50 Victoria Street
Private Bag 6995
Fabian
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
27 September 2022
Mr Lord
[FYI request #20421 email]
REF: OIA-10914
Dear Mr Lord
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email
of 31 August 2022 requesting the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
I would like to request all data and information on record that shows the harm and dangers done
by checking an electronic device while stationary at a red light.
Furthermore the data used and research done in deciding to put forward making electronic device
use while stationary at red lights illegal in April 2021
On 7 September 2022, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency transferred the second part of your request,
regarding the data used and research undertaken in deciding to put forward making electronic device
use while stationary at red lights illegal, to the Ministry of Transport (the Ministry) for response, as it is
more closely connected with the Ministry’s functions.
In regard to the first part of your request, Waka Kotahi does not hold any information of this nature.
You may wish to contact the Ministry to discuss the topic further, as one of its functions is to carry out
research and utilise existing evidence to support and guide policy development.
I am therefore refusing this part of your request under section 18(g)(i) of the Act as the information you
request is not held by Waka Kotahi and I have no grounds to believe that the information is held by
another organisation.
Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision to refuse
this request. The contact details for the Ombudsman can be located at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
If you would like to discuss this reply with Waka Kotahi, please contact Ministerial Services, by email
to [NZTA request email].
Yours sincerely
Fabian Marsh
Senior Manager, Road Safety
2