OIAD-4430
23 October 2024
Stephen Prendergast
fyi-request-28256-ff [email address]
Tēnā koe Stephen
Thank you for your request to the Department of Conservation, received on 31 August 2024,
in which you asked for:
1. “All correspondence between DOC and any party, from 1 May 2024, requesting
information, guidance, advice or clarification on:
i.
the transfer of the current RAL (Whakapapa) license to another party, or
ii.
i . the issuing of a new licence/lease for the Whakapapa ski field.
2. Please also provide all internal DOC correspondence on the task list and timeframe
for either of those activities.
3. Please also supply all DOC briefings and updates to the MoC on Whakapapa Ski field
from 1 May 2024.”
We have considered your request under the Of icial Information Act 1982.
On 25 September 2024 we extended the timeframe to respond to your request to 18 October
2024 due to the large quantity of information sought and the consultation necessary.
Your questions and our responses are listed below:
1.
“Al correspondence between DOC and any party, from 1 May 2024, requesting
information, guidance, advice or clarification on:
i.
the transfer of the current RAL (Whakapapa) license to another party, or
ii.
i . the issuing of a new licence/lease for the Whakapapa ski field.”
We do not hold any documents in relation to question 1(i) regarding the transfer of the
current RAL (Whakapapa) licence to another party. This part of the request is
therefore refused under section 18(e) as the information requested does not exist.
Information we hold regarding question 1 (i ) is listed in Table 1 below as items 1 to
45. We also note the following about the provision of this information:
Page 1 of 7
• The attachment to item 17 has been withheld as it is a draft version of a briefing
released as item 20.
• The attachment to item 34 Briefing Outcome of the Expression of Interest process
to seek purchasers of RAL’s Whakapapa ski field business and next steps has
been withheld in full under sections 9(2)(f)(iv), 9(2)(j), 9(2)(b)(ii).
• Item 40 attachment: Attachment: Whakapapa Ski field Concession expectations
has been withheld in full under sections 9(2)(ba)(i) and 9(2)(j).
• Item 43 Email: Submission – Pure Turoa application 109883-SKI, attachments 1,
2, and 3 are declined under 18(d) as they are publicly available on the
Department’s website at:
Application by Pure Tūroa Limited to operate Tūroa Ski Area on Mt Ruapehu:
Have your say (doc.govt.nz)
• Item 43 Email: Submission – Pure Turoa application 109883-SKI, attachment 6 is
withheld under 9(2)(ba)(i).
2. “
Please also provide all internal DOC correspondence on the task list and timeframe
for either of those activities.”
These items are listed as items 1 to 9 in Table 2 below. We note the following about
the provision of this information:
• The links for Item 2 –
“Email: RE: section 17ZG(2) memo – Whakapapa” have
not been included as they are out of scope of the request.
• The links and attachments for Item 7
– “Email: RE: Whakapapa Ski field pre-
application hui” have not been included as they are out of scope of the
request.
3.
Please also supply all DOC briefings and updates to the MoC on Whakapapa Ski field
from 1 May 2024.”
These items are listed below as items 1 to 16 in Table 3 below.
I have decided to release the relevant parts of the documents listed above, subject to
information being withheld under one or more of the following sections of the Official
Information Act, as applicable:
• personal contact details of officials, under section 9(2)(a) – to protect the privacy of
natural persons, including deceased people,
• commercially sensitive information, under section 9(2)(b)(i ) – to protect the
commercial position of the person who supplied the information, or who is the subject
of the information,
• sensitive information subject to a confidence, under section 9(2)(ba)(i) – where it
could prejudice the supply of information,
Page 2 of 7
• advice stil under consideration, section 9(2)(f)(iv) – to maintain the current
constitutional conventions protecting the confidentiality of advice tendered by
Ministers and officials,
• free and frank expression under section 9(2)(g)(i) – to maintain the effective conduct
of public affairs,
• advice subject to legal privilege under section 9(2)(h) – to maintain legal professional
privilege,
• confidential information, under section 9(2)(j) – to enable the Crown to negotiate
without disadvantage or prejudice, and
• information that is out of scope of the request.
In making my decision, I have considered the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of
the Official Information Act and determined there are no public interests that outweigh the
grounds for withholding.
You are entitled to seek an investigation and review of my decision by writing to an
Ombudsman as provided by section 28(3) of the Of icial Information Act.
Please note that this letter (with your personal details removed) and attached documents
may be published on the Department’s website.
Nāku noa, nā
Phil ippa Fox
Director Regulatory Authorisations
Department of Conservation
Te Papa Atawhai
Page 3 of 7
Table 1 - Schedule of documents relating to a new concession
Item
Date
Document description
Decision
1
2 May 2024 Email - Re: Draft email advice to Minister Released in part
Potaka about letters to iwi
2
4 June 2024 Email to Ngā Tāngata Tiaki - Whakapapa Released in part
Ski field
3
4 June 2024 Attachment - Letter to Ngā Tāngata Tiaki Released in part
4
4 June 2024 Email to Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Trust – Released in part
Whakapapa Ski field
5
4 June 2024 Attachment - Letter to Ngā Waihua o
Released in part
Paerangi Trust
6
4 June 2024 Email to Te Ariki Tā Tumu Te Heuheu –
Released in part
Whakapapa Ski field
7
4 June 2024 Attachment - Letter to Te Ariki Tā Tumu
Released in part
Te Heuheu
8
4 June 2024 Email to Patutokotoko – Whakapapa Ski Released in part
field
9
4 June 2024 Attachment - Letter to Patutokotoko
Released in part
10
4 June 2024 Email to Ngāti Hāua Iwi Trust –
Released in part
Whakapapa Ski field
11
4 June 2024 Attachment - Letter to Ngāti Hāua Iwi
Released in part
Trust
12
4 June 2024 Email to Te Korowai o Wainuiārua –
Released in part
Whakapapa Ski field
13
4 June 2024 Attachment - Letter to Te Korowai o
Released in part
Wainuiārua
14
4 June 2024 Email to Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti
Released in part
Tūwharetoa Trust – Whakapapa Ski field
15
4 June 2024 Attachment - Letter to Te Kotahitanga o
Released in part
Ngāti Tūwharetoa Trust
16
6 May 2024 Email: FW: PTL / RAL
Released in part
17
9 May 2024 Email: Draft briefing: DRAFT 2 2324-
Released in part
3326 - Next steps on the commercial
process to sell Ruapehu Alpine Lift
Limited’s (in
liquidation and receivership)
Attachment: DRAFT 2 2324-3326 - Next
Withheld as full
steps on the commercial process to sell
version released as
Ruapehu Alpine Lift Limited’s (in
item 20
liquidation and receivership)
18
9 May 2024 Email: RE: Topics for Friday
Released in part
19
13 May
Email: FW: Ruapehu Matters
Released in part
2024
Page 4 of 7
20
14 May
Briefing: Next steps of the commercial
Released in part
2024
process to sell Ruapehu Alpine Lift
Limited's (in liquidation and Receivership)
(RAL) Whakapapa business
21
15 May
Letter to Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
Released in part
2024
22
15 May
Letter to Ngāti Hāua Iwi Trust
Released in part
2024
23
15 May
Letter to Ngā Tāngata Tiaki
Released in part
2024
24
15 May
Letter to Te Ariki Tā Tumu Te Heuheu
Released in part
2024
25
15 May
Letter to Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Trust
Released in part
2024
26
15 May
Letter to Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti
Released in part
2024
Tūwharetoa Trust
27
20 May
Email: RAL/TNP: Letters from
Released in part
2024
MOC/MfTOWN
28
5 June 2024 Email: RE: Whakapapa ski field [Ngāti
Released in part
Hāua Iwi Trust]
29
10 June
Email: FW: Whakapapa ski field [Te
Released in part
2024
Korowai o Wainuiārua Trust]
30
10 June
Email: Fwd: [Redacted] Expression of
Released in part
2024
Interest fo Whakapapa
31
11 June
Email: FW: Whakapapa ski field [Te
Released in part
2024
Korowai o Wainuiārua Trust]
32
19 June
Email: RE: Draft timeline – next steps on Released in part
2024
RAL/Whakapapa
33
20 June
Email: Re: RAL Whakapapa concession
Released in part
2024
– a question from MOF [COP Wednesday
19th please]
34
24 June
Email: FW: 2324-3868: Outcome of the
Released in part
2024
Expression of Interest process to seek
purchasers of RAL’s Whakapapa ski
field business and next steps
Attachment: Briefing Outcome of the
withheld in full under
Expression of Interest process to seek
section 9(2)(f)(iv),
purchasers of RAL’s Whakapapa ski
