TVNZ Archive digitisation followup after RNZ news report
Joss J. made this Official Information request to Ministry for Culture and Heritage
The request was successful.
From: Joss J.
Dear Ministry for Culture and Heritage,
This request follows the recent RNZ news report on 10 November 2017 (http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/3...) relating to former Broadcasting Minister Hon Craig Foss’s admirable initiative in 2014 to make around 20,000 titles from the TVNZ Archive freely available online within three years.
The RNZ report notes that Nga Taonga’s Chief Executive said when she took the helm in 2015 and learned of the target, she made it clear to the ministry that it was unrealistic. "They agreed with that view."
1. Please specify the date on which the conversation (or conversations) relating to the target being unrealistic took place between Nga Taonga’s Chief Executive and the Ministry.
2. Please supply any document that references this conversation or contains information relating to the Ministry believing the target to be unrealistic.
Regarding the $2 million dollars of tax-payers money that Nga Taonga gets annually from the Crown for the TVNZ Archive. I am interested to learn how the Ministry initially calculated this level of tax-payer support.
3. Please supply all documentation into how the Ministry arrived at the funding figure of $2 million dollars per year. Please include a detailed breakdown of the Ministry's calculations/justifications for the public expenditure (e.g. rent=, salaries= etc)
Yours faithfully,
Joss J.
From: Ministerial and OIA Enquiries
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Dear Joss
This email acknowledges receipt of your recent request to the Ministry for
Culture and Heritage under the Official Information Act 1982.
You have requested the following information:
1. Please specify the date on which the conversation (or conversations)
relating to the target being unrealistic took place between Nga Taonga’s
Chief Executive and the Ministry.
2. Please supply any document that references this conversation or
contains information relating to the Ministry believing the target to be
unrealistic.
Regarding the $2 million dollars of tax-payers money that Nga Taonga gets
annually from the Crown for the TVNZ Archive. I am interested to learn how
the Ministry initially calculated this level of tax-payer support.
3. Please supply all documentation into how the Ministry arrived at the
funding figure of $2 million dollars per year. Please include a detailed
breakdown of the Ministry's calculations/justifications for the public
expenditure (e.g. rent=, salaries= etc).
Your request will be processed in accordance with the Act.
Yours sincerely
Ministerial Services
Manatū Taonga - Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Public Trust Building, 131 Lambton Quay
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From: Ministerial and OIA Enquiries
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Dear Joss J.
Please find attached a letter of extension for response to your recent OIA
request.
Kind regards
Ministerial Services
Manatū Taonga - Ministry for Culture and Heritage
He ngākau titikaha, he hononga tangata
Promoting a confident and connected culture
Public Trust Building, 131 Lambton Quay
From: Christopher Jones
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Dear Joss J
I refer to your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA),
dated 12 November 2017, for the following information relating to the TVNZ
Archive.
“Please specify the date on which the conversation (or conversations)
relating to the target being unrealistic took place between Nga Taonga’s
Chief Executive and the Ministry.”
The Ministry has no record of any conversations with the Ngâ Taonga chief
executive about the 20,000 target being unrealistic, and is therefore
unable to provide any information on related dates. We agree these
conversations have occurred, but can’t be specific on dates.
“Please supply any document that references this conversation or contains
information relating to the Ministry believing the target to be
unrealistic.”
Please refer to the answer provided above.
“Please supply all documentation into how the Ministry arrived at the
funding figure of $2 million dollars per year. Please include a detailed
breakdown of the Ministry's calculations/justifications for the public
expenditure (e.g. rent=, salaries= etc).”
Unfortunately we are unable to respond to this part of your OIA request
because it is not specified with due particularity – in other words, we
are unable to reasonably identify what information is being requested. If
interpreted broadly, it could potentially encompass more than 100
documents which would require substantial collation and impose an
unreasonable administrative burden on the Ministry.
Therefore, we seek greater clarity from you about this part of your
request. To assist in this regard, you may wish to consider limiting your
request to all formal briefings, reports and/or critical papers used to
inform how the Ministry arrived at the funding figure of $2 million per
annum (rather than all documentation).
Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet the current deadline of 15
December 2017, and we are therefore writing to notify you of an extension
of the time to make our decision, to 22 December 2017. This extension has
been made under section 15A(1)(b) of the OIA.
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
[1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or free phone 0800 802 602.
Kind regards
Chris Jones
On behalf of the Chief Executive
References
Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
From: Joss J.
Dear Christopher Jones,
Thank you for your response. In future it would be great if the Ministry kept notes on conversations or events that impacted on projects with significant tax payer funding - even just a calendar note would make things a little more transparent.
