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Ministerial statement preparation and internal communications

Nigel Gray made this Official Information request to Ministry for the Environment

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From: Nigel Gray

To: Ministry for the Environment
Subject: Official Information Act request — Ministerial statement preparation and internal communications

Tēnā koe,

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following information relating to the Minister’s statement dated 23 February 2026 (reference PS‑COR1794/26‑CORM‑00148), in which 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.”

1. Documents used to prepare the Minister’s statement
Please provide:

1.1 All drafts of the Minister’s response.
1.2 All internal emails, messages, or communications relating to the preparation of the response.
1.3 All staff advice, notes, or comments provided to the Minister or Minister’s Office.
1.4 Any scientific or policy material considered during preparation of the statement.
1.5 Any communications with other agencies (e.g., NIWA, Maritime NZ, EPA, Ministry of Transport) relating to the statement.

2. Internal discussion of the contradiction
Please provide:

2.1 Any internal analysis or discussion addressing how the Ministry reconciles:

its admission (16 January 2026, 25‑OIAD‑00029) that ship emissions are not monitored, and

the Minister’s statement that the Ministry “does not hold any evidence” of impacts.

2.2 Any documents discussing whether the Minister’s statement could be misleading in cases where the Ministry does not monitor or study the phenomenon.

3. Guidance and communication protocols
Please provide:

3.1 Any internal guidance, policy documents, or communication protocols relating to the use of the phrase “does not hold any evidence” in ministerial correspondence.

3.2 Any documents specifying whether officials are required to disclose non‑monitoring when making “no evidence” statements.

4. Search parameters
For clarity, this request includes (but is not limited to):

emails

Teams/Slack messages

draft documents

tracked‑change versions

briefing notes

internal memos

ministerial line‑by‑line reviews

communications with the Minister’s Office

5. Public interest
There is a strong public interest in understanding:

whether ministerial statements are evidence‑based,

whether the Ministry distinguishes between “no evidence” and “no monitoring”, and

whether the public has been misled.

I look forward to your response.

Nāku noa,
Nigel Gray

Yours faithfully,

Nigel Gray

Link to this

From: OIA
Ministry for the Environment

Attachment 01 2026 01 23 26 CORM 00148 Draft A.pdf
263K Download View as HTML

Attachment 02 2026 01 28 26 CORM 00148 Draft B.pdf
248K Download View as HTML

Attachment 03 2026 01 28 Email PS COR1794 commissioning Immediate Action Required.pdf
92K Download View as HTML

Attachment 04 2026 02 04 Email Request for SME 26 CORM 00200 about shipping emissions due COP 12 February.pdf
172K Download View as HTML

Attachment 05 2026 02 12 26 CORM 00148 Draft C.pdf
333K Download View as HTML

Attachment 06 2026 02 12 26 CORM 00148 Nigel Gray Draft D.pdf
255K Download View as HTML

Attachment 07 2026 02 12 Teams Messages.pdf
27K Download View as HTML

Attachment 08 2026 02 12 Email 26 CORM 00204 and 26 CORM 00200 about shipping emissions.pdf
250K Download View as HTML

Attachment 09 2026 02 13 26 CORM 00148 Draft E.pdf
253K Download View as HTML

Attachment 10 2026 02 13 26 CORM 00148 Draft F.pdf
252K Download View as HTML

Attachment 11 2026 02 13 Question re PS COR1794.pdf
90K Download View as HTML

Attachment 12 2026 02 13 Email Request for SME 26 CORM 00148 about emissions from boats and links to storms due to office 16 February 2026.pdf
333K Download View as HTML

Attachment 13 2026 02 13 26 CORM 00148 Draft G.pdf
223K Download View as HTML

Attachment 14 2026 02 13 Teams messages.pdf
245K Download View as HTML

Attachment 15 2026 02 16 26 CORM 00148 Draft H.pdf
251K Download View as HTML

Attachment 16 2026 02 16 26 CORM 00148 Draft I.pdf
270K Download View as HTML

Attachment 17 2026 02 16 Email Ministry s proposed response 26 CORM 00148 PS COR1780 about Urgent Northland Flooding Exposes a Critical Failure in Environmental Oversight.pdf
353K Download View as HTML

Attachment 18 2026 02 16 Email Request for SME 26 CORM 00148 about emissions from boats and links to storms due to office 16 February 2026.pdf
335K Download View as HTML

Attachment 19 2026 02 17 Email PS COR1799 and PS COR1794 shipping emissions climate change transfer.pdf
168K Download View as HTML

Attachment 20 2026 02 18 Email Climate Change and shipping emissions Ministerials 26 CORM 00204 and 26 CORM 00200.pdf
300K Download View as HTML

Attachment 21 2026 02 18 Climate Change and shipping emissions Ministerials 26 CORM 00204 and 26 LM.pdf
270K Download View as HTML

Attachment 22 2026 02 20 Ministerials.pdf
198K Download View as HTML

Attachment 23 2026 02 20 Email PS COR1794 and PS COR1799 Extension.pdf
228K Download View as HTML

Attachment 26 OIAD 00732 Response.pdf
298K Download View as HTML

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Nigel Gray <[FOI #34204 email]>
Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2026 8:52 AM
To: OIA <[MFE request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Ministerial statement preparation
and internal communications
 
MFE CYBER SECURITY WARNING
This email originated from outside our organisation. Please take extra
care when clicking on any links or opening any attachments.

To: Ministry for the Environment
Subject: Official Information Act request — Ministerial statement
preparation and internal communications

Tēnā koe,

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following
information relating to the Minister’s statement dated 23 February 2026
(reference PS‑COR1794/26‑CORM‑00148), in which 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.”

1. Documents used to prepare the Minister’s statement
Please provide:

1.1 All drafts of the Minister’s response.
1.2 All internal emails, messages, or communications relating to the
preparation of the response.
1.3 All staff advice, notes, or comments provided to the Minister or
Minister’s Office.
1.4 Any scientific or policy material considered during preparation of the
statement.
1.5 Any communications with other agencies (e.g., NIWA, Maritime NZ, EPA,
Ministry of Transport) relating to the statement.

2. Internal discussion of the contradiction
Please provide:

2.1 Any internal analysis or discussion addressing how the Ministry
reconciles:

its admission (16 January 2026, 25‑OIAD‑00029) that ship emissions are not
monitored, and

the Minister’s statement that the Ministry “does not hold any evidence” of
impacts.

2.2 Any documents discussing whether the Minister’s statement could be
misleading in cases where the Ministry does not monitor or study the
phenomenon.

3. Guidance and communication protocols
Please provide:

3.1 Any internal guidance, policy documents, or communication protocols
relating to the use of the phrase “does not hold any evidence” in
ministerial correspondence.

3.2 Any documents specifying whether officials are required to disclose
non‑monitoring when making “no evidence” statements.

4. Search parameters
For clarity, this request includes (but is not limited to):

emails

Teams/Slack messages

draft documents

tracked‑change versions

briefing notes

internal memos

ministerial line‑by‑line reviews

communications with the Minister’s Office

5. Public interest
There is a strong public interest in understanding:

whether ministerial statements are evidence‑based,

whether the Ministry distinguishes between “no evidence” and “no
monitoring”, and

whether the public has been misled.

I look forward to your response.

Nāku noa,
Nigel Gray

Yours faithfully,

Nigel Gray

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