Information about differential hut fees for International Visitors

Mike McGavin made this Official Information request to Department of Conservation

The request was refused by Department of Conservation.

From: Mike McGavin

Dear Department of Conservation,

I'd like to please request information which the Department holds regarding decisions on differential charging (or lack of it) between tourists and New Zealand citizens and/or residents for staying in back-country huts.

If it helps, I've informally heard that DOC has investigated differential charging for use of back-country huts in the past (possibly about 5 or more years ago), and might have obtained a legal opinion which said that charging different amounts for different people would be a breach of the Bill of Rights Act.

If such an opinion exists in DoC records, I'd like a copy, but I'd also like any other reports that describe the rationale behind DoC's current practice of not differentiating between people when charging.

Cheers and thanks very much,

Mike McGavin

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From: Mike McGavin

Dear Department of Conservation,

On May 28th 2012 I sent DoC a request for information under the Official Information Act that requested Information about differential hut fees for International Visitors.

It was sent via the FYI.org.nz website, so notification would have come via email. The content of the request may also be viewed online at http://fyi.org.nz/request/information_ab...

According to the Official Information Act, a response was due by today at (25th June 2012) at the latest, but despite being 11.40pm on this day, I've still not received a response, so I *think* it is now late according to legal requirements.

Could you please update me on the progress of the request?

Thanks very much,

Mike McGavin

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Mike McGavin left an annotation ()

As DoC has only received and responded to one FYI request in the past (in 2010), I'm sending the following directly to enquiries@doc.govt.nz, in case there have been issues with something like a spam filter.

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Hello.

On 28th May 2012 I sent an OIA request to the Department of Conservation via http://www.fyi.org.nz, which forwards requests to this address which is also advertised on the DoC website and in various publications. The request was for Information about differential hut fees for International Visitors.

I think the final response was due yesterday according to the Official Information Act, but so far I've not received anything. I've also not received any acknowledgement that the request was received. I sent a follow-up query last night, also via the site, but I thought I should also query this more directly in case something's being caught in a spam filter or the like.

The original request should be in DOC's records somewhere as having been sent to the Enquiries address on 28th May, but it can also be viewed online at http://fyi.org.nz/request/information_ab...

Could you please update me as to the status of this request?

My request is not urgent and I'm flexible with waiting longer within reason if there's been a mix-up, but if there has been an issue with emails from the FYI website being lost or ignored, it may be something that needs addressing in the near future as the website is already often used for making OIA requests to other departments and entities, although DOC itself has only had and successfully responded to one such request prior to mine.

Thanks very much.
Mike.

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Mike McGavin left an annotation ()

Through a direct email received this morning, I've been advised that "We received your request and it is currently under action".

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Mike McGavin left an annotation ()

I've just emailed the following to the DOC staff member who notified me the request had been actioned:

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Sorry to be a bother again, but as the response was due on 25th June and is now already 6 working days late (going on 7) under the OIA, would it be possible to please get an estimation of how long it might take?

I certainly don't want to work someone into the ground and I'm still happy to wait, but it'd be good to have an idea so I can plan around it.

Cheers.
Mike.

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Mike McGavin left an annotation ()

Response: Should be 'early next week'.

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From: Elena Sedouch
Department of Conservation


Attachment Spno3m0512070915250.pdf
25K Download View as HTML


Hello Mike,

 

Please find the Department’s reply to your OIA request of 28 May 2012.

 

 

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From: Mike McGavin

Hello Elena or whom it may concern,

Thanks for the response to my OIA request regarding information about differential hut fees for international visitor, answered by Grant Baker.

I'm not clear with the reasoning of why the request was refused.

Was it determined that the information does not exist specifically because I used the word 'decision' when no specific decision has been made to change from the status quo, or was the determination made because there has never been advice received regarding the matter?

Thanks for the help.

Mike McGavin.

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Mike McGavin left an annotation ()

After another week of having no acknowledgement to my query, I emailed DoC directly on July 16th to ask for a status of my question. On July 18th I was informed "The Department has received your follow up query of 9 July. You will receive a reply shortly."

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Mike McGavin left an annotation ()

This morning I received a PDF response to my follow-up query via direct email, from Grant Baker (Deputy Director General, Business Services, who wrote (not very usefully but oh well):

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"Dear Mike

I refer to your email of 9 July 2012 querying the Department's response to your request for a decision on differential charging between tourists and New Zealand citizens for staying in backcountry huts.

The information your (sic) requested does not exist because the status quo is that 'the Department fees system does not differentiate between national and international visitors'. This has been the case for the past 10 years during which time no papers have been prepared on the issue.

Yours Sincerely

Grant Baker
Deputy Director General, Business Services
For Director-General

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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
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