18 January 2016

 

 

Mr Alex Harris

Via Email:   [1][FOI #3554 email]

 

 

Dear Mr Harris

 

We have received your emailed request, made under the provisions of the
Official Information Act (the Act), seeking:

 

“All advice on the creation of this new policy (charges for providing
information in response to OIA requests); and a copy of the old policy, or
if it was never formally documented, a summary of the ways in which the
new policy differs from the old”.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Act, you will be notified of the outcome
of your request as soon as practicable, but not later than 20 working days
after the date of receipt.

 

The Reserve Bank is resourced to meet disclosure obligations for a
reasonable level of Official Information requests and generally will not
impose charges for small, simple or infrequent requests. However, the Act
allows us to charge for preparing information provided in response to
requests and the Reserve Bank believes that requesters should bear some of
the costs when requests are made for very large amounts of information,
where a response to a request is particularly complex, or where
individuals or organisations make very frequent requests.

 

If our initial assessment of your request finds that the work involved in
responding to your request is likely to be chargeable, then the Reserve
Bank will contact you to discuss refining the request to a smaller scale
or scope that is less likely to involve charges. Further information is
available on our website, here
[2]www.rbnz.govt.nz/research_and_publications/official_information/.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Georgie Fraser

Senior Co-ordinator, Board and Comms | Reserve Bank of New Zealand 

2 The Terrace, Wellington 6011 | P O Box 2498, Wellington 6140

D. +64 4 471 3607 | T. +64 4 472 2029 | F. +64 4 471 2270  

[3]www.rbnz.govt.nz

 

 

show quoted sections

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #3554 email]
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3. http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/

15 February 2016

 

Alex Harris

 

Via email: [1][FOI #3554 email] 

 

 

Dear Mr Harris

 

On 15 January you made a request to the Reserve Bank under section 12 of
the Official Information Act (the OIA), and in relation to the Bank’s
policy on charging for information provided in response to OIA requests.
Your request is seeking:

•         All advice on the creation of this new policy;

•         A copy of the old policy, or if it was never formally
documented, a summary of the ways in which the new policy differs from the
old; and

•         I am not seeking copies of emails unless they constitute the
primary advice on the new policy.

 

Direct response to your request

 

In response to your request, the Reserve Bank is releasing to you
documents that include the advice on creation of the policy. These
documents are attached to this emailed response and are as follows:

•         Policy on charging for responses to OIA requests

•         Charging for OIA requests - discussion note for Senior
Management Group

•         Charging for OIA requests - approval memo to Senior Management
Group

•         Emailed advice from the Ombudsman's office (includes attachments
below)

o   Attachment : Charging for OIA requests - SMG discussion note - SK
comments

o   Attachment : Charging for OIA requests - approval memo to SMG - SK
comments

 

The first three of these documents are attached to this email.  The
remaining three documents will follow in a subsequent email.

 

Information has been withheld from the discussion note for Senior
Management Group and from the approval memo to Senior Management Group,
under the provisions of OIA section 9(2)(a), in order to protect the
privacy of an individual named or otherwise identifiable in the documents.

 

The Reserve Bank cannot provide you with a copy of the previous policy
because until December 2015 the Reserve Bank didn’t have any documented
policy on who should be charged or who should be exempted from charges. 
If such decisions were made, they were done on an ad-hoc basis.  Informal
practice was that we would consider charging academic researchers,
industry bodies or lobby groups, and not charge news media.  Prior to
having a documented policy, the Reserve Bank sought charges twice in the
past decade.

 

The Reserve Bank has a rolling programme to continuously review all of its
practices, processes and policies. These reviews have included
progressively updating our OIA requests policy over the past two years,
and most recently to addressing the lack of any documented policy on
charging for responses to OIA requests.

 

Further relevant information

 

The Reserve Bank receives dozens of written requests for information every
week and several phoned verbal requests too. Under the terms of the law
all of these are Official Information requests. The verbal requests are
generally minor and receive immediate response at no charge. Most written
requests that we receive are also relatively minor and receive a response
within 24 hours or less, at no charge.  In some instances, the requesters
specifically mention that they’re seeking information under the terms of
the OIA and these requests are always recorded as OIA requests and put
through our formal OIA response process.

 

Since the charging policy was introduced in December 2015, the Reserve
Bank has:

•         received 128 written information requests that were not put
through our formal OIA response process but that nevertheless required a
written response from the Reserve Bank,

•         worked on responses for 13 OIA requests through our formal OIA
response process,

•         informed requesters of charges for two responses to OIA
requests, and

•         received no payment for information provided in response to
requests.

