19-E-0451 / DOC 6046228
22 August 2019
Hannah Enderby
via fyi.org.nz
Dear Ms Enderby
We refer to your information request to the Department of Conservation dated 4 July
2019, regarding tracking devices that are used to monitor kiwi.
In our 7 August 2019 response to a previous information request from you (request
19-E-0457), we asked that you provide evidence of your eligibility to make requests
under the Official Information Act 1982 (“the OIA”) by 14 August 2019.
We did not receive the evidence we requested within that prescribed timeframe.
Therefore, we have decided to decline this request on the basis that it does not meet
the eligibility criteria set out in section 12 of the OIA. I have made this decision in
consideration of the resources we have available to respond to requests and our
obligation and ability to respond to legitimate OIA requests in a timely manner.
We are however happy to provide a response to this request outside of the OIA
process and on the basis that you pay for the costs incurred by the Department in
preparing that response.
We estimate that the Department will incur a minimum cost of
$1,064 (New Zealand
dollars) in preparing a response. Schedule 1 (attached to this letter) contains
information on how we have fixed this charge. If you wish to make this payment and
receive a response, please get in touch with us via
[email address]. Please note
that you will need to pay the full amount of $1,064 to the Department before we begin
preparing a response.
Y ou have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this
decision. Information about how you can make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Y ours sincerely
Amber Bill
Director Threats,
for Director-General
Conservation House -
Whare Kaupapa Atawhai
PO Box 10 420, Wellington 6143
Telephone (04) 471 0726, Fax (04) 381 3057
Schedule 1 – calculation of minimum cost
Table 1: chargeable activities
Chargeable activities
• Search and retrieval of relevant documents
required
• Research (reading and reviewing to identify
relevant information)
• Drafting and editing the response
• Reasonably required peer review to ensure that the
response accurately captures the requested
information
Minimum estimated
15 hours
total time to complete
chargeable activities
Table 2: calculation of total cost payable
Charging rate*
Total chargeable
Total hours
(NZD)
hours
Total cost** (NZD)
15 hours
$38/half hour,
14 hours
$1,064.00
with the first hour
free
* The charging rate is consistent with the rate prescribed in the Ministry of Justice Charging
Guidelines for Official Information Act 1982 Requests.
** The total cost is inclusive of GST