Tçnâ koe,

 

Thank you for your email. 

 

Under the Official Information Act (OIA), agencies are required to respond
to requests for official information as soon as reasonably practicable and
no later than 20 working days after receiving them.

If your request is for data that Health NZ holds, have you checked
[1]Lighthouse first to see if the data you are seeking is already
published?

 

Lighthouse is a searchable catalogue that makes a range of data and
analytics products available to New Zealanders to enable easier, faster
access to insights about health services.

 

You can find further information about how OIA timeframes are calculated,
including the Ombudsman’s OIA calculator, at the link below:
[2]Official information calculators | Ombudsman New Zealand

 

We will provide a response to your request in line with the statutory
timeframes set out in the OIA.

We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time.

 

Ngâ mihi,
Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora

Statement of confidentiality: This email message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
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received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and
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https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/agen...

Kia ora Cher, 
Thank you for your request. Requests such as yours may be considered under
either the Privacy Act 2020 or the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA),
depending on the circumstances. 

To help us determine how your request should be processed, we require the
following information: 

1. Proof of identity 
All requests must be accompanied by proof of the requester’s identity,
including a photo and signature (for example, a driver’s licence or
passport). 
2. Requests relating to a deceased person 
Where information is sought about a deceased individual, we are required
to obtain either: 

* Written consent from the Executor/Administrator of the estate, or 

* Proof of your relationship to the deceased where there is no will. 

If you are the Executor, Trustee, or Administrator of the estate of Barry
Bond, also known as William Frederick Webb and Barry Ryker, or have been
authorised by one, please provide evidence. In that case, we would likely
process the request under the Privacy Act and refer it to our Privacy
Team. 
If this is not the case, the request will be considered under the OIA,
which requires us to assess whether release is appropriate by balancing
any privacy interests against the public interest in disclosure. 
Please note that even if you choose not to provide further information, we
may still determine that release of some information is appropriate. The
information requested at this stage ensures we have taken reasonable steps
before making that decision. 
3. Historical records held by Archives New Zealand 
Some of the information you have requested appears to be historical
material not held by Health New Zealand. In these circumstances, your
request may be declined under section 18(f) of the OIA if it would require
substantial research and collation. 
We ask that you: 

 1. Identify which agency holds the relevant records; 

 2. Provide the Archives New Zealand record references for any records
held by Health New Zealand, so we can make an access decision without
undertaking substantial research; and 

 3. Request open‑access records directly from Archives New Zealand, where
available. 

Access restrictions 
For your information, Archives New Zealand commonly applies the following
access restrictions: 

* Medical or sensitive personal information: restricted for 100 years
from record closure; 

* Death/mortuary records with no sensitive personal information: usually
restricted for 20 years; 

* Minutes and agendas containing medical or sensitive personal
information: restricted for 100 years; 

* Commercially sensitive records: restricted until 20 years after the
last transaction. 

For example: 

* Archives reference R7217794 (needle/syringe exchange and methadone
programme) is restricted. Health New Zealand, as successor to the
Auckland District Health Board, may consider access under the OIA. 

* Archives reference R16659044 (records relating to the Auckland Drug
Dependency Unit) are open access but are held in Wellington and fall
under the former Department of Health (now the Ministry of Health).
Health New Zealand is not the appropriate agency for those records. 

4. Next steps and complaints 
Please provide the requested information by close of business, Thursday 30
April 2026. 
If you are dissatisfied with our response to your request for personal
information relating to Barry Bond (also known as William Frederick Webb /
Barry Ryker), you may complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
Information about making a complaint is available
at [1]https://www.privacy.org.nz or by calling 0800 803 909. 
If you have any questions, you can contact us
at [2][email address]. 
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
at [3]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.  
Ngā mihi  
 
Dave
Government Services
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

 
 
------------------- Original Message -------------------
From: [FOI #34517 email];
Received: Sat Apr 18 2026 20:07:43 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)
To: [Health New Zealand request email];
Subject: Official Information request - Request

