Dear Ministry for Primary Industries,
To: Ministry for Primary Industries
Subject: Official Information Act Request – Hydrological‑Cycle and Rainfall‑System Assessments

I request the following information under the Official Information Act 1982.

1. Rainfall‑system and moisture‑recycling assessments
All documents, reports, modelling, internal advice, briefing notes, emails, meeting records, or scientific assessments held by MPI that relate to:

the impact of reforestation or afforestation on regional rainfall, precipitation patterns, or moisture‑recycling systems

the role of indigenous forests and exotic plantation species in atmospheric moisture generation, evapotranspiration, or cloud‑formation processes

any consideration of rainfall restoration, hydrological‑cycle repair, or rain‑system resilience in the context of the One Billion Trees programme

2. Development of the One Billion Trees science priorities
All documents that informed the development of the “Science Priorities to Support One Billion Trees”, including:

any analysis of whether rainfall‑system or atmospheric‑hydrology functions should be included

any discussion of the omission of rainfall‑system impacts

any advice received from internal or external experts on moisture recycling, forest‑driven rainfall, or atmospheric hydrology

3. Internal and external correspondence
All internal MPI correspondence (including emails, memos, Teams/Slack messages, and meeting notes) and all correspondence with external parties (including NIWA, universities, consultants, and forestry‑sector organisations) that discuss:

rainfall impacts of reforestation

hydrological‑cycle implications of large‑scale planting

comparative rainfall‑system effects of indigenous versus exotic forest systems

4. Programme‑level assessments
All environmental assessments, risk assessments, or programme‑level evaluations that address — or explicitly decline to address — the rainfall‑system consequences of the One Billion Trees programme.

5. Confirmation where information does not exist
If MPI does not hold information within the scope of any part of this request, please confirm this formally under section 18(e) of the Official Information Act.

6. Format
Electronic copies are preferred.

Yours faithfully,

Nigel Gray