27 October 2020
Mike Holt
[FYI request #14035 email]
Dear Mr Holt
Thank you for your request of 26 October 2020 to Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities.
In your email you reference a report that Housing New Zealand commissioned in 2016 from
Dr Nick Kim from Massey University. At the time, Housing New Zealand wanted to obtain
independent scientific advice to determine acceptable levels of methamphetamine
contamination in its properties, given the available guidance at the time. After receiving
Dr Kim’s report, it was reviewed by the following experts:
Dr Leo Schep (Poisons Centre)
Peter Cressey (ESR)
Dr Jackie Wright (Environmental Risk Sciences)
Dr Jeff Fowles (Tox-Logic Consulting, California)
We understand that the reviews of Dr Wright, Dr Fowles, and Mr Cressey were
commissioned by the Ministry of Health.
You requested copies of these four reviews as wel as a copy of Dr Kim’s research. I have
considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
There are two documents within the scope of your request, which I have attached. These are
Dr Kim’s report, and an email chain which includes the reviews from Dr Fowles and
Mr Cressey. Note that these are also publicly available on the Kāinga Ora website at
https://kaingaora.govt.nz/publications/methamphetamine-contamination-response/.
Kāinga Ora searched for the reviews provided by Dr Schep and Dr Wright but was unable to
locate them. I am therefore refusing your request for that information under section 18(g) of
the Act on the basis that the information is not held.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of this 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
Greg Groufsky
DCE Governance