Dear Health New Zealand,
To: Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora (Auckland District / National
Office)
Subject: OIA Request - 1993 Internal Correspondence regarding the "Gang of
4" Lawsuit and Auckland Drug Dependency Clinic
Tēnā koe,
Under the Official Information Act 1982, I am requesting internal
correspondence, memos, and administrative records originating from the
former Auckland Area Health Board and the Ministry of Health during the
year 1993.
I am compiling a historical and family archive detailing the reform of
addiction medicine in New Zealand. My late father was a central figure in
a 1993 legal action known as the "Gang of 4" lawsuit, which successfully
secured a High Court injunction against the Auckland Area Health Board's
Drug Dependency Clinic. His birth name was William Frederick Webb, though
he primarily used his adopted name, Barry Bond, and is also known in
historical archives under the name Barry Ryker. He passed away in 2003,
and I am making this request as his daughter.
Specifically, I am requesting:
Internal memos or correspondence within the Auckland Area Health Board or
the Auckland Drug Dependency Clinic reacting to the High Court injunction
granted to Barry Bond / William Frederick Webb / Barry Ryker and the other
plaintiffs in 1993.
Correspondence between clinic management and the Ministry of Health
regarding the legal challenge to their "policed compliance" model and
observed urinalysis practices.
Any letters or communications received by the Associate Minister of Health
in 1993 regarding the clinic's practices, specifically any correspondence
associated with Rosanne Hastie or the ADIO Needle Exchange.
Documentation regarding the subsequent policy shifts forced by this
lawsuit, particularly the move toward "GP-based management" and the
expansion of the Methadone Clinic Consumer Committee.
If the requested information is held by Archives New Zealand, please
advise on the relevant agency file references so I may pursue them there.
Ngā mihi,
Cher Heather Ryker

Yours faithfully,

Cher Ryker

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

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #34517 email]

Is [Health New Zealand request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Health New Zealand? If so, please contact us using this form:
[4]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[5]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Statement of confidentiality: This email message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use,
disseminate, distribute or copy this message or attachments. If you have
received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and
delete this message

References

Visible links
1. https://www.privacy.org.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
4. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
5. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Cher
 
Thank you for your email of 24 April providing Health New Zealand with
your ID. We will proceed with your OIA request to have R72179 reviewed for
release under the OIA and to ask the Ministry of Health if they will
accept transfer of your request for R16659044. 
 
You have asked Health New Zealand to seek proof of the relationship with
Barry Bond, also known as William Frederick Webb and Barry Ryker by
seeking verification from St Helen's Records. We are unable to do this
under the statutory obligations placed on us by the Privacy Act.   
 
We must ask you again to please provide evidence of your relationship to
the deceased. Where information is sought about a deceased individual,
we are required to obtain either: 

* Written consent from the Executor/Administrator of the estate, or 

* Proof of your relationship to the deceased where there is no will. 

If you are the Executor, Trustee, or Administrator of the estate of Barry
Bond, also known as William Frederick Webb and Barry Ryker, or have been
authorised by one, please provide evidence. In that case, we would likely
process the request under the Privacy Act and refer it to our Privacy
Team. 

If this is not the case, the request will be considered under the OIA,
which requires us to assess whether release is appropriate by balancing
any privacy interests against the public interest in disclosure. 

Please note that even if you choose not to provide further information, we
may still determine that release of some information is appropriate. The
information requested at this stage ensures we have taken reasonable steps
before making that decision. 

Please provide the requested information by close of business, Tuesday 5
May 2026. 

If you are dissatisfied with our response to your request for personal
information relating to Barry Bond (also known as William Frederick Webb /
Barry Ryker), you may complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
Information about making a complaint is available
at [1]https://www.privacy.org.nz or by calling 0800 803 909. 

If you have any questions, you can contact us
at [2][email address]. 

If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
at [3]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.  

Ngā mihi  
 
Mark
Government Services
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

 
 
 
------------------- Original Message -------------------
From: Cher Ryker <[FOI #34517 email]>;
Received: Fri Apr 24 2026 11:53:56 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)
To: HNZ OIA <[email address]>; <[email address]>;
Subject: Re: Clarification/refinement needed for your request for
information (HNZ00202922) CRM:0291117

Dear hnzOIA,

I have emailed Health NZ directly with my proof of identity and specific
instructions on how to verify my relationship to the deceased using
internal St Helen’s Hospital and Clinic records. I have also requested the
transfer of one file to the Ministry of Health. I look forward to your
formal response
Yours sincerely,

Cher Ryker

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora Cher, 
 Thank you for your request. Requests such as yours may be considered
under
 either the Privacy Act 2020 or the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA),
 depending on the circumstances. 

