Dear Tim,
I am responding to your requests for information made on the 20th and 29th April, and further clarified in your email below, dated 3rd May 2016.
Please be advised that the information you have requested is unable to be provided as it does not exist, in accordance with section 18 (e) of the Official Information Act 1982. To be clear, neither Professor Kemp nor his assistant have had communication of any type with the companies listed.
Kind regards
Jodie Banner | Director Risk and Assurance
Risk Management Office | Massey University Manawatū | Ext 83376
Room 3.12, Level 3, Registry Building, Palmerston North +64 6 356 9099
Please note: The content of this email is confidential and may also be legally privileged, intended for the individual or entity named and should be read by the intended recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient and have received this email in error, can you please notify the sender immediately and delete the content from your system. Thank you.
From: Tim Benseman [mailto:[email address]]
Sent: Tuesday, 3 May 2016 4:06 p.m.
To: Banner, Jodie; Tim Benseman
Subject: Re: correspondence with Massey University
Thanks Jodie,
How about we try and narrow it down to Mr Kemp and his assistants communications with Monsanto, Syngenta, DuPont, Bayer and maybe chuck in their PR firms Fleishman Hillard, Ogilvy & Mather, Ketchum, McLeod and Grove, Jayne Thompson & Associates, White House Writers Group and MB Public Affairs between 1/1/2010 and 3/5/2016 please.
Thanks and Regards,
Tim Benseman
Logan Contracting Limited
738 Rangitatau East Road, Wanganui
Ph 027 8799 100
From:
"Banner, Jodie" <[email address]>
To: "[email address]" <[email address]>
Cc: "Gardiner, James" <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 3 May 2016 2:17 PM
Subject: FW: correspondence with Massey University
Dear Mr Benseman,
Thanks you for your information request outlined in an email to James Gardiner, received 20 April 2016.
Unfortunately your request is particularly broad and does not provide a specific enough parameter in which to reasonably identify the information within the University. I am not aware of who the subsidiaries or agents of Monsato, Bayer and Syngenta are, nor who would be identified as a promoter of GMOs. Please also note that there is no date parameter associated to your request and that the University has around 3000 employees.
Requests for official information must be specified with due particularity (refer section 12 (2)), and I wish to advise that unless you clarify your request further, I am unable to provide the information in accordance with section 18(f) of the Official Information Act 1982, as it would not be able to be provided without substantial collation or research.
Kind regards,
Jodie Banner | Director Risk and Assurance
Risk Management Office | Massey University Manawatū | Ext 83376
Room 3.12, Level 3, Registry Building, Palmerston North +64 6 356 9099
Please note: The content of this email is confidential and may also be legally privileged, intended for the individual or entity named and should be read by the intended recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient and have received this email in error, can you please notify the sender immediately and delete the content from your system. Thank you.
From:
Tim Benseman <v>
Reply-To: Tim Benseman <[email address]>
Date: Wednesday, 20 April 2016 at 8:18 AM
To: James Gardiner <[email address]>
Subject: Re: correspondence with Massey University
Thanks James,
is there any correspondence between Massey University and the promoters of GMOs and their associated ag chemicals e.g Monsanto, Bayer, Syngenta etc and their subsidiaries or agents?
Regards,
Tim Benseman
Logan Contracting Limited
738 Rangitatau East Road, Wanganui
Ph 027 8799 100
From: "Gardiner, James" <[email address]>
To: Tim Benseman <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, 20 April 2016 8:01 AM
Subject: Re: correspondence with Massey University
Dear Mr Benseman
Thank you for your follow-up email. Individual academics employed by Massey University may publicly declare their informed views on a range of issues, including stating the case for and against GMOs. This is part of the University’s mandated role as ‘critic and conscience’ of society and our obligation to inform educated debate and promote public understanding. There are no financial arrangements in place beyond an individual’s salaries, which are paid by the University. In addition, all Massey research is subject to robust ethical guidelines. There is also a specific code in relation to research involving GMOs.
kind regards
James Gardiner
communications director
External Relations
Massey University
Manawatu +64-6-951-6255
Auckland +64-9-414-0800 ext 83255
Wellington +64-4-801-5799 ext 83255
Cell: +64-21-275-3394
Address: Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
From:
Tim Benseman <[email address]>
Reply-To: Tim Benseman <[email address]>
Date: Monday, 18 April 2016 at 9:51 PM
To: James Gardiner <[email address]>
Subject: Re: correspondence with Massey University
Thank You James,
Is Massey University paid or supported to promote GMO's ?
Tim Benseman
Logan Contracting Limited
738 Rangitatau East Road, Wanganui
Ph 027 8799 100
From: "Gardiner, James" <[email address]>
To: "[email address]" <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 4 April 2016 11:02 AM
Subject: correspondence with Massey University
Good morning Mr Benseman
Thank you for making contact with Massey Your email has been referred to me. I have spoken with Professor Kemp and he advises he receives no benefit, financial or otherwise, outside his university salary in relation to the comments he makes publicly or the specific opinion article to which you refer.
kind regards
James Gardiner
communications director
External Relations
Massey University
Manawatu +64-6-951-6255
Auckland +64-9-414-0800 ext 83255
Wellington +64-4-801-5799 ext 83255
Cell: +64-21-275-3394
Address: Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand