strategic assessments of offshore oil and gas exploration in New Zealand between 1 January 1960 and 31 December 1985.

 On Apr 14, 2026 at 2:11 PM, <Ministerial Services Inbox [TSY]> wrote:

Dear Tracy

 Thank you for your requests under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The Treasury received a total of six requests from you on 11 April and 12 April 2026.

 The request for information (provided below) is very broad in scope and likely to be refused under section 18(f) of the OIA, as substantial manual collation would be required to provide the information requested.

 As such, I would like to suggest refining your request, so we are able to make the proper considerations on the information you are seeking. I have quoted your requests below, for you to consider as part of your refinement, should you choose to do so. The Treasury suggests that you choose a specific topic and request existing materials that may relate to this topic. Currently, the request is wide ranging and relates to a great deal of subjects. We are happy to work with you on rescoping your request.

 Please note that once you have amended or clarified your request, under section 15(1AA) of the OIA, the Treasury may treat your amended or clarified request as a new request that replaces the original request. This may lead to a new start of the statutory response period.

 I look forward to hearing from you regarding the refinement of your request.

 The Treasury may publish the response to your OIA request. When you are provided with a response to this request, you will be informed about whether the response to your OIA request will be published. If the Treasury does publish the response to your OIA request, personal information, including your name and contact details, will be removed. This publication process does not apply to extension letters or transfers.

 Kind regards

Nikki

 

Request 1 (11 April)

1. Economic and Strategic Assessments (1960–1985)

I request all information held relating to economic, fiscal, or strategic assessments of offshore oil and gas exploration in New Zealand between 1 January 1960 and 31 December 1985.

This includes:
– Treasury briefings
– Economic modelling or forecasts
– Cost-benefit analyses
– Revenue projections

2. Cabinet and Ministerial Advice

All Treasury advice provided to Ministers or Cabinet relating to natural resource exploration, allocation, or extraction during the relevant period.

Including:
– Cabinet papers and submissions
– Internal Treasury reports and recommendations

3. Foreign Investment and Agreements

All records relating to foreign investment, agreements, or financial arrangements involving offshore resource exploration or extraction.

Including:
– Financial terms or structures
– Risk assessments
– National interest considerations

4. Ownership, Revenue, and Public Interest

Records relating to ownership structures, revenue-sharing arrangements, or fiscal returns to the Crown from natural resource activities.

Including:
– Royalty frameworks
– Taxation arrangements
– Public benefit analysis

5. Inter-Agency Coordination

Any records of coordination between Treasury and other agencies (including MBIE or predecessor agencies, and other departments) relating to resource policy or economic strategy.

6. Record Status and Withholding

Please advise:
– Whether any information within scope has been destroyed
– Whether it has been transferred to Archives New Zealand
– The grounds for any refusal or withholding of information, including the relevant statutory provisions relied upon

 Request 2 (11 April)

 This request concerns the relationship between electricity pricing, dividend payments to the Crown, and the Crown’s dual role as both shareholder and regulator.

Scope of Request:

A. Dividend Policy and Expectations
All documents, briefings, Cabinet papers, or advice relating to expected or target dividend payments from Genesis Energy, Mercury, and Meridian Energy, including any Crown expectations or directives.

B. Pricing vs Dividend Trade-offs
All analysis or modelling considering whether electricity pricing levels are influenced by dividend expectations or Crown revenue considerations, including whether reducing dividends would lower electricity prices.

C. Conflict of Interest Assessments
All documents assessing the Crown’s dual role as shareholder and regulator, including any risks or mitigation strategies identified.

D. Consumer Impact and Energy Hardship
All reports or analysis on electricity affordability, household impact, and energy hardship.

E. Dividend Reinvestment
All documents relating to dividend reinvestment schemes and their rationale.

Request 3 (11 April)

 This request seeks information regarding public funding, expenditure, and financial oversight of prosecution and enforcement activity undertaken by government agencies.

 2. FUNDING OF PROSECUTIONS

 Please provide:

 (a) Total annual funding allocated for Crown prosecutions from 1 January 2010 to present;

(b) Breakdown of funding provided to Crown Solicitors and/or Crown Law Office for prosecution services;

(c) Any funding specifically allocated to enforcement activity by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

 3. EXPENDITURE

 Please provide:

 (a) Total annual expenditure on prosecution services over the same period;

(b) Any reporting on average cost per prosecution (if available);

(c) Any available breakdown of costs by agency (including MPI, Police, or others).

 4. COST RECOVERY AND REVENUE

 Please provide:

 (a) Any revenue received by the Crown from fines, penalties, or cost awards arising from prosecutions;

(b) Any policies or reporting relating to cost recovery in enforcement actions;

(c) Any analysis of whether prosecution activity is intended to be cost-neutral, revenue-generating, or purely regulatory.

 5. OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

 Please provide:

 (a) Any Treasury policies or guidance relating to funding decisions for prosecution activity;

(b) Any audits, reviews, or assessments of prosecution spending;

(c) Any documents assessing value for money, proportionality, or public benefit of prosecution activity.

 6. PUBLIC INTEREST AND DECISION-MAKING

 Please provide:

 (a) Any documents relating to how public interest considerations are incorporated into funding decisions;

(b) Any cost-benefit or proportionality assessments relating to enforcement expenditure.

 Request 4 (11 April) – this request was sent to the Treasury twice

 This request seeks information regarding ownership structures, pricing mechanisms, public revenue, and oversight of the fuel (petrol) sector in New Zealand.

 2. OWNERSHIP AND STRUCTURE

 Please provide:

 (a) Any information held regarding ownership structures of major fuel suppliers operating in New Zealand;

(b) Any reports or summaries regarding ownership concentration within the fuel sector;

(c) Any analysis of market control or influence within the fuel industry.

 3. PRICING AND MARKET CONTROL

 Please provide:

 (a) Any documents explaining how petrol prices are determined in New Zealand;

(b) Any assessments of market competition within the fuel sector;

(c) Any reports or findings relating to fuel pricing practices.

 4. PUBLIC REVENUE AND CHARGES

 Please provide:

 (a) Total revenue received by the Crown from fuel-related taxes, levies, and charges from 2010 to present;

(b) Breakdown of revenue sources (fuel excise duty, GST, emissions charges, levies);

(c) Any policies or documents explaining how these revenues are allocated or used.

 5. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND INFLUENCE

 Please provide:

 (a) Any policies, guidelines, or requirements relating to conflicts of interest between government officials and participants in the fuel sector;

(b) Any disclosure requirements for Ministers or officials relating to financial or other interests in fuel-related companies;

(c) Any records of meetings, communications, or engagements between fuel sector representatives and government decision-makers;

(d) Any reports or analyses regarding influence within the fuel market.

 6. OVERSIGHT AND REGULATION

 Please provide:

 (a) Any policies or frameworks governing oversight of the fuel sector;

(b) Any reviews, audits, or investigations into fuel market behaviour;

(c) Any findings relating to fairness, competition, or pricing transparency.

 7. DECISION-MAKING

 Please provide:

 (a) Any documents outlining how decisions are made in relation to fuel pricing policy or regulation;

(b) Any involvement of Ministers or Cabinet in such decisions.

 Request 5 (11 April)

 This request seeks information regarding the basis for the COVID-19 pandemic response, associated public expenditure, evidential foundations, and the flow of public funds.

 2. BASIS FOR PANDEMIC RESPONSE

 Please provide:

 (a) All documents relied upon by the Crown to determine that a pandemic response was required;

(b) Any scientific, medical, or policy assessments used to justify national-level interventions;

(c) Any thresholds, criteria, or definitions used to determine pandemic status and response measures.

 3. PUBLIC EXPENDITURE

 Please provide:

 (a) Total expenditure by the Crown relating to COVID-19 from 1 January 2020 to present;

(b) Breakdown of expenditure including:

  – vaccine procurement

  – vaccine rollout and administration

  – wage subsidies

  – welfare support

  – emergency housing

  – enforcement and compliance activities

 4. FLOW OF FUNDS

 Pease provide:

 (a) All major contracts entered into relating to COVID-19 response measures;

(b) The value of those contracts;

(c) The entities or organisations receiving payments under those contracts;

(d) Any summaries or reports identifying key suppliers or recipients of COVID-related funding.

 5. REVENUE AND RECOVERY

 Please provide:

 (a) Any revenue received by the Crown directly associated with COVID-19 measures;

(b) Any rebates, credits, or financial recoveries linked to procurement or programme delivery;

(c) Any analysis of net fiscal position relating to COVID-19 response.

 6. ACC INJURY AND SUPPORT

 Please provide:

 (a)Total number of COVID-19 vaccine-related injury claims received;

(b) Number accepted, declined, and pending;

(c) Total cost of accepted claims;

(d) Categories of support provided.

 7. WELFARE AND HOUSING IMPACT

 Please provide:

 (a) Additional benefit expenditure attributable to COVID-related impacts;

(b) Total emergency housing expenditure during the same period;

(c) Payments made to accommodation providers under emergency housing programmes.

 8. OVERSIGHT AND REVIEW

 Please provide:

 (a) Any audits, reviews, or assessments of COVID-19 spending;

(b) Any findings relating to effectiveness, proportionality, or value for money;

(c) Any identified risks, issues, or shortcomings.

 9. PUBLIC INTEREST AND DECISION-MAKING

 Please provide:

 (a) Documents outlining how public interest was assessed in COVID-related decisions;

(b) Any cost-benefit or proportionality analyses undertaken.

 Request 6 (12 April)

 The purpose of this request is to understand the systems, oversight, and financial responses relating to insurance claims and government involvement following major public safety events.

2. SCOPE OF REQUEST (QUESTIONS ONLY)

1. What role does the Crown or its agencies have in coordinating or overseeing insurance responses following major public safety events?

2. Were any government-backed insurance mechanisms, guarantees, or financial interventions activated in response to such events?

3. What aggregate data is held regarding total insurance claims lodged, including categories such as property, business interruption, and life claims?

4. What aggregate data is held regarding total claims paid versus declined in relation to such events?

5. What oversight mechanisms exist to ensure that insurance claims are processed fairly and consistently?

6. What regulatory or supervisory actions were undertaken to ensure insurers met their obligations?

7. Were any reviews, audits, or reports conducted into insurance system performance following such events?

8. What issues, if any, were identified in relation to delays, disputes, or systemic weaknesses?

9. What coordination occurred between government agencies and the insurance sector in responding to such events?

10. What lessons were identified, and what policy or regulatory changes (if any) were implemented as a result?

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