Lon, Lana
From:
Gael Wright <[FYI request #6100 email]>
Sent:
Monday, 24 July 2017 6:47 PM
To:
Lon, Lana
Subject:
Re: FW: HRC OIA Request
Follow Up Flag:
Follow up
Flag Status:
Completed
Dear HRC,
Each year HRC allocates approximately $60 million in taxpayer money to Health Research in New Zealand. That
is >$300 million for the requested period. Yet, the HRC provides no information for the general public to assess
whether the allocation of those funds has been made fairly (apart from outlining the process). If the HRC does
not see that lack of transparency as an issue then that is telling in and of itself.
1. Has the HRC performed internal (statistical) audits of the scores and allocations?. Can they make those
audits available ? The provision of such audits might satisfy this FYI request provided they have been
performed to an adequate standard. If you are saying that you have not performed internal audits around the
allocation of $300 million of taxpayer money then it only increases the importance of making the requested
information available or for the scores to be released so members of the general public can do it themselves. It
is our intention to perform such an audit.
2. Perhaps the HRC could be more helpful and outline what electronic format the data are held in and explain
why it would be so difficult to send data held in electronic format. The only reason I can see that the number of
items of data for collation would be an issue would be if information were held only on paper (?).
3. From the first to second request the HRC has added extra stipulations around privacy that were not
contained in the initial response (but are suspiciously similar to a parallel FOI request). Although parts of
Statute are copied and pasted there is no explanation as to how the requested data would meet those particular
guidelines - perhaps you can elaborate on how the requested information would impact on the privacy
provisions quoted? Apart from names no personal information has been requested.
We are empowered to refer to this case to the ombudsman if necessary. We also note from the Ombudsman
guidelines
"The fact that information will be published online is not a reason in itself for refusing a request for official
information. Publication of information released in response to official information requests has always been a
possibility. Agencies have never been able to control what a requester does with the information they receive
(unless there is a valid basis for imposing conditions13). However, it may be one factor to take into account in
considering whether or not there is good reason to withhold the information.
On the one hand, it is possible that online publication of the information may be more likely to cause prejudice
to the interests protected by the withholding grounds. For instance, online publication may be more likely to
impinge on the privacy of natural persons, or to unreasonably prejudice the commercial position of a third
party, than release to a particular requester with conditions where necessary.
On the other hand, online publication may lend weight to the public interest in disclosure, because the
information will become available to the general public and not just the requester. "
If the HRC is concerned about privacy they can potentially release information to just the requester.
We look forward to your reply and are willing to refer this issue to the ombudsman for arbitration. Given the
request involves the audit of 100s of millions of taxpayer dollars we believe there is significant public interest
and a strong case for making these data available.
Yours sincerely,
1
Gael Wright
-----Original Message-----
Dear Gael
Please find attached a letter in response to your email from Friday.
With kind regards
Lana Lon
Project Manager Ethics
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Te Kaunihera Rangahau Hauora o Aotearoa
PO Box 5541, Wellesley Street, Auckland, New Zealand 1141
DDI: 64 9 303 5221 | HRC mainline: 64 9 303 5200
Email: [email address] | www.hrc.govt.nz
please consider the environment before you print this email
The views expressed in this e-mail and any corresponding attachments do not necessarily reflect those of the
Health Research Council of New Zealand. This e-mail together with anyaccompanying attachments may be
confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and note that you may not copy, disclose or use the content in any way
Thank You.
______________________________________________________________________________
This email has been filtered by SMX.
For more information visit http://smxemail.com
______________________________________________________________________________
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #6100 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and
copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
2
