16 July 2020
Ben Moskovitz
[FYI request #13264 email]
Tēnā koe Ben
Your Official Information Act request, reference: GOV-005686
Thank you for your email of 8 July 2020, asking for the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
If you have the data available, I would like to see a ranked list of foods based on the number of
choking deaths they've caused in the past 10 years.
We are unable to provide this information
ACC does not collect information to the level of detail that you have requested. The data set available to
ACC is reliant on the information provided on an ACC45 injury claim form, which is completed when a
person seeks treatment for their injury. There are multiple fields on the ACC45 form, some fields are
mandatory to complete, and others are not.
There is a free-text field ‘accident description’ on the form where a person can provide a brief description
of how their accident happened. This is where any specific information about a choking accident would
be recorded. This field is not mandatory to complete and not every client does so. Also, when the field is
completed there is considerable variation in the way accidents are described.
As such, we are refusing your request under section 18(g) of the Act as the information requested is not
held by ACC.
How to get in touch
If you have any questions, you can email me at
[email address]. If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman.
Information about how to do this is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800
802 602.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Sasha Wood
Manager Official Information Act Services
Government Engagement & Support