Dear Sir

RNZ acknowledges receipt of your OIA request. Under the Official Information Act 1982 we have 20 working days to respond, and will contact you via email /post. If for any reason our response is delayed due to illness, or pandemic we will advise immediately.

Kind regards
Maggie Hedge| OIA Administrator RNZ
[email address]

-----Original Message-----
From: Tipene Matiu <[FOI #22307 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 28 March 2023 4:55 PM
To: RNZ <[email address]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] - Official Information request - Discloure of protocols surrounding commercial relationship between Guyon Espiner and Irrigation NZ

In accordance with your obligations to transparency as a Government entity under the Official Information Act I seek copies of:
1) all documents held relating to the commercial relationship between your journalist and presenter Guyon Espiner with irrigation NZ reflected in his presence on their website https://www.irrigationnz.co.nz/PersonPro...
2) a list of all times Guyon Espiner has declared this conflict of interest on air in relation to a news story relating to Irrigation, farming, diversion of waterways, soil erosion or climate change
3) Protocols developed to manage the conflict of interest between Mr Espiner's commercial relationships and his role as a journalist and presenter on your channels
4) A list of the other commercial relationships that Mr Espiner has to allow listeners to form a judgement on other conflicts of interest.

Please note I have read your refusal to provide information on moonlighting by employees in response to another request: https://fyi.org.nz/request/20048-moonlig....

I am not seeking generic information. I am seeking specific information relating to specific conflicts Mr Espiner has.

As Mr Espiner wrote on 25 March 2023 (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/lobbying/4866...) of another person who regularly appears on RNZ:"But with no transparency in the lobbying industry the hundreds of thousands who listen to his political views on RNZ's Nine to Noon show have no idea who his clients are."

With no transparency at RNZ about the commercial relationships entered into by presenters and journalists the hundreds of thousands who listen to Mr Espiner's political analysis on RNZ have no idea who his clients are and if or how he is promoting their interests.

Please do not take the maximum 20 days allowed under the Act to reply - comply with the law and do it ASAP.

Please do not obfuscate and hide behind tricks like you have done to other requests.

Be transparent and upfront.

Your listeners deserve it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #22307 email]

Is [RNZ request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Radio New Zealand Limited? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Emails sent by Radio New Zealand Limited (RNZ) or any related entity, including any attachments, may be confidential, protected by copyright and/or subject to privilege. If you receive an email from RNZ in error, please inform the sender immediately, delete it from your system and do not use, copy or disclose any of the information in that email for any purpose. Emails to/from RNZ may undergo email filtering and virus scanning, including by third party contractors. However, RNZ does not guarantee that any email or any attachment is secure, error-free or free of viruses or other unwanted or unexpected inclusions. The views expressed in any non-business email are not necessarily the views of RNZ. www.rnz.co.nz

hide quoted sections

"Kia ora Matiu

 

My apologies for the delay in responding to your request. The information
we hold with respect to your inquires is as follows:

 

1) all documents held relating to the commercial relationship between your
journalist and presenter Guyon Espiner with irrigation NZ reflected in his
presence on their website
[1]https://www.irrigationnz.co.nz/PersonPro...

 

Mr Espiner can recall chairing a panel discussion at a national conference
six or seven years ago involving Irrigation NZ and presumes this profile
was prepared by Irrigation NZ as a part of that activity.  While no
documents are held Mr Espiner recalls seeking and obtaining approval for
this activity.

 

2) a list of all times Guyon Espiner has declared this conflict of
interest on air in relation to a news story relating to Irrigation,
farming, diversion of waterways, soil erosion or climate change

 

RNZ does not keep a list of times presenters seek approval for out of work
activities as approval is sought and given on a case by case basis.

 

3) Protocols developed to manage the conflict of interest between Mr
Espiner's commercial relationships and his role as a journalist and
presenter on your channels

 

RNZ has a general conflict of interest policy which is attached.

 

4) A list of the other commercial relationships that Mr Espiner has to
allow listeners to form a judgement on other conflicts of interest.

 

Any other relationships that Mr Espiner may have are a part of his
employment relationship with RNZ which we are obliged to keep confidential
to the parties to that relationship.

 

RNZ has considered whether there is a countervailing public interest in
releasing the information which it withholds and has found the need to
keep employment matters private and confidential to the parties exceeds
any public interest in those arrangements.

 

You have a right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
this decision.  Information about how to make a complaint is available at
[2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz  or freephone 0800 802 602.

 

Ngā mihi

 

George Bignell | Legal Adviser and Procurement Manager
RNZ, PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand, 6140 

DDI +64 4 474 1424

Mobile: +64 27 491 2246

[3]www.rnz.co.nz 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Tipene Matiu <[4][FOI #22307 email]>

Sent: Tuesday, 28 March 2023 4:55 PM

To: RNZ <[5][email address]>

Subject: [EXTERNAL] - Official Information request - Discloure of
protocols surrounding commercial relationship between Guyon Espiner and
Irrigation NZ

 

In accordance with your obligations to transparency as a Government entity
under the Official Information Act I seek copies of:

1) all documents held relating to the commercial relationship between your
journalist and presenter Guyon Espiner with irrigation NZ reflected in his
presence on their website
[6]https://www.irrigationnz.co.nz/PersonPro...

