Dear Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment,

Section 19 of the Environment Act 1986 grants search powers to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, allowing them to obtain information and documents and examine people under oath. I would like to request the following information under the OIA:

* How many times in the last five years did the Commissioner exercise their powers under section 19(1) to obtain information or documents?
* How many times in the last five years did the Commissioner exercise their powers under section 19(2) to examine people under oath?

I would like a breakdown by year if available. In the unlikely event that a five year period would require substantial collation and research, I am willing to negotiate a shorter one.

I would prefer to receive an electronic response. Queries about this request will be automatically forwarded to me by the fyi.org.nz website.

With regards to s12 of the OIA, I am an NZ citizen and in NZ.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Harris

Dear Marilyn Comber,

I would prefer my request to be handled through FYI, as is my right under s16(2) OIA. If you believe the privacy of staff is compromised by publication of information, then it is open to you to redact their details under s9(2)(a) where this is not outweighed by the public interest. If the concern is over staff names in request-related correspondence, I suggest that you have responses come formally from the Commissioner or an official account.

If you do not process my request lawfully within the required deadline, then that is an effective refusal and will result in a complaint to the Ombudsman. Given their guidance on "requests made online", I expect the Ombudsman to be unsympathetic to your position.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Harris