]
PO Box 10420, Wellington 6140
[email address]
3 June 2026
Ref: OIAD-6316
Tēnā koe Nigel
Thank you for your subsequent request to the Department of Conservation (and connected to
OIAD-6189 (our reference)), received on 7 May 2026, in which you stated and asked:
“ Thank you for your response of 28 April 2026 regarding OIAD-6189.
After reviewing the material provided, I require clarification on several points to ensure I correctly
understand the Department’s position.
My refined request of 26 March 2026 sought governing documents that define or describe:
•
the purpose of DOC’s use of 1080
•
the intended end-state or outcome
•
the intended duration of 1080 use
•
any changes to these over time
Your response states:
“DOC does not have a stand-alone ‘1080 programme’, with its own purpose, end goal, and
intended duration. As a result, much of the overarching documentation you have requested
does not exist.”
To avoid any misunderstanding, I am seeking clarification on the following points:
1. Defined Purpose of 1080 Use
Please confirm whether DOC has ever produced any document — internal or external — that
defines the purpose of DOC’s use of 1080 as a predator-control tool.
If such a document exists, please provide:
•
the title
•
the date it was written
•
the exact wording used to define the purpose
If no such document has ever existed, please confirm this explicitly.
2. Defined End-State or Intended Outcome
Please confirm whether DOC has ever produced any document that defines the intended
end-state of 1080 use (e.g., eradication, long-term suppression, transitional use until
replacement tools are available, or indefinite use).
If such a document exists, please provide:
•
the title
•
the date it was written
•
the wording that defines the intended end-state
If no such document has ever existed, please confirm this explicitly.
3. Intended Duration of 1080 Use
Please confirm whether DOC has ever produced any document that defines the expected
duration of 1080 use, including whether it was intended to be:
•
temporary
•
short-term
•
medium-term
•
long-term
•
indefinite
If such a document exists, please provide:
•
the title
•
the date it was written
•
the wording that defines the intended duration
If no such document has ever existed, please confirm this explicitly.
4. Withheld Material Under s9(2)(g)(i)
Your response indicates that parts of several documents were withheld under s9(2)(g)(i).
To assist me in understanding the Department’s position, please confirm whether any of the
withheld material relates to:
•
the purpose of 1080 use
•
the intended end-state
•
the intended duration
•
internal reasoning or assessments relating to these matters
If so, please identify which documents contain such material.
5. Substitution of Ecosystem-Level Strategies
Your response refers to the Aotearoa NZ Biodiversity Strategy, Predator Free 2050 Strategy,
and the National Predator Control Programme.
For clarity, please confirm whether DOC considers any of these documents to constitute:
•
a formal statement of the purpose of 1080 use
•
a formal statement of the intended end-state of 1080 use
•
a formal statement of the intended duration of 1080 use
If so, please identify the specific sections or wording that DOC relies on.
I would appreciate your clarification on the above points so that I can accurately understand the
Department’s position and determine the next steps. “
We have considered your request under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (OIA).
Before proceeding to the Department’s response to your subsequent request, we have provided
some relevant contextual information and outlined our approach to this request.
Obligation to provide official information
A distinction under the OIA exists between a request for information already known to and held
by an agency (official information); and a request to an agency to form an opinion or provide an
2
explanation or comment and thus create new information to answer the request (not official
information).
There is no obligation on an agency, such as the Department, to form an opinion, provide an
official position, or create information to answer a request or question – or respond to
commentary. Consequently, the Department’s responses wil generally not provide any
perspective or view and will be specific to fact only.
Further, the OIA is not an avenue for engagement, consultation or dialogue. It was not enacted
for this purpose.
Approach to this request
Your subsequent request was received after the Department responded to your clarified
request. Consequently, there may be some overlap with the information supplied in this
response letter and the Department’s letter dated 28 April 2026.
In addition to determining what information it holds, the Department must also decide how the
information wil be released. Section 16 of the OIA allows information to be made available in
several ways in response to a request.