2) a list of all times Guyon Espiner has declared this conflict of
interest on air in relation to a news story relating to Irrigation,
farming, diversion of waterways, soil erosion or climate change

3) Protocols developed to manage the conflict of interest between Mr
Espiner's commercial relationships and his role as a journalist and
presenter on your channels

4) A list of the other commercial relationships that Mr Espiner has to
allow listeners to form a judgement on other conflicts of interest.

 

Please note I have read your refusal to provide information on
moonlighting by employees in response to another request:
[7]https://fyi.org.nz/request/20048-moonlig....

 

I am not seeking generic information.  I am seeking specific information
relating to specific conflicts Mr Espiner has.

 

As Mr Espiner wrote on 25 March 2023
([8]https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/lobbying/4866...)
of another person who regularly appears on RNZ:"But with no transparency
in the lobbying industry the hundreds of thousands who listen to his
political views on RNZ's Nine to Noon show have no idea who his clients
are."

 

With no transparency at RNZ about the commercial relationships entered
into by presenters and journalists the hundreds of thousands who listen to
Mr Espiner's political analysis on RNZ have no idea who his clients are
and if or how he is promoting their interests.

 

Please do not take the maximum 20 days allowed under the Act to reply -
comply with the law and do it ASAP.

 

Please do not obfuscate and hide behind tricks like you have done to other
requests.

 

Be transparent and upfront.

 

Your listeners deserve it.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[9][FOI #22307 email]

 

Is [10][RNZ request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests
to Radio New Zealand Limited? If so, please contact us using this form:

[11]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[12]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not
click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know
the content is safe.

 

Emails sent by Radio New Zealand Limited (RNZ) or any related entity,
including any attachments, may be confidential, protected by copyright
and/or subject to privilege. If you receive an email from RNZ in error,
please inform the sender immediately, delete it from your system and do
not use, copy or disclose any of the information in that email for any
purpose. Emails to/from RNZ may undergo email filtering and virus
scanning, including by third party contractors. However, RNZ does not
guarantee that any email or any attachment is secure, error-free or free
of viruses or other unwanted or unexpected inclusions. The views expressed
in any non-business email are not necessarily the views of RNZ.
www.rnz.co.nz

References

Visible links
1. https://www.irrigationnz.co.nz/PersonPro...
2. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
3. http://www.rnz.co.nz/
4. mailto:[FOI #22307 email]
5. mailto:[email address]
6. https://www.irrigationnz.co.nz/PersonPro...
7. https://fyi.org.nz/request/20048-moonlig...
8. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/lobbying/4866...
9. mailto:[FOI #22307 email]
10. mailto:[RNZ request email]
11. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
12. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Good morning

RNZ acknowledges receipt of your OIA request. Under the Official Information Act 1982 we have 20 working days to respond, and will contact you via email /post. If for any reason our response is delayed due to illness, or pandemic we will advise immediately.

Kind regards
Maggie Hedge| OIA Administrator RNZ
[email address]

________________________________________
From: Tipene Matiu <[FOI #22307 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 15 June 2023 3:04:06 pm (UTC+12:00) Auckland, Wellington
To: George Bignell
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] - Official Information request - Discloure of protocols surrounding commercial relationship between Guyon Espiner and Irrigation NZ

Dear George Bignell,

Your comment under request number 2 is non responsive.

The request sought:
a list of all times Guyon Espiner has declared this conflict of interest on air in relation to a news story relating to Irrigation, farming, diversion of waterways, soil erosion or climate change

Your response related to requests for approval for external commercial work. This response has nothing to do with the number of times Mr Espiner explained to his listeners that he had a commercial conflict with the issues he was talking about. Please provide the list of occasions on which he informed his listeners of these conflicts as requested several months ago.

Yours sincerely,

Tipene Matiu

-----Original Message-----

"Kia ora Matiu

My apologies for the delay in responding to your request. The information we hold with respect to your inquires is as follows:

1) all documents held relating to the commercial relationship between your journalist and presenter Guyon Espiner with irrigation NZ reflected in his presence on their website
[1]https://www.irrigationnz.co.nz/PersonPro...

Mr Espiner can recall chairing a panel discussion at a national conference six or seven years ago involving Irrigation NZ and presumes this profile was prepared by Irrigation NZ as a part of that activity. While no documents are held Mr Espiner recalls seeking and obtaining approval for this activity.

2) a list of all times Guyon Espiner has declared this conflict of interest on air in relation to a news story relating to Irrigation, farming, diversion of waterways, soil erosion or climate change

RNZ does not keep a list of times presenters seek approval for out of work activities as approval is sought and given on a case by case basis.

3) Protocols developed to manage the conflict of interest between Mr Espiner's commercial relationships and his role as a journalist and presenter on your channels

RNZ has a general conflict of interest policy which is attached.

4) A list of the other commercial relationships that Mr Espiner has to allow listeners to form a judgement on other conflicts of interest.

Any other relationships that Mr Espiner may have are a part of his employment relationship with RNZ which we are obliged to keep confidential to the parties to that relationship.

RNZ has considered whether there is a countervailing public interest in releasing the information which it withholds and has found the need to keep employment matters private and confidential to the parties exceeds any public interest in those arrangements.

You have a right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

Ngā mihi

George Bignell | Legal Adviser and Procurement Manager RNZ, PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand, 6140

DDI +64 4 474 1424

Mobile: +64 27 491 2246

[3]www.rnz.co.nz

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #22307 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Emails sent by Radio New Zealand Limited (RNZ) or any related entity, including any attachments, may be confidential, protected by copyright and/or subject to privilege. If you receive an email from RNZ in error, please inform the sender immediately, delete it from your system and do not use, copy or disclose any of the information in that email for any purpose. Emails to/from RNZ may undergo email filtering and virus scanning, including by third party contractors. However, RNZ does not guarantee that any email or any attachment is secure, error-free or free of viruses or other unwanted or unexpected inclusions. The views expressed in any non-business email are not necessarily the views of RNZ. www.rnz.co.nz

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Tipene

RNZ does not view Mr Espiner's chairing a discussion panel at an industry conference to be a conflict of interest so it was not "declared" on air to listeners as your request asked.

I trust this clarifies the matter for you .

George Bignell | Legal Adviser and Procurement Manager RNZ, PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand, 6140

DDI +64 4 474 1424

Mobile: +64 27 491 2246

[3]www.rnz.co.nz

-----Original Message-----
From: George Bignell <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, 15 June 2023 3:04 PM
To: George Bignell <[email address]>; Maggie Hedge <[email address]>
Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] - Official Information request - Discloure of protocols surrounding commercial relationship between Guyon Espiner and Irrigation NZ

________________________________________
From: Tipene Matiu <[FOI #22307 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 15 June 2023 3:04:06 pm (UTC+12:00) Auckland, Wellington
To: George Bignell
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] - Official Information request - Discloure of protocols surrounding commercial relationship between Guyon Espiner and Irrigation NZ

Dear George Bignell,

Your comment under request number 2 is non responsive.

The request sought:
a list of all times Guyon Espiner has declared this conflict of interest on air in relation to a news story relating to Irrigation, farming, diversion of waterways, soil erosion or climate change

Your response related to requests for approval for external commercial work. This response has nothing to do with the number of times Mr Espiner explained to his listeners that he had a commercial conflict with the issues he was talking about. Please provide the list of occasions on which he informed his listeners of these conflicts as requested several months ago.

Yours sincerely,

Tipene Matiu

-----Original Message-----

"Kia ora Matiu

My apologies for the delay in responding to your request. The information we hold with respect to your inquires is as follows:

1) all documents held relating to the commercial relationship between your journalist and presenter Guyon Espiner with irrigation NZ reflected in his presence on their website
[1]https://www.irrigationnz.co.nz/PersonPro...

Mr Espiner can recall chairing a panel discussion at a national conference six or seven years ago involving Irrigation NZ and presumes this profile was prepared by Irrigation NZ as a part of that activity. While no documents are held Mr Espiner recalls seeking and obtaining approval for this activity.

2) a list of all times Guyon Espiner has declared this conflict of interest on air in relation to a news story relating to Irrigation, farming, diversion of waterways, soil erosion or climate change

RNZ does not keep a list of times presenters seek approval for out of work activities as approval is sought and given on a case by case basis.

3) Protocols developed to manage the conflict of interest between Mr Espiner's commercial relationships and his role as a journalist and presenter on your channels

RNZ has a general conflict of interest policy which is attached.

4) A list of the other commercial relationships that Mr Espiner has to allow listeners to form a judgement on other conflicts of interest.

Any other relationships that Mr Espiner may have are a part of his employment relationship with RNZ which we are obliged to keep confidential to the parties to that relationship.

RNZ has considered whether there is a countervailing public interest in releasing the information which it withholds and has found the need to keep employment matters private and confidential to the parties exceeds any public interest in those arrangements.

You have a right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

Ngā mihi

George Bignell | Legal Adviser and Procurement Manager RNZ, PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand, 6140

DDI +64 4 474 1424

Mobile: +64 27 491 2246

[3]www.rnz.co.nz

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #22307 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Emails sent by Radio New Zealand Limited (RNZ) or any related entity, including any attachments, may be confidential, protected by copyright and/or subject to privilege. If you receive an email from RNZ in error, please inform the sender immediately, delete it from your system and do not use, copy or disclose any of the information in that email for any purpose. Emails to/from RNZ may undergo email filtering and virus scanning, including by third party contractors. However, RNZ does not guarantee that any email or any attachment is secure, error-free or free of viruses or other unwanted or unexpected inclusions. The views expressed in any non-business email are not necessarily the views of RNZ. www.rnz.co.nz

hide quoted sections