Response letter DOIA REQ 0035126 Stephen Prendergast.pdf

22 July 2026

Ref: DOIA-REQ-0035126

Stephen Prendergast
Email: [FYI request #34902 email]

Tēnā koe Stephen Prendergast

Thank you for your email of 6 June 2026 to the Treasury requesting, under the Oﬃcial Information Act
1982 (the Act), the following information:
On 5 June, Newsroom reported the Crown had disposed of it's shareholding in Pure Turoa Ltd.
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewsroom.co.nz%2F2026%2F
06%2F05%2Fgovt-exits-turoa-ski-ﬁeld-ownership-ahead-of-winter-
season%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cministerialservices%40mbie.govt.nz%7Cec5f924ea1354ae6c0ac08de
cb53fa85%7C78b2bd11e42b47eab0112e04c3af5ec1%7C0%7C0%7C639171758739380665%7CUnkn
own%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIj
oiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=CB3r9WtQZFf1MSRPHeG6Xwu7%2BP3fhQ
34KTb%2FcS8wmNc%3D&reserved=0 .

This request is for all correspondence sent and received, messages, information or analysis or
brieﬁngs or advice relating to this event.

On 23 June 2026 you were advised by the Treasury that your request was transferred as they believed the
information requested is more closely connected with the functions of the Ministry of Business,
Innovation & Employment (MBIE).

On 7 July 2026, I wrote to inform you the portion of your request relating to brieﬁngs had been
transferred to the Minister for Regional Development, Hon Shane Jones, because this part of your request
is more closely aligned with the functions of the Minister for Regional Development.

In attempting to answer the remaining portion of your request, an information and data search was
conducted by MBIE’s Records and Library Services team to identify the number of items MBIE holds. The
initial search identiﬁed a total of 1,261 items which would require assessment to determine if they were
within scope. MBIE calculates that it takes ﬁve minutes to process each email, this calculates to 105 hours.

Consideration was given to suggesting a narrowed scope. However, it was hard to establish an exact point
on which to focus the search, as there wasn’t a single ‘event’ as referred to in your request. Instead, it has
been an ongoing negotiation since July last year, and the terms under consideration have natural y
changed over time. Given the diﬃculty in narrowing the scope of the request, and the large volume of
search results, MBIE is therefore refusing your request under section 18(f) of the Act, as the information
requested cannot be made available without substantial col ation or research.

If you wish to redeﬁne your request to narrow the scope, for example by removing the requirement for
“all” items, you are welcome to submit a new request. We believe the request being responded to by the

Minister for Regional Development wil provide you with relevant information, which may provide a useful
starting point for making a subsequent request.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further assistance,
please contact [email address].

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of our decision to extend the
time limit. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.

Nāku noa, nā

Tane Dewes
Director Group Operations
Regional Development and Commercial Services