 

The volume of requests that have sent to the Reserve Bank and put through
our formal OIA response process has increased significantly and needs to
be managed within our limited resources.  The numbers below are for
requests that have been put through the Bank’s formal OIA response process
and include requests transferred from other departments, requests where a
response is drafted on behalf of a Minister, and requests that other
departments consulted the Reserve Bank about.

 

  18 requests in calendar 2010

  21 requests in calendar 2011 – up 17% from previous year

  30 requests in calendar 2012 – up 42% from previous year

  45 requests in calendar 2013 – up 50% from previous year

  47 requests in calendar 2014 – up 4% from previous year

  70 requests in calendar 2015 – up 49% from previous year

 

It is worth noting that section 18A(1)(a) of the Act requires any agency
that is deciding whether or not to refuse a request on the grounds that a
response involves substantial collation or research, must consider whether
it could grant the request by charging.

 

When developing the charging policy, we liaised with the Office of the
Ombudsman and also looked at a sample of 12 other agencies to see what
approach they take. The policy applies to all OIA requests, and requires
the Bank to work with the requester to refine their request to a scale
that is less likely to incur costs. We expect many requests will not incur
charges and experience to date has borne that out.

 

Charges are based on the volume of work required to provide information in
response to a request, not on who makes a request. The policy applies
regardless of the type of person making the request – so it applies to
individuals, bloggers, news media, trade and industry bodies, companies
etc. You can find information about the Reserve Bank’s OIA requests policy
here
[2]www.rbnz.govt.nz/research_and_publications/official_information/#_Charges_for_providing.

 

The Reserve Bank understands that this response will be published on the
[3]www.FYI.org.nz website and intends to also publish this response on its
own website.
[4]www.rbnz.govt.nz/research_and_publications/official_information/  

 

You have the right to seek a review of the Bank’s decisions in relation to
your request, under section 28 of the Official Information Act.

 

Yours sincerely

Angus Barclay   

External Communications Advisor | Reserve Bank of New Zealand

2 The Terrace, Wellington 6011 | P O Box 2498, Wellington 6140

T. +64 4 471 3698 | M. +64 27 337 1102

[5]www.rbnz.govt.nz

 

 

show quoted sections

15 February 2016

 

Alex Harris

 

Via email: [1][FOI #3554 email] 

 

 

Dear Mr Harris

 

On 15 January you made a request to the Reserve Bank under section 12 of
the Official Information Act (the OIA), and in relation to the Bank’s
policy on charging for information provided in response to OIA requests.
Your request is seeking:

•         All advice on the creation of this new policy;

•         A copy of the old policy, or if it was never formally
documented, a summary of the ways in which the new policy differs from the
old; and

•         I am not seeking copies of emails unless they constitute the
primary advice on the new policy.

 

Direct response to your request

 

In response to your request, the Reserve Bank is releasing to you
documents that include the advice on creation of the policy. These
documents are attached to this emailed response and are as follows:

•         Policy on charging for responses to OIA requests

•         Charging for OIA requests - discussion note for Senior
Management Group

•         Charging for OIA requests - approval memo to Senior Management
Group

•         Emailed advice from the Ombudsman's office (includes attachments
below)

o   Attachment : Charging for OIA requests - SMG discussion note - SK
comments

o   Attachment : Charging for OIA requests - approval memo to SMG - SK
comments

 

The first three of these documents were attached to a previous email. The
last three documents are attached to this email.

 

Information has been withheld from the discussion note for Senior
Management Group and from the approval memo to Senior Management Group,
under the provisions of OIA section 9(2)(a), in order to protect the
privacy of an individual named or otherwise identifiable in the documents.

 

The Reserve Bank cannot provide you with a copy of the previous policy
because until December 2015 the Reserve Bank didn’t have any documented
policy on who should be charged or who should be exempted from charges. 
If such decisions were made, they were done on an ad-hoc basis.  Informal
practice was that we would consider charging academic researchers,
industry bodies or lobby groups, and not charge news media.  Prior to
having a documented policy, the Reserve Bank sought charges twice in the
past decade.

 

The Reserve Bank has a rolling programme to continuously review all of its
practices, processes and policies. These reviews have included
progressively updating our OIA requests policy over the past two years,
and most recently to addressing the lack of any documented policy on
charging for responses to OIA requests.