 To help us determine how your request should be processed, we require the
 following information: 

 1. Proof of identity 
 All requests must be accompanied by proof of the requester’s identity,
 including a photo and signature (for example, a driver’s licence or
 passport). 
 2. Requests relating to a deceased person 
 Where information is sought about a deceased individual, we are required
 to obtain either: 

 * Written consent from the Executor/Administrator of the estate, or 

 * Proof of your relationship to the deceased where there is no will. 

 If you are the Executor, Trustee, or Administrator of the estate of Barry
 Bond, also known as William Frederick Webb and Barry Ryker, or have been
 authorised by one, please provide evidence. In that case, we would likely
 process the request under the Privacy Act and refer it to our Privacy
 Team. 
 If this is not the case, the request will be considered under the OIA,
 which requires us to assess whether release is appropriate by balancing
 any privacy interests against the public interest in disclosure. 
 Please note that even if you choose not to provide further information,
we
 may still determine that release of some information is appropriate. The
 information requested at this stage ensures we have taken reasonable
steps
 before making that decision. 
 3. Historical records held by Archives New Zealand 
 Some of the information you have requested appears to be historical
 material not held by Health New Zealand. In these circumstances, your
 request may be declined under section 18(f) of the OIA if it would
require
 substantial research and collation. 
 We ask that you: 

  1. Identify which agency holds the relevant records; 

  2. Provide the Archives New Zealand record references for any records
 held by Health New Zealand, so we can make an access decision without
 undertaking substantial research; and 

  3. Request open‑access records directly from Archives New Zealand, where
 available. 

 Access restrictions 
 For your information, Archives New Zealand commonly applies the following
 access restrictions: 

 * Medical or sensitive personal information: restricted for 100 years
 from record closure; 

 * Death/mortuary records with no sensitive personal information: usually
 restricted for 20 years; 

 * Minutes and agendas containing medical or sensitive personal
 information: restricted for 100 years; 

 * Commercially sensitive records: restricted until 20 years after the
 last transaction. 

 For example: 

 * Archives reference R7217794 (needle/syringe exchange and methadone
 programme) is restricted. Health New Zealand, as successor to the
 Auckland District Health Board, may consider access under the OIA. 

 * Archives reference R16659044 (records relating to the Auckland Drug
 Dependency Unit) are open access but are held in Wellington and fall
 under the former Department of Health (now the Ministry of Health).
 Health New Zealand is not the appropriate agency for those records. 

 4. Next steps and complaints 
 Please provide the requested information by close of business, Thursday
30
 April 2026. 
 If you are dissatisfied with our response to your request for personal
 information relating to Barry Bond (also known as William Frederick Webb
/
 Barry Ryker), you may complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
 Information about making a complaint is available
 at [1]https://www.privacy.org.nz or by calling 0800 803 909. 
 If you have any questions, you can contact us
 at [2][email address]. 
 If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a
 complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
 at [3]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
by phoning 0800 802 602.  
 Ngā mihi  
  
 Dave
 Government Services
 Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

  
  

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #34517 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[4]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Statement of confidentiality: This email message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use,
disseminate, distribute or copy this message or attachments. If you have
received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and
delete this message

References

Visible links
1. https://www.privacy.org.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
4. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Cher, 
 
Thank you for your request for information regarding the Drug Dependency
Clinic on 20/04/2026. Please find attached our response to your request.
 
If you have any questions, please get in touch at
[1][email address]
 
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
at [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
 
 

Ngā mihi,

 

Mark (he/him) 

Senior Advisor | Kaitohutohu Mātua

Government Services 

The information contained in this email and any attachments is
confidential and intended for the named recipients only. If you are not
the intended recipient, please delete this email and notify the sender
immediately. Te Toka Tumai accepts no responsibility for changes made to
this email or to any attachments after it has been sent. ​

Statement of confidentiality: This email message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use,
disseminate, distribute or copy this message or attachments. If you have
received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and
delete this message

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Health New Zealand request email]
2. file:///tmp/