New Zealand mil/trimmer rioi kANUfi Statistics 26 May 2015 Thank you for your email dated 30 March 2015 requesting under the Olticial Information Act 1982 (Act) information: a list of the members of each Technical Advisory Group and which perspective (central govt, local govt, university) they were appointed to promote; . a list of the members of the Directors Advisory Group; - the preliminary topics provided to ME for each domain; I any communications with the Minister for the Environment or the Minister of Statistics about the selection of topics, Thank you also tor agreeing to refine your request to: Copies of draft topic lists (as recommended by the TAGS and throughout the development), A3s to intorrn discussions with Ministers, linel briefing papers to Ministers, Memos/Aide memoirss and Status updates to the Minister as provided at each stage oi topic development and the final briefing where decisions were made. Emails relating to the [mat advice that was provided, and to emails from senior staff (director/managerialAND the minister, PS and ministerial advisers on the other end) Statistics NZ have carried out a search of its files for documents prepared before 1 September 2014 when Ministers were provided the final advice for the selection at topics Statistics NZ have also provided emails related to an introductory brieling for the incoming Minister tor the Environment in November 2014 where topics were discussed. Statistics NZ also holds copies otjoint briefings written by the Ministry for the Environment and Statistics NZ, copies of these brietings will be provided to you by the Ministry for the Environment. Please find the documents you have requested enclosed, Statistics New Zealand has withheld information from the document including: the names and contact details of some people to protect their privacy under section of the Act, and - tree and frank expressions of opinions to maintain the elfective conduct of public attairs under section oi the Act. The reasons for withholding this information are not outweighed by the public interest in making the information available. Where information has been withheld Statistics New Zealand has indicated the reason it has been withheld in the documents a in woman," an A9 ism; You have the right, by way of a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the Act, to seek an investigation and review of this response to your request. Yours sincerely Bridget Hamilton-Seymour Director, Office of the Government Statistician and Chief Executive Excerpts from Statistics Weekly Report to the Minister related to the Environmental Reporting Bill report dated 21 February 2014 In line with the ERB process, in the week beginning 23 February 2014 the Minister for Environment and Minister for Statistics will receive a briefing asking for approval of 13 provisional topics that define the scope ofthe air domain report. These topics will have been agreed by the Government Statistician and Secretary for the Environment in the preceding week. The 2014 air domain topics are provisional and not the final topics for the Environmental Reporting Regulations. A public consultation process and formal consultation with the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and Government Statistician will occur before final topics are recommended to you. Weekly report dated 25 July 2014 You met with the Minister for the Environment and officials from the Ministry for the Environment and Statistics NZ on 22 July 2014 to further discuss topics for the 2015 Environmental Report. Based on that discussion, a revised set of state and pressure topics for the freshwater, marine, and land domains, and impact topics spanning all domains are being prepared by officials from both agencies, for consideration at your meeting on 4 August 2014 with the Minister for the Environment, Government Statistician, and Secretary for the Environment. Weekly report dated 1 August 2014 You met the Minister for the Environment and officials from the Ministry for the Environment and Statistics NZ on 22 July 2014 to further discuss topics for the 2015 Environmental Report. Based on that discussion, a revised set of state and pressure topics for the freshwater, marine, and land domains, and impact topics spanning all domains has been prepared by officials from both agencies, for consideration at your meeting on 4 August 2014 with the Minister for the Environment, Government Statistician, and Secretary for the Environment. Weekly report dated 8 August 2014 You met with the Minister for the Environment, Government Statistician, and Secretary for the Environment on 4 August 2014 to further discuss topics for the 2015 Environment Report. At that meeting, officials from Statistics NZ and the Ministry for the Environment were asked to redraft ?level 1? topics in plain English and prepare a clause on costs for potential future inclusion in the Environmental Reporting Bill. This material was scheduled to be delivered to your office and the Office of Hon Amy Adams by 8 August 2014. However, the time allocated to complete the work has proven to be insufficient. This material will now be provided to you, for your consideration, by no later than 13 August 2014. Weekly report dated 15 August 2014 You met with the Minister for the Environment, Government Statistician, and Secretary for the Environment on 4 August 2014 to further discuss topics for the 2015 Environment Report. At that meeting, officials from Statistics NZ and the Ministry for the Environment were asked to redraft ?level 1? topics in plain English and prepare a clause on costs for potential future inclusion in the Environmental Reporting Bill. On 13 August 2014, your office and Minister Adams' office