PO Box 14001
Christchurch 8544
New Zealand
Telephone (+64 3) 358 5029
christchurchairport.co.nz
19 September 2023
Sue Nyhof
Email: c/-
[FYI request #23922 email]
Dear Sue,
OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT 1982 (OIA) – REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - CHRISTCHURCH
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LIMITED (CIAL)
1.
We write further to our email of 24 August 2023, acknowledging receipt of your email of 22 August
2023 (via the third party public platform fyi.org.nz) titled “Reaction to Southern Way” in which you
requested the following information pursuant to the OIA:
“any emails, memos, meeting notes or other correspondence which relates to the statements
made by Southern Way in this article: https://ddec1-0-en-
ctp.trendmicro.com:443/wis/clicktime/v1/query?url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.newsroom.co.nz%2fwe%2dneed
%2dto%2dtalk%2dabout%2dtarras&umid=9182fa32-212f-44c6-8be1-
4d7ec0971b2f&auth=a1949cb589230c261a127d13d3b35f6899aebf1c-
7749c0b4e37e103507b07ee1665ccf1fdd0e2565. Include please any reference to any of the individual
member organisations of Southern Way.”
(the “
Request ”).
2.
At the outset we note that no statement in the article is expressly attributed to any spokesperson
for Southern Way or any of the individual member organisations of Southern Way. We have, however,
assumed that the following statements made in the article are included in those that you are referring
to:
“Southern Way is comfortable current needs are being met. We don’t have enough information yet
to understand future needs.”
“Each region’s destination-management plan has varying degrees of future focus. They need to feed
into a much larger conversation on national infrastructure planning.”
3.
CIAL does not hold any emails, memos, meeting notes or other correspondence specifically relating
to those particular statements, aside from the article itself, and therefore the Request is refused
under section 18(g) of the OIA.
4.
We note, however, that the proposed Central Otago Airport project (the “
Project”) is currently in
the validation and planning phase. CIAL has consistently acknowledged that there is a real diversity
of opinion and range of perspectives among the community in relation to the Project and, in order to
assist public understanding of the context of the Project and CIAL's decisions, CIAL has committed
to respectfully engaging with the community and proactively publishing information as it completes
pieces of work. This has seen CIAL:
a. meet with a number of different individuals and entities, including specific representatives
of community groups, business groups, businesses, and local authorities in relation to the
Project;
b. publish on its Project website, among other items, a document recently dated August 2023
titled “
Unlocking Potential: Central Otago’s runway to a future-focussed airport”, which
provides general information on the work and analysis CIAL has undertaken as at the date
thereof
in
relation
to
the
Project
(https://www.centralotagoairport.co.nz/uploads/images/Unlocking-potential-31-
Aug2023.pdf). In line with the theme of the first statement noted above, this document
provides general analysis in relation to future passenger demand growth in Central Otago.
5.
We trust we have answered your requests for information. If you require any further information or
we have in some way misinterpreted your requests, please let us know.
6.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of the decisions contained
in this letter. Information about how to contact the Ombudsman or make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
CIAL LEGAL TEAM
Email: [Christchurch International Airport Limited request email]
