Good afternoon Miss Forest

 

You have requested under the OIA: Provide the total actual cost and / or
estimated cost of the cancellation of iReX project.

We also received a transfer from the Ministry of Transport on 15 October
2024 for the same information.

 

You also noted in relation to your response:

‘This is aggregate of all either actual and / or estimated costs and thus
does not fall into commercial in confidence.

If you refuse to release the information, please explain precisely why
releasing the aggregate amount would prejudice or disadvantage you
carrying individual cost items under it that make the aggregate estimate
and / or actual costs.

I believe that you have provided estimates to the ministry for them to
make the decision and this information ought to be public.

 

We can provide you with the total costs for iReX to 30 June 2024, by
referencing to KiwiRail’s annual integrated report as this is publicly
available information (refer to pages 95-96, point 26). You can find the
report here on KiwiRail’s website:
[1]Annual-Integrated-Report-2024-KiwiRail.pdf

 

We note that the costs described in the annual report are noted as
excluding settlement costs relating to exiting the ship building
contracts.

 

This is because of the ongoing negotiations for exiting the contracts,
which are commercially sensitive. We have decided to refuse the part of
your request that relates to the total estimated future costs for IReX
including for exiting the ship build contract under section 9(2)(b), 9
(2)(ba) and 9(2)(j) of the Official Information Act due to the ongoing
commercial sensitivity, obligations of confidence and ongoing negotiations
related to the cost information.

 

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.

If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
me directly at this email, or on the number below.

 

Kind regards

 

Dave

 

Dave Allard  | Senior Government Relations Advisor

DDI: 027 201 8182
Level 4, Wellington Railway Station, Bunny Street, Wellington 6011 | PO
Box 593, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

[2]Description: Description: cid:image001.png@01D46098.E77643D0

[3]www.kiwirail.co.nz

 

show quoted sections