were provided with a revised topic list, and advice on how a clause could be included in the Environmental Reporting Bill to ensure cost effectiveness is considered during the selection of statistics. The Government Statistician provided advice that this was not necessary or desirable because it places importance on this principle over other principles of best practice. At this meeting, Ministers also agreed to include topics on "impact on customary use? and ?impact on cultural practices". The current A35 include "cultural significance to Maori" for the Fresh Water, Land and Marine Domains. Officials are aware of Ministers? preference for ?impact on cultural practices?, but consider that excluding "cultural significance" would be a significant omission. Nevertheless, officials acknowledge you may not approve the "cultural significance? topic. Officials from both agencies will discuss the revised topic list with their respective Ministers on 18 August 2014. Subject to Ministers? approval, a briefing note will be prepared for Ministers? formal approval. Weekly report dated 22 August 2014 On 13 August 2014, your office and Minister Adams' office were provided with an aide memoire with revised topics for the 2015 Report. This included advice on how a clause could be included in the Environmental Reporting Bill (ERB) to ensure cost effectiveness is considered during the I selection of statistics. Following feedback from yourself and Minister Adams, officials are preparing a briefing note to be delivered to both Ministers? offices on 27 August 2014. This will provide a final list of topics for your approval and further advice on potential methodologies to measure cultural significance. It will also provide advice on how the ERB (clause 13) and Cabinet decisions already require the Government Statistician to use best practice principles and protocols, which include the consideration of costs in selecting statistics. Weekly report dated 29 August 2014 On 27 August, a briefing note from the Ministry for the Environment asking you to approve the topics for the 2015 Report was delivered to your office. Decisions or feedback are due on 3 September Weekly report dated 5 September 2014 On 1 September 2014 the topics for the 2015 were approved by yourself and the Minister I for the Environment. Report to the Minister of Statistics and Minister for the Environment: Environmental Reporting - Rationale behind the Broad and 2015 (or A and B) List for topic selection for the Report Purpose The purpose of this report is to provide the rationale behind identifying a Broad and 2015 (or A and B) List for the topic selection for the Report under the Environmental Reporting Series. Background 2. Within the Pressure-State?lmpact framework, high-level questions have been identified that environmental reporting should seek to answer. These questions form the basis for environmental reporting topics. Statistics will be developed to provide a measure for each topic. This note outlines how the topics for the Report were selected. Rationale 3. The process started with two Technical Advisory Group (TAGs) workshops that were held for each domain. TAG members were asked which topics should be reported on and used the following criteria to identify them: - Significance a topic may be significant due to its magnitude (measured or perceived), spatial extent, rate of change, impact upon society, or significance to Maori - Statistical rigour - the topics to be reported should be able to be quantified using a statistically robust measure a Relationship between topics any pressures and impacts reported on must have a demonstrable relationship to the change in state of that domain This process generated a large number of potential topics. Ministry for the Environment in consultation with Statistics NZ collated these topic ideas from the TAGs. This bought the separate domains together and the consistency in level of detail and language across domains was assessed and topics amended where necessary. This process resulted in an aspirational list of topics known as the Broad (A) list. Populating the Broad (A) list with statistics in time for the report is impractical in terms of time and resources. Therefore a 2015 (B) list was developed: this list only includes those topics which consider there is some data already available which could sufficiently inform the topic. Some Broad (A) list topics did not make it to the 2015 (B) list if it was felt they would not add value to the narrative of the domain. It is possible that a 2015 (B) list topic which is proposed for the Report may not contain a national statistic, or even a case study. This is because the statistics which will represent the topics have yet to be determined and the proposed statistic may not satisfy Statistics statistical quality assessment. The 2015 (B) list is the list of topics which will be used in the 2015 Report. As data availability and quality improves, additional topics those in the aspirational Broad (A) list but not in the practicable 2015 or list) will be reported on in future environmental reports. Report to the Minister of Statistics: Specificity of topics for the Environmental Reporting Bill report Date: ?11 July 2014 Priority: Urgent Security level: In confidence File number: MM1388 Action sought Action Deadline Minister of Note Information withheld to protect the 22 July 2014 Statistics free and frank expression of opinion and discuss the proposed course of action with the Minister for the Environment Contact details Name Position Telephone First contact Michele Lloyd Manager, Names and contact details Customer Policy withheld to protect privacy and Research Private Secretary to the Minister of Statistics Recommