133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
24 May 2023
Katherine Raue
By email: [FYI request #22641 email]
Ref:
H2023024483
Tēnā koe Katherine
Response to your request for official information Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to Manatū
Hauora (the Ministry of Health) on 1 May 2023 for information regarding Nga Hau E Wha.
You requested:
“I request all information the Ministry holds regarding Tui Taurua aka Tui Taurua
Peihopa, and all information regarding the mental health peer support network known
as Nga Hau E Wha since the last release of information, which is at this link -
fyi.org.nz/request/9896-all-information-regarding-contracts-and-funding-awarded-to-
nga-hau-e-wha-supporting-applications-etc
This includes a copy of the current contract, and all communication between the
Ministry and anyone else regarding Nga Hau E Wha.”
On 9 and 15 May 2023, you were contacted by Manatū Hauora pursuant to section 18B of
the Act to seek clarification and refinement to your request. We asked if, for example, you
were specifically seeking key documents such as memos and briefings. On 23 May 2023,
you responded with the following:
“We require the information we requested. Our own personal information has been
fraudulently obtained and fraudulently misused by this organisation and we will not
hesitate to follow up with complaints to the Ombudsmen and litigation if the Ministry
refuses to provide the information requested.
We note the the previous release of information regarding this group contains
evidence of criminal offending and a letter to the Prime Minister which has been
altered with intent to deceive and fraudulently misused for personal gain, and that
criminal proceedings are before the Court involving several Ministry staff and former
staff.”
As you were advised in the Ministry’s refinement request, the information requested requires
the resources of two Manatū Hauora employees and the difficulty of accessing this
information from two former employees. The task of compiling the designated materials is
exacerbated in volume and complexity, including the requirement to search through,
individually examine and analyse hundreds of emails to discern its contents and to
determine whether they are within scope of your request. This would place an unreasonable
degree of strain on the team responsible and would interfere with the day-to-day workings of
the Ministry.
As such, your request for information is refused under section 18(f) of the Act, as it would
require a substantial amount of collation to provide the information you have requested.
Please note, Manatū Hauora remains open to responding to a manageable request in the
future should you wish to make one.
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Jan Torres
Manager, OIA Services Government and Executive Services | Te Pou Whakatere Kāwanatanga
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