Plant & Food Research Auckland
120 Mt Albert Road, Sandringham, Auckland 1025
Private Bag 92169, Auckland 1142
New Zealand
Tel: +64-9-925-7000, Fax: +64-9-925-7001
24 August 2018
Alex Harris
c/o fyi.org.nz
Dear Sir/Madam
Official Information Act Request (PFR Ref. 0980.2.2.07.18)
We refer to your OIA request received by Plant & Food Research on 20 July for all information
relating to, or provided by, Thompson and Clark Private Investigations between the years 2014-
2018 held by Plant & Food Research.
On 13 August, the timeframe for making a decision on your request was extended by a further 5
working days to allow necessary consultation on the material relevant to your request to be
completed (pursuant to section 15A(b) of the Act).
We have identified the following key relevant documents.
1.
On 10 July 2015 Plant & Food Research received an email from Thompson & Clark
sending us a copy of their weekly ‘Situation Reports’ and adding Plant & Food
Research to the distribution list. This email is released.
Personal information withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Official Information Act.
2.
Copies of Weekly Situation Reports received by Plant & Food Research from
Thompson & Clark are withheld on the basis that under section 18(d) of the Act, the
information contained in these is or will be soon publicly available information. We
note that these have been released by the New Zealand Forest Research Institute
Limited.
3.
Email 21 July 2015 from Thompson & Clark introducing themselves is released.
Personal information withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Official Information Act.
4.
In 2015 Plant & Food Research arranged for Thompson & Clark to speak at a Crown
Research Institute Property Managers Group Meeting on the subject of Corporate
Security and Risk Management – Emergency Response – Pike River Mine Case
Study. We have released:
a. The Agenda for that meeting.
b. Email from Thompson & Clark relating to the topic of discussion.
Personal information withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Official Information Act.
Information withheld under section 9(2)(b)(i) would disclose a trade secret, and
section 9(2)(ba)(i) of the Official Information Act, subject to an obligation of
confidence.
0980.2.2.07.18.L3R
5.
In 2015 Plant & Food contracted Thompson & Clark to complete a high level physical
and operational security review of the Mt Albert Research Campus. The review
focused on the security risk to people, assets, environment and reputation and
provided recommendations for upgrading of existing security arrangements.
a. The June 2015 proposal document prepared by Thompson & Clark and the
report completed by Thompson & Clark on 14 December 2015 are withheld under
section 6(d) as it would endanger the safety of any person, and section 9(2)(i) to
enable an organisation to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage,
commercial activities.
b. The estimated costs for the review was 4.5 days at $2,340. A total of $10,530.
We have released the associated invoices.
Personal information withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Official Information Act.
Information withheld under section 9(2)(b)(ii) of the Official Information Act, would be
likely to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied the information,
and section 9(2)(ba)(i) of the Official Information Act, subject to an obligation of
confidence.
6.
A copy of the Contract between Plant & Food Research and Thompson & Clark is
released.
Personal information withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Official Information Act.
7.
In 2016 Thompson & Clark offered to provide Plant & Food Research a workshop on
Protective Security Requirements. This email is released. We note that no workshop
was held.
Personal information withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Official Information Act.
Information withheld under section 9(2)(ba)(i) of the Official Information Act, subject
to an obligation of confidence.
Information withheld under section 9(2)(b)(ii) of the Official Information Act, would be
likely to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied the information
8.
In 2018 Plant & Food Research contracted Thompson & Clark to complete an
investigation into an ongoing asbestos removal project and the potential exposure of
Plant & Food Research staff and contractors to airborne asbestos at the Plant & Food
Research Mt Albert Road site. This report is attached with redactions made pursuant
to section 9(2)(a) to protect the privacy of natural persons. Associated with this the
following documents are released:
a. Confidentiality Agreement – February 2018
b. Investigation Proposal - Asbestos Feb 2018
c. PFR Proposal 23 February 2018
d. Asbestos Investigations – Summary of Findings Report
e. Invoices received
f.
Email 3 May 2018
g. Contract terms
Personal information withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Official Information Act.
Information withheld under section 9(2)(b)(ii) would be likely to prejudice the
commercial position of the person who supplied the information, and section
9(2)(ba)(i) subject to an obligation of confidence, of the Official Information Act.
0980.2.2.07.18.L3R
9.
Other documents released are:
a. Two emails from Thompson & Clark 13 March 2018
b. Email from Thompson & Clark 17 July 2018
Personal information withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Official Information Act.
In addition to the above we have identified and considered other documentation. We have not
provided the large amount of email correspondence which broadly falls into two categories:
Administrative emails organising access to the Plant & Food Research site and meeting
times with employees and contractors.
Emails communicating and summarising mid-progress reports.
These would involve a large cost of collation and redaction of personal information. We have
performed a high level review of these emails and consider that the above noted documents
contain all relevant information.
You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to review our decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
Freephone 0800 802 602.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this decision, please
address any correspondence t
o [email address]
Yours sincerely
Emma Timewell
Communications Manager
Please note: Your request has been assigned the reference number above by Plant & Food
Research. This number helps us manage your request effectively. Please quote this number if
you wish to correspond further with us regarding this request.
Please address any correspondence in this matter to
[email address]
0980.2.2.07.18.L3R