In relation to clarifying my request. I can happily specify just two documents that should establish how the $2-million figure was arrived at:
My amended request is for the full PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) financial report and the full proposal from the New Zealand Film Archive that are referenced in the Ministry's briefing paper to the Minister of Broadcasting (p4, point 15 & 16, briefing number: 2014/107; MCH file ref: D-0525748, 21 March 2014, https://fyi.org.nz/request/6578/response...)
These two documents come under the heading in the briefing: "Financial due diligence and operating expenses". The briefing paper notes "The PwC projections of the cost of MCH operating the archive, along with a proposal from the New Zealand Film Archive, have been used to inform the Budget Bid for operating expenses"
I imagine these two documents will be quite easy to track down - hopefully before Christmas,
Yours sincerely,
Joss J.
From: Joss J.
Dear Christopher Jones,
(the FYI website is telling me I need to send you my clarification .. I thought I had done that successfully the other day .. but I've copied my response to you below just in case it didn't get through, thanks)
Thank you for your response. In future it would be great if the Ministry kept notes on conversations or events that impacted on projects with significant tax payer funding - even just a calendar note would make things a little more transparent.
In relation to clarifying my request. I can happily specify just two documents that should establish how the $2-million figure was arrived at:
My amended request is for the full PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) financial report and the full proposal from the New Zealand Film Archive that are referenced in the Ministry's briefing paper to the Minister of Broadcasting (p4, point 15 & 16, briefing number: 2014/107; MCH file ref: D-0525748, 21 March 2014, https://fyi.org.nz/request/6578/response...)
These two documents come under the heading in the briefing: "Financial due diligence and operating expenses". The briefing paper notes "The PwC projections of the cost of MCH operating the archive, along with a proposal from the New Zealand Film Archive, have been used to inform the Budget Bid for operating expenses"
I imagine these two documents will be quite easy to track down - hopefully before Christmas,
Yours sincerely,
Joss J.
From: Ministerial and OIA Enquiries
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Dear Joss J.
Please find attached response to your OIA request.
Kind regards
Ministerial Services
Manatū Taonga - Ministry for Culture and Heritage
He ngākau titikaha, he hononga tangata
Promoting a confident and connected culture
Public Trust Building, 131 Lambton Quay
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From: Joss J.
Dear Ministerial and OIA Enquiries,
Thank you for the update Kim. I am sure that the Ministry, Nga Taonga and TVNZ will provide a positive and quick response as the tax-payer funds all three institutions, and both the Minister for Broadcasting and your Minister are very keen on transparency and accountability.
Merry Christmas and look forward to hearing from you,
Yours sincerely,
Joss J.
From: Joss J.
Dear Ministerial and OIA Enquiries,
You said in your letter that you should hopefully have a response to me by the end of January 2018. I'm just enquiring as to how the consultation is going?
Thanks
Joss J.
From: Ministerial and OIA Enquiries
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Dear Joss J.
Consultation is still ongoing. We apologise for the delay and are hoping
to have this with you as soon as possible.
Kind regards
Ministerial Services
Manatū Taonga - Ministry for Culture and Heritage
He ngākau titikaha, he hononga tangata
Promoting a confident and connected culture
Public Trust Building, 131 Lambton Quay
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From: Ministerial and OIA Enquiries
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Signed response to Joss J..pdf
181K
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For release TVNZ Archive Report Review of revenue costs assets and lia....pdf
9.7M
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For release Draft operating budgets doc 1.pdf
269K
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For release Draft operating budgets doc 2.pdf
337K
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For release TVNZ Archive Production Library Budget estimated.pdf
316K
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Dear Joss J.
Please find attached a signed response and supporting documents.
Kind regards
Ministerial Services
Manatū Taonga - Ministry for Culture and Heritage
He ngākau titikaha, he hononga tangata
Promoting a confident and connected culture
Public Trust Building, 131 Lambton Quay
show quoted sections
From: Joss J.
Dear Ministerial and OIA Enquiries,
So just to clarify, the Ministry is saying that a New Zealand Film Archive proposal to manage the TVNZ Archive doesn't exist, and that the three pages released form the entire extent of NZFA's funding bid for managing the TVNZ Archive?? Is that correct, as I would have expected context, justification, proposed deliverables etc.
Look forward to hearing from you
Yours sincerely,
Joss J.
From: Ministerial and OIA Enquiries
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Dear Joss J.
We see that the part of your OIA request in which you have asked for a
detailed breakdown of the Ministry’s justifications for the public
expenditure is still outstanding.
We will endeavour to respond as soon as possible.
Kind regards
Ministerial Services
Manatū Taonga - Ministry for Culture and Heritage
He ngākau titikaha, he hononga tangata
Promoting a confident and connected culture
Public Trust Building, 131 Lambton Quay
show quoted sections
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