9(2)(j), 9(2)(b)(ii)
field business and next steps
35
12 July
Email: RE: Request for more information Released in part
2024
about [Redacted]
36
29 July
Email: FW: Whakapapa application for
Released in part
2024
new licence
37
8
Attachment: Cultural Impact Assessment Released in part
September
2016
Page 5 of 7
38
30 July
Email: CIA for Whakapapa Ski Area
Released in part
2024
39
31 July
FW: Ecological Effects Assessment –
Released in part
2024
Whakapapa Ski field
40
23 August
Email: FW: Korero Arahi
Released in part
2024
23 August
Attachment: Whakapapa Ski field
Withheld in full under
2024
Concession expectations
9(2)(ba)(i) and 9(2)(j)
41
4 June 2024 Email: Submission – Pure Turoa
Released in part
application 109883-SKI
2014
Attachment 1: Taiao Management Plan
Declined under18(d)
2018
Attachment 2: Te Mana Paenga
Declined under18(d)
9 February
Attachment 3: Pure-turoa-submission-
Declined under18(d)
2024
form
42
2 April 2024 Attachment 4: Pure Turoa concession
Released in part
43
28 March
Attachment 5: PTL – Feedback – Ngāti
Released in part
2024
Rangi
Attachment 6: 656-109883-SKI Pure
Withheld in full under
Turoa Limited – Lease and Licence –
9(2)(ba)(i)
DRAFT for consultation (Ngati Rangi
comments).docx
44
19 June
Email: RE: Draft briefing; 2324-3868:
Released in part
2024
Outcome of the Expression of Interest
process to seek purchasers of RAL’s
Whakapapa ski filed business and next
steps
Table 2 - Schedule of documents relating to the Department tasks and timeframes
Item
Date
Document description
Decision
1
30 May
Email: RE: Whakapapa
Released in part
2024
2
17 June
Email: RE: section 17ZG(2) memo –
Released in part
2024
Whakapapa
3
29 July
Email: Whakapapa Concession
Released in part
2024
Taskforce
4
13 August
Email: Draft Indicative timeline for
Released in part
2024
Whakapapa ski field
5
13 August
Timeline Whakapapa Concession
Released in part
2024
6
14 August
Email: RE: Whakapapa Ski field pre-
Released in part
2024
application hui
7
15 August
Email: RE: Whakapapa Ski field pre-
Released in part
2024
application hui
8
31 August
Microsoft Planner Board tasks - detail
Released in part
2024
Page 6 of 7
9
31 August
Microsoft Planner Board tasks -
Released in part
2024
consolidated
Table 3 - Schedule of documents relating to updates to the Minister of Conservation
Item
Date
Document description
Decision
1
3 May 2024 Email: Advice about letters to iwi re
Released in part
Whakapapa
2
7 May 2024 Email: FW: re Ruapehu Alpine Lifts
Released in part
3
15 May
Status report item – Update on Tongariro Released in part
2024
regulatory matters
4
21 May
Email: FW: Next Steps of the commercial Released in part
2024
process to sell Ruapehu Alpine Lift
Limited’s (in liquidation and Receivership)
Whakapapa business
5
4 June 2024 Status report item – Whakapapa ski field Released in part
6
18 June
Status report item – Update on
Released in part
2024
engagement with iwi and hapū about
Whakapapa ski field
7
19 June
Email: RE: 24-M-0064 – Tūwharetoa
Released in part
2024
meeting
8
19 June
Meeting Memo: Meeting with
Released in part
2024
representatives of Te Ariki Tā Tumu Te
Heuheu
9
1 July 2024 CORM-1319: Letter response to Te
Released in part
Runanganui o Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro
10
11 July
Meeting Memo: Meeting with iwi
Released in part
2024
representatives about Whakapapa ski
field
11
15 July
Departmental Memo: Supporting Memo
Released in part
2024
for Ref: CORM-1382
12
16 August
Meeting Memo: Meetings with iwi with an Released in part
2024
interest in Tongariro National Park
13
22 August
Meeting Memo: Tongariro ski field
Released in part
2024
discussions with iwi
14
Undated
Invitation Evaluation – Minister of
Released in part
Conservation
15
15 July
CORM-1382: Letter response to Te
Released in part
2024
Kotahitanga o Ngāti Tūwharetoa
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