By email 
Shed 39,
 
 2 Fryatt Quay 
Pipit
 
ea, Wellington 6011 
PO Box 1
 
1646 
8 May 2019 
Manners St
 
reet 
Wellingt
 
on 6142 
T  04 384 5708 
 
File Ref: OIAP-7-10780 
F  04 385 6960 
 
www.gw.govt.nz 
 
Jack Cowie 
 
[FYI request #9949 email] 
 
Dear Mr Cowie 
Request for information 2019 - 127 
I refer to your request for information dated 28 March 2019, which was received by Greater 
Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) on 28 March 2019. You have requested the following 
information: 
“According to journalist Dave Armstrong and Member of Parliament Chris Bishop, the GWRC are 
not stating the size of fines for NZ Bus for contract breaches. Citations for context: 
https://twitter.com/malosilima/status/1111039477604974592 
https://twitter.com/cjsbishop/status/1111047720087633921 
 
I would like to know if this is correct, and if it is, I would like to request the reasoning behind this 
matter being commercially sensitive. 
 
If it is not correct, I would like to know the total magnitude of fines that have been applied to NZ 
Bus.” 
GWRC’s response follows: 
GWRC has withheld the monetary value of the Performance Deductions applied to NZ Bus in 
relation to performance against the reliability key performance indicator (KPI) and the punctuality 
KPI.  
In making this decision GWRC considered that it is necessary to withhold this information as 
making it available would be likely to unreasonably prejudice the commercial position of NZ Bus 
and that withholding the monetary value of the Performance Deductions is necessary to enable 
GWRC to conduct commercial negotiations without prejudice or disadvantage. 
The relevant sections of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (the 
Act) applicable in this case are 7(2)(b)(ii) and 7(2)(i). 
OIA 2019-127 JACK COWIE RESPONSE 

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In GWRC’s opinion the release of the NZ Bus Performance Deductions could unreasonably: 
1.  Prejudice the commercial position of bus operators in relation to one another; 
2.  Prejudice the commercial position of NZ Bus in particular, given that NZ Bus is in the 
process of being sold;  
3.  Prejudice the commercial positon of NZ Bus in relation to any current or future tenders; 
4.  Prejudice the negotiating position of GWRC in relation to the future procurement of bus 
contracts; and  
5.  Prejudice or disadvantage GWRC’s ability to conduct negotiations with NZ Bus and other 
bus operators linked to contract variations. 
GWRC is currently working co-operatively with NZ Bus and other bus operators to improve 
performance on the network. GWRC considers that releasing information about the monetary value 
of Performance Deductions at this time may be to the detriment of the co-operative and constructive 
relationship that is required between GWRC and the operators to lift performance of the network.   
As part of the decision making process not to release the monetary value of the Performance 
Deductions applied to NZ Bus, GWRC has carefully considered whether the public interest in the 
requested information outweighs GWRC’s reasons for withholding the information. At this time 
(and for the reasons stated) GWRC does not consider that the public interest outweighs GWRC’s 
reasons for withholding this information. 
If you have any concerns with the decision(s) referred to in this letter, you have the right to request 
an investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 27(3) of the Act.  
Yours sincerely 
 
Greg Pollock 
General Manager, Public Transport 
OIA 2019-127 JACK COWIE RESPONSE 
 
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