OIAD-3585
18 December 2023
Stephen Prendergast
[FYI request #24792 email]
Tēnā koe Stephen
Thank you for your Official Information Act request to the Department of Conservation
(DOC), received on 20 November 2023 in which you asked for correspondence and other
information between DOC, MBIE and Te Arawhiti concerning RAL, and Whakapapa and
Tūroa ski fields.
This letter is to advise you that we are extending the 20 working day period to respond to
your request, as allowed under section 15A(1) of the OIA. We require an additional 15
working
days to respond to your request.
The extension of time is necessary as the consultations necessary to make a decision on the
request mean that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably be made within the
original time limit. Additionally, responding to your request necessitates a search through a
large quantity of information and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere
with the operations of DOC.
Ordinarily, this working day period would reflect three weeks of actual time. However, the
period from 25 December to 15 January is excluded from the definition of ‘working days’
under the OIA. This means that a 15-working day extension shifts the actual due date for
your request to 30 January 2024. We will continue to work on your request, and will send
you a response no later than 30 January 2024. We will endeavour to respond earlier if
possible.
You have the right, under section 28(3) of the OIA to make a complaint to an Ombudsman
about the extension. If you wish to discuss this response to your request, please contact
[email address].
Nāku noa, nā
Rachael Jordan
Principal Advisor
Department of Conservation
Te Papa Atawhai
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