Information can be provided in a narrative and/or summarised form where not doing so would
unreasonably impact the normal functions of the agency responding. Please note the
Department has decided to provide certain information you have requested in these forms.
Department’s response to your subsequent request
When approaching OIAD-6124, the Department noted your interest in the purpose, end-goal
and duration of 1080 use by the Department.
Your subsequent request is comprised of five parts. We have used your ‘numbering’ and
‘headings’, as follows.
Where we note information is not held, or information has not been located following searches,
those parts of your request are refused under section 18(e) of the OIA, as the information does
not exist and/or despite reasonable efforts, the information has not been found.
1. Defined Purpose of 1080 Use
2. Defined End-State or Intended Outcome
3. Intended Duration of 1080 Use
We reiterate our earlier advice to you that the Department does not have or hold a stand-
alone “1080 programme” document, with its own purpose, end goal, and intended duration
(or alternatively a document or documents containing any one or more of the three ‘elements’
noted).
Such a document does not, or documents do not, exist - nor is the Department aware of any
document(s) produced externally of the Department.
3
1080 is considered a pest control tool, which is used to help achieve the goals of the
Department’s biodiversity protection programmes.
Consequently, the Department’s response to OIAD-6189:
• referenced:
o the
Aotearoa NZ Biodiversity Strategy - which provides the purpose, end-goal, and
intended duration of the Department’s pest control work, including the use of
predator control tools such as 1080. As directed before, refer to
: Te Mana o te
Taiao - Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy 2020 |
https:/ www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/conservation/biodiversity/anzbs-
2020.pdf
o the
Predator Free 2050 Strategy – see:
Innovate for a predator-free New Zealand.
Predator Free 2050 Strategy (2026–2030) |
https:/ www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/conservation/threats-and-
impacts/pf2050/innovate-for-a-predator-free-new-zealand.pdf; and
o the
National Predator Control Programme – refer t
o National Predator Control
Programme: Our work | https:/ www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/national-predator-
control-programme/.
• included:
o copies of:
the National Predator Control Programme’s current
Four-year predator control
operational plan - an overview of the rationale for the predator control
operations currently being undertaken;
Animal pest systems summary for managers - a high-level operational
summary of the standards and management controls the Department applies
to animal pest control operations, including the use of 1080;
Operational planning for animal pest operations SOP - the planning process
and standards the Department applies when controlling animal pests, which
includes the use of pest control tools such as 1080; and
1080 pesticide review report – a summary of the current scientific knowledge
about the environmental effects of 1080, that guides the Department’s
technical assessment of 1080 as a potential pest control tool.
o narrative related to:
deciding whether, when and where to use of 1080 for predator control, if it is
the best available option following assessment of all available options; and
an indication of support, approval and endorsement of the use of 1080 as a
tool for predator control in New Zealand.
4. Withheld Material Under s9(2)(g)(i)
The Department’s response withheld by way of redactions a small amount of information
under section 9(2)(g)(i ) of the OIA, not section 9(2)(g)(i).
4
Section 9(2)(g)(ii) is used to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the
protection of Ministers, members of organisations, officers, and employees from improper
pressure or harassment. In this case, the information withheld was connected to the names
of specific people linked to programmes and/or reviews/updates of documents.
None of the material withheld relates to:
•
the purpose of 1080 use,
•
the intended end-state,
•
the intended duration, and/or
•
internal reasoning or assessments relating to these matters.
5. Substitution of Ecosystem-Level Strategies
The Department does not consider that any of the Aotearoa NZ Biodiversity Strategy,
Predator Free 2050 Strategy, and the National Predator Control Programme documents
constitute a formal statement of the:
•
purpose of 1080 use;
•
intended end-state of 1080 use; and/or
•
intended duration of 1080 use.
You are entitled to seek an investigation and review of my decision by writing to an
Ombudsman as provided by section 28(3) of the OIA.
Please note that this letter (with your personal details removed) and attached documents may
be published on the Department’s website.
Nāku noa, nā
Kelley Reeve
Director, Governance and Government Services
Department of Conservation |
Te Papa Atawhai
5
