Tēnā koe Nigel,

Thank you for your official information request received on 28 March 2026.

Your request below will be considered, and a decision provided in accordance with the requirements of the Official Information Act 1982.

If you have any questions regarding this request, please email [email address].

Kā mihi,

Official Information Act Team
Government Services | Public Affairs
Ministry for Primary Industries – Manatū Ahu Matua
Charles Fergusson Building, 38-42 Bowen Street | PO Box 2526 | Wellington 6140
Telephone: 0800 00 83 33 | Email: [email address] | Web: http://www.mpi.govt.nz/

-----Original Message-----
From: Nigel Gray <[FOI #34279 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 28 March 2026 5:23 pm
To: Official Information Act <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - HydrologicalCycle and RainfallSystem Assessments

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

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________________________________

This email message and any attachment(s) is intended solely for the addressee(s)
named above. The information it contains may be classified and may be legally
privileged. Unauthorised use of the message, or the information it contains,
may be unlawful. If you have received this message by mistake please call the
sender immediately on 64 4 8940100 or notify us by return email and erase the
original message and attachments. Thank you.

The Ministry for Primary Industries accepts no responsibility for changes
made to this email or to any attachments after transmission from the office.

________________________________

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Tēnā koe Nigel,

 

On behalf of Rebecca Burson, Acting Director of Forestry Insights, please
find attached a response to your Official Information Act request.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Official Information Act Team

Government Services | Public Affairs

Ministry for Primary Industries | Charles Fergusson Building, 34-38 Bowen
Street | PO Box 2526 | Wellington | New Zealand 

Telephone: 0800 00 83 33 | Email: [1][email address] |
Web: [2]www.mpi.govt.nz

 

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This email message and any attachment(s) is intended solely for the
addressee(s)
named above. The information it contains may be classified and may be
legally
privileged. Unauthorised use of the message, or the information it
contains,
may be unlawful. If you have received this message by mistake please call
the
sender immediately on 64 4 8940100 or notify us by return email and erase
the
original message and attachments. Thank you.

The Ministry for Primary Industries accepts no responsibility for changes
made to this email or to any attachments after transmission from the
office.

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