From:
Emily Robins
To:
Kate Satterthwaite
Subject:
RE: Preliminary inquiry - OIA delay (NZCL) REF:579248
Date:
Wednesday, 13 April 2022 10:16:06 am
Attachments:
image001.jpg
Kia ora Kate,
Acknowledging receipt, thank you.
Emily Robins
Assistant Investigator
Office of the Ombudsman | Tari o te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata
Phone 0800 802 602| Fax 04 471 2254
Email [email address] | www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
PO Box 10152, Level 7, SolNet House, 70 The Terrace, Wellington
From: Kate Satterthwaite <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 12 April 2022 4:44 pm
To: Emily Robins <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Preliminary inquiry - OIA delay (NZCL) REF:579248
Hi Emily, thank you for your email.
Unfortunately, I have identified that there was an administrative error and the OIA request from
the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties, received by Stats NZ on 8 February 2022, was not
correctly logged by the responsible Senior Advisor.
As a result of this error the OIA was not progressed, and this was only identified on receipt of
your email.
Today we have responded to the request made by the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties – a
copy of our response, which includes an apology and acknowledgment of the delay, is attached
for your records.
I acknowledge that this response did not meet timeliness requirements.
I am undertaking a programme of work to lift the performance and capability of the Stats NZ
Executive and Governance function, which includes the centralised OIA support function.
As part of this work, in mid-February I implemented a new tracker for OIAs. The OIA tracker is
updated weekly – it lists all OIAs on hand and provides better visibility and oversight of how Stats
NZ is managing and progressing each OIA. The tracker is utilised by the team that manage OIA
responses and is also circulated to Stats NZ leadership to ensure better visibility, accountability
and timeliness for OIAs.
The tracker should prevent errors, such as that which occurred with the request from the New
Zealand Council for Civil Liberties, from happening.
Please let me know if you require any further information.
While I’m emailing - if possible, would you please be able to provide the contact details for the
best person in your Office to speak to about possible OIA training/upskilling for staff.
Many thanks, Kate
Kate Satterthwaite (she/her and Ms)
Senior Manager - Executive and Government Relations, Office of the Chief Executive
Kaiwhakahaere Matua, Rautaki me te Mahi Haumi
Stats NZ | Tatauranga Aotearoa | stats.govt.nz | +64 29 200 8281
About Aotearoa, for Aotearoa
Data that improves lives today and for generations to come
From: Emily Robins <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 8 April 2022 2:21 PM
To: Info Mailin - Shared Mailbox <info [email address]>
Subject: Preliminary inquiry - OIA delay (NZCL) REF:579248
Importance: High
Tēnā koe,
This Office has received a complaint from the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties (NZCL)
about a delay by stats NZ in responding to an OIA request.
The request was made on 8 February 2022 via FYI (attached) seeking a discussion paper
regarding the dimensions of security vs. transparency.
I understand that stats NZ has not made a decision on the request.
In accordance with the current approach of the Ombudsman to delay issues, please respond to
the following questions:
1. When was the request received by stats NZ?
2. Was the timeframe for making a decision and communicating it to the requester ever
extended? If so, please provide copies of any correspondence with NZCL.
3. Was the request ever amended or clarified? If so, please provide copies of any relevant
correspondence.
4. Does stats NZ accept that there has been a delay in making and communicating a
decision?
5. Has stats NZ now made and communicated a decision on the request? If so please provide
a copy of the decision to the Ombudsman. If not, please advise when stats NZ expects to
be able to make and communicate a decision.
I would be grateful if you could please respond to these questions by
Thursday 21 April 2022.
Please note: if you accept that there was a delay (ie., a failure to meet the timeliness
requirements imposed by the OIA) and confirm that decisions on the requests have been made
and communicated to the requester (and provide copies) by
21 April 2022, the Ombudsman will
likely decline to investigate the complaints on the basis that investigations are
‘unnecessary’.
However, if we do not receive a response from you by the above date, or if decisions are not
made on the requests and communicated to NZCL by that date, it is likely that formal
investigations will be commenced.
Ngā mihi
Emily Robins
Assistant Investigator
Office of the Ombudsman | Tari o te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata
Phone 0800 802 602| Fax 04 471 2254
Email [email address] | www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
PO Box 10152, Level 7, SolNet House, 70 The Terrace, Wellington
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