CORPORATE OFFICE
Level 1
32 Oxford Terrace
Telephone: 0064 3 364 4160
Christchurch Central
Fax: 0064 3 364 4165
CHRISTCHURCH 8011
[email address]
14 April 2020
Wendy Pond
Secretary, Manu Waiata Restoration & Protection Society
2225 Wyuna Bay Road
Coromandel 3581
Email: [email address];
[FYI request #12439 email]; Dear Wendy
RE Official information request WCDHB 9406
We refer to your email dated 13 March 2020 requesting the following information under the Official
Information Act from West Coast DHB regarding clarification of our responses to Official Information Act
requests WCDHB 9391 and WCDHB 9394. Specifically related to Buller River 1080 aerial operation
November 2019.
May I please ask for this clarification:
1. The conditions for permission for use of aerial poisoning in catchments of the Buller river that
resulted in carcasses being washed up in public places, were written by the Medical Officer of
Health. She did not audit the operation.
2. Without being present and without an audit, by what means does the HSNO Enforcement Officer
know that the conditions of permission were adhered to?
3. Who is responsible for ensuring the safety of public health when an aerially dispersed VTA is used,
and when effects occur outside the boundaries of the permitted operation?
Please note that at this unprecedented time, West Coast DHB have diverted significant resources from
across the organisation to support the COVID-19 response.
It is therefore necessary to extend the time required to make a decision on your request for information
in accordance with section 15A of the Official Information Act.
This is because the information cannot reasonably be identified by the necessary people within 20
working days without interfering with our operations and also the consultations necessary to make a
decision on your request are such that a response cannot be provided within the original timeframe.
As such, we expect that a decision will be made on your request and communicated to you by 29 May
2020.
If you do not agree with our decision to extend the response time on your request, you may, under
section 28(3) of the Official Information Act, seek a review of our decision by the Ombudsman.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz; or
Freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Carolyn Gullery
Executive Director
Planning, Funding & Decision Support