44 Bowen Street
Private Bag 6995
Hanks
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
29 January 2024
Joanna Newman
Convenor
Mount Victoria Historical Society
[FYI request #25391 email]
REF: OIA-14446
Dear Joanna
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email of 13 January 2024 the following information under the Official Information
Act 1982 (the Act):
On 18 November 2013, Mount Victoria Historical Society met representatives of NZTA at the
NZTA offices. Those present on behalf of NZTA were Stewart MacKenzie (Second Tunnel
Project, NZTA), Cheryl Robilliard (landscape consultant) and Ian Bowman (heritage
consultant).
We were shown drawings of plans for 7 Paterson Street, Mount Victoria and nearby properties
if/when the second Mount Victoria tunnel was given approval. We were advised, however,
that we were being “informed” only and that we could not have copies of these plans at the
time.
Under the Official Information Act, we would like now to request copies of these drawings and
related documentation.
The Mount Victoria Tunnel duplication project was put on hold and eventually superseded by the
establishment of the Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) programme in 2015. We have searched
through historical information on our database relating to this project and we are unable to locate any
documents dated 18 November 2013. To add to the difficulties in locating the information, Stewart
McKenzie, who was the Project Manager at the time, no longer works for NZ Transport Agency Waka
Kotahi (NZTA).
I am therefore refusing your request under section 18(e) of the Act because the document alleged to
contain the information requested does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be
found. 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.
We would welcome any contextual information you may have about the nature of the presentation,
and we will be happy to undertake further search. There were, however, four presentations we found
on the project dated between September and November 2013, which may contain the information that
you are looking for. Please let us know if you wish to receive a copy of these.
If you would like to discuss this reply with NZTA, please contact the Ministerial Services team by email
to [NZTA request email].
Yours sincerely
Robyn Elston
National Manager System Design