Jacinda Ardern refuses to release information about Groundswell NZ
Monday, 6 September 2021
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has refused to release information she has about farmer protest group Groundswell NZ after it organised protests in more than 50 towns and cities across New Zealand in July.
An estimated 60,000 people drove tractors, trucks and utes through towns in Groundswell’s Howl of a Protest, to show support for the group and its fight against some government regulations, which it says are unworkable for farmers.
Under the Official Information Act, Stuff requested all letters, emails, documents, and/or advisories relating to Groundswell NZ to or from the offices of the prime minister, Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, Environment Minister David Parker and Climate Change Minister James Shaw.
Ardern’s chief of staff, Raj Nahna, replied saying media advice to the prime minister fell within scope of the OIA request and that was ‘’being withheld to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions by or between or to Ministers of the Crown or members of an organisation or officers and employees of any public service agency or organisation in the course of their duty'’.
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Groundswell NZ co-founder Bryce McKenzie said the group had not heard from Ardern before or since the protests but it had requested a meeting with her while members were in Wellington to address the environment select committee.
“We got an email back from her office saying she was busy,’’ he said.
“We have not heard from any Government ministers, only opposition MPs. It is disappointing because we think an estimated 60,000 people deserve a response from the Government about the things they are concerned about.’’
Stuff has now filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman about Ardern’s decision to withhold the information.
Ardern is not the only minister withholding information.
O’Connor has withheld two emails for the same reasons as Ardern.
There were seven emails from Shaw’s office that were identified in the scope of the OIA request.
Shaw controversially referred to Groundswell as ‘’a group of Pākehā farmers down south’’ in a radio interview with Ngati Hine FM in June.
One email, a media query from Stuff from May 3 about the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity, has been released in full.
Three emails have been released in part but have had attachments withheld. Two are from May 3 and are again in relation to the media inquiry. One of those emails has information withheld to “maintain the constitutional convention protecting the confidentiality of advice tendered by ministers and officials”.
The Office of the Ombudsman website says this section of the OIA usually applies where the release of confidential advice given to ministers or Cabinet would prejudice the orderly and effective conduct of government decision-making processes.
Environment Minister David Parker released a document of talking points relating to matters raised by Groundswell, which were prepared for him for a television interview on the day of the protests.
Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson’s office said it had no documentation relating to Groundswell NZ.
McKenzie said the group would continue to fight for government rules to be changed and was planning further protest action for November.
Groundswell NZ is calling for change to the Government’s new freshwater, indigenous biodiversity and climate change rules, including the clean car rebate scheme, which it says are unworkable for farmers. They want farmer-led catchment groups to address water quality and for the Government to back off on declaring areas of land as significant natural areas.