 

Further relevant information

 

The Reserve Bank receives dozens of written requests for information every
week and several phoned verbal requests too. Under the terms of the law
all of these are Official Information requests. The verbal requests are
generally minor and receive immediate response at no charge. Most written
requests that we receive are also relatively minor and receive a response
within 24 hours or less, at no charge.  In some instances, the requesters
specifically mention that they’re seeking information under the terms of
the OIA and these requests are always recorded as OIA requests and put
through our formal OIA response process.

 

Since the charging policy was introduced in December 2015, the Reserve
Bank has:

•         received 128 written information requests that were not put
through our formal OIA response process but that nevertheless required a
written response from the Reserve Bank,

•         worked on responses for 13 OIA requests through our formal OIA
response process,

•         informed requesters of charges for two responses to OIA
requests, and

•         received no payment for information provided in response to
requests.

 

The volume of requests that have sent to the Reserve Bank and put through
our formal OIA response process has increased significantly and needs to
be managed within our limited resources.  The numbers below are for
requests that have been put through the Bank’s formal OIA response process
and include requests transferred from other departments, requests where a
response is drafted on behalf of a Minister, and requests that other
departments consulted the Reserve Bank about.

 

  18 requests in calendar 2010

  21 requests in calendar 2011 – up 17% from previous year

  30 requests in calendar 2012 – up 42% from previous year

  45 requests in calendar 2013 – up 50% from previous year

  47 requests in calendar 2014 – up 4% from previous year

  70 requests in calendar 2015 – up 49% from previous year

 

It is worth noting that section 18A(1)(a) of the Act requires any agency
that is deciding whether or not to refuse a request on the grounds that a
response involves substantial collation or research, must consider whether
it could grant the request by charging.

 

When developing the charging policy, we liaised with the Office of the
Ombudsman and also looked at a sample of 12 other agencies to see what
approach they take. The policy applies to all OIA requests, and requires
the Bank to work with the requester to refine their request to a scale
that is less likely to incur costs. We expect many requests will not incur
charges and experience to date has borne that out.

 

Charges are based on the volume of work required to provide information in
response to a request, not on who makes a request. The policy applies
regardless of the type of person making the request – so it applies to
individuals, bloggers, news media, trade and industry bodies, companies
etc. You can find information about the Reserve Bank’s OIA requests policy
here
[2]www.rbnz.govt.nz/research_and_publications/official_information/#_Charges_for_providing.

 

The Reserve Bank understands that this response will be published on the
[3]www.FYI.org.nz website and intends to also publish this response on its
own website.
[4]www.rbnz.govt.nz/research_and_publications/official_information/  

 

You have the right to seek a review of the Bank’s decisions in relation to
your request, under section 28 of the Official Information Act.

 

Yours sincerely

Angus Barclay   

External Communications Advisor | Reserve Bank of New Zealand

2 The Terrace, Wellington 6011 | P O Box 2498, Wellington 6140

T. +64 4 471 3698 | M. +64 27 337 1102

[5]www.rbnz.govt.nz

 

 

show quoted sections

Hello Mr Harris

 

The first of the two previous emails to you included the document named
“Charging for OIA requests - SMG discussion note - SK comments” twice and
omitted the document named “Charging for OIA requests - discussion note
for SMG”.  The missing document is attached to this email.

 

regards

Angus Barclay    

External Communications Advisor | Reserve Bank of New Zealand 

2 The Terrace, Wellington 6011 | P O Box 2498, Wellington 6140

T. +64 4 471 3698 | M. +64 27 337 1102

[1]www.rbnz.govt.nz

 

From: Angus Barclay
Sent: Monday, 15 February 2016 1:19 p.m.
To: '[FOI #3554 email]'
Subject: RE: Official Information Act request - Advice on OIA charging
policy - 1 of 2

 

15 February 2016

 

Alex Harris

 

Via email: [2][FOI #3554 email] 

 

 

Dear Mr Harris

 

On 15 January you made a request to the Reserve Bank under section 12 of
the Official Information Act (the OIA), and in relation to the Bank’s
policy on charging for information provided in response to OIA requests.
Your request is seeking:

•         All advice on the creation of this new policy;

•         A copy of the old policy, or if it was never formally
documented, a summary of the ways in which the new policy differs from the
old; and

•         I am not seeking copies of emails unless they constitute the
primary advice on the new policy.

