OIA response time statistics
Mark Hanna made this Official Information request to Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
The request was partially successful.
From: Mark Hanna
Tēnā koutou,
For the past four years, I have been keeping records of the time it takes for various agencies to respond to requests I’ve made to them under the OIA and LGOIMA via the website fyi.org.nz. I’ve noticed, over this relatively small data set, that response times have fallen into three roughly equal groups:
- Responses received before the due date
- Responses received on the due date (the majority of which are received after 4pm)
- Responses received after the due date
I think this may be indicative of agencies disregarding the requirement that responses to requests must be sent as soon as reasonably practicable. However, this data set is relatively small and restricted to requests made by a single person.
I am interested in accessing more complete datasets to see if my anecdotal observations hold up. I am aware of statistics regarding OIA response times that have been published by the State Services Commission for 2015/16 and for 2016/17, however the closest statistic in these sets is the number or proportion of OIA requests “handled within the legislated timeframe”.
Unfortunately, this measurement obscures the behaviour I am trying to measure. If I applied the same measurement to my smaller data set, I would find that 69% of requests were handled within the legislated timeframe. However, that statistic does not reflect that fact that 45% of those requests only received a response on the last allowable day.
Please release the following information, from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, broken down by request:
1. The date on which the request was received.
2. The date on which the request was answered.
2a. If the request was answered on the last allowable day, the time at which the request was answered
3. Whether or not the request was extended under section 15A of the OIA.
3a. If the request was extended, the date on which notice of the extension was sent to the requester.
3b. If the notice of extension was sent to the requester on the last allowable day, the time at which the notice of extension was sent to the requester.
3c. If the request was extended, the duration of the extension.
4. The outcome of the request (e.g. all information released, transferred to another agency).
Please provide all information in an accessible, searchable format. A spreadsheet format, such as CSV or XLSX, is preferable for tabular data.
Please also explain any relevant caveats that should be kept in mind when analysing this information, including the licence under which it is released.
If any part of my request is unclear, please don't hesitate to contact me.
If any of the information that I have requested is unavailable or would be difficult to retrieve, but similar information might be readily available, I would be happy to discuss altering or refining my request.
I am aware that the time at which responses and notifications of extensions were sent may not be recorded centrally and may be difficult or impossible to retrieve. If extracting this information is likely to require this request to be refused under section 18(f) of the OIA, please let me know, as in that case I would likely be happy to refine my request based on what information could be provided.
Ngā mihi,
Mark Hanna
From: *OIA
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Ref: DOIA 1718-1483
Dear Mr Hanna
On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 16 April 2018 requesting under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:
I am interested in accessing more complete datasets to see if my anecdotal
observations hold up. I am aware of statistics regarding OIA response
times that have been published by the State Services Commission for
2015/16 and for 2016/17, however the closest statistic in these sets is
the number or proportion of OIA requests “handled within the legislated
timeframe”.
Unfortunately, this measurement obscures the behaviour I am trying to
measure. If I applied the same measurement to my smaller data set, I would
find that 69% of requests were handled within the legislated timeframe.
However, that statistic does not reflect that fact that 45% of those
requests only received a response on the last allowable day.
Please release the following information, from 1 July 2016 to 30 June
2017, broken down by request:
1. The date on which the request was received.
2. The date on which the request was answered.
2a. If the request was answered on the last allowable day,
the time at which the request was answered 3. Whether or not the request
was extended under section 15A of the OIA.
3a. If the request was extended, the date on which notice of the extension
was sent to the requester.
3b. If the notice of extension was sent to the requester on the last
allowable day, the time at which the notice of extension was sent to the
requester.
3c. If the request was extended, the duration of the extension.
4. The outcome of the request (e.g. all information released, transferred
to another agency).
Please provide all information in an accessible, searchable format. A
spreadsheet format, such as CSV or XLSX, is preferable for tabular data.
Please also explain any relevant caveats that should be kept in mind when
analysing this information, including the licence under which it is
released.
If any part of my request is unclear, please don't hesitate to contact me.
If any of the information that I have requested is unavailable or would be
difficult to retrieve, but similar information might be readily available,
I would be happy to discuss altering or refining my request.
I am aware that the time at which responses and notifications of
extensions were sent may not be recorded centrally and may be difficult or
impossible to retrieve. If extracting this information is likely to
require this request to be refused under section 18(f) of the OIA, please
let me know, as in that case I would likely be happy to refine my request
based on what information could be provided.
Your request is being processed in accordance with the Act and a response
will be sent to you in due course. If you have any enquiries regarding
your request feel free to contact us via email [1][MBIE request email] or
using the contact details below.
Yours sincerely,
Alan Witcombe
MANAGER, MINISTERIAL SERVICES
Corporate, Governance and Information
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Level 4, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140
[2]cid:image004.jpg@01D10666.447C6950
[3]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services
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References
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1. mailto:[MBIE request email]
3. http://www.govt.nz/
From: Mark Hanna
Tēnā koutou,
I'd like to update the request I sent yesterday regarding OIA response time statistics. I had asked for statistics for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, however this was a mistake. I had instead intended to ask for statistics for the period 1 July 2017 - 30 December 2017, please use that instead.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Ngā mihi,
Mark Hanna
From: CLM Ministerial Services
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Good afternoon
Please find attached a letter in response to your request for information
made on 16 April 2018.
Ministerial Services
Engagement, Communications and Ministerial Services
Email: [1][email address]
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, Wellington, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140
[2]www.mbie.govt.nz
[3]cid:image001.png@01D2A86C.030B1D00
[4]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.mbie.govt.nz/
4. http://www.govt.nz/
From: CLM Ministerial Services
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
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DOIA 1718 1483 Mark Hanna response.pdf
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DOIA 1718 1483 Final spreadsheet.xlsx
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Good Afternoon
Please find attached the response to your request for information made on
16 April 2018.
Ministerial Services
Engagement, Communications and Ministerial Services
Email: [1][email address]
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, Wellington, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140
[2]www.mbie.govt.nz
[3]cid:image001.png@01D2A86C.030B1D00
[4]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.mbie.govt.nz/
4. http://www.govt.nz/
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