 

Direct response to your request

 

In response to your request, the Reserve Bank is releasing to you
documents that include the advice on creation of the policy. These
documents are attached to this emailed response and are as follows:

•         Policy on charging for responses to OIA requests

•         Charging for OIA requests - discussion note for Senior
Management Group

•         Charging for OIA requests - approval memo to Senior Management
Group

•         Emailed advice from the Ombudsman's office (includes attachments
below)

o   Attachment : Charging for OIA requests - SMG discussion note - SK
comments

o   Attachment : Charging for OIA requests - approval memo to SMG - SK
comments

 

The first three of these documents are attached to this email.  The
remaining three documents will follow in a subsequent email.

 

Information has been withheld from the discussion note for Senior
Management Group and from the approval memo to Senior Management Group,
under the provisions of OIA section 9(2)(a), in order to protect the
privacy of an individual named or otherwise identifiable in the documents.

 

The Reserve Bank cannot provide you with a copy of the previous policy
because until December 2015 the Reserve Bank didn’t have any documented
policy on who should be charged or who should be exempted from charges. 
If such decisions were made, they were done on an ad-hoc basis.  Informal
practice was that we would consider charging academic researchers,
industry bodies or lobby groups, and not charge news media.  Prior to
having a documented policy, the Reserve Bank sought charges twice in the
past decade.

 

The Reserve Bank has a rolling programme to continuously review all of its
practices, processes and policies. These reviews have included
progressively updating our OIA requests policy over the past two years,
and most recently to addressing the lack of any documented policy on
charging for responses to OIA requests.

 

Further relevant information

 

The Reserve Bank receives dozens of written requests for information every
week and several phoned verbal requests too. Under the terms of the law
all of these are Official Information requests. The verbal requests are
generally minor and receive immediate response at no charge. Most written
requests that we receive are also relatively minor and receive a response
within 24 hours or less, at no charge.  In some instances, the requesters
specifically mention that they’re seeking information under the terms of
the OIA and these requests are always recorded as OIA requests and put
through our formal OIA response process.

 

Since the charging policy was introduced in December 2015, the Reserve
Bank has:

•         received 128 written information requests that were not put
through our formal OIA response process but that nevertheless required a
written response from the Reserve Bank,

•         worked on responses for 13 OIA requests through our formal OIA
response process,

•         informed requesters of charges for two responses to OIA
requests, and

•         received no payment for information provided in response to
requests.

 

The volume of requests that have sent to the Reserve Bank and put through
our formal OIA response process has increased significantly and needs to
be managed within our limited resources.  The numbers below are for
requests that have been put through the Bank’s formal OIA response process
and include requests transferred from other departments, requests where a
response is drafted on behalf of a Minister, and requests that other
departments consulted the Reserve Bank about.

 

  18 requests in calendar 2010

  21 requests in calendar 2011 – up 17% from previous year

  30 requests in calendar 2012 – up 42% from previous year

  45 requests in calendar 2013 – up 50% from previous year

  47 requests in calendar 2014 – up 4% from previous year

  70 requests in calendar 2015 – up 49% from previous year

 

It is worth noting that section 18A(1)(a) of the Act requires any agency
that is deciding whether or not to refuse a request on the grounds that a
response involves substantial collation or research, must consider whether
it could grant the request by charging.

 

When developing the charging policy, we liaised with the Office of the
Ombudsman and also looked at a sample of 12 other agencies to see what
approach they take. The policy applies to all OIA requests, and requires
the Bank to work with the requester to refine their request to a scale
that is less likely to incur costs. We expect many requests will not incur
charges and experience to date has borne that out.

 

Charges are based on the volume of work required to provide information in
response to a request, not on who makes a request. The policy applies
regardless of the type of person making the request – so it applies to
individuals, bloggers, news media, trade and industry bodies, companies
etc. You can find information about the Reserve Bank’s OIA requests policy
here
[3]www.rbnz.govt.nz/research_and_publications/official_information/#_Charges_for_providing.

 

The Reserve Bank understands that this response will be published on the
[4]www.FYI.org.nz website and intends to also publish this response on its
own website.
[5]www.rbnz.govt.nz/research_and_publications/official_information/  

 

You have the right to seek a review of the Bank’s decisions in relation to
your request, under section 28 of the Official Information Act.

 

Yours sincerely

Angus Barclay   

External Communications Advisor | Reserve Bank of New Zealand

2 The Terrace, Wellington 6011 | P O Box 2498, Wellington 6140

T. +64 4 471 3698 | M. +64 27 337 1102

[6]www.rbnz.govt.nz

 

 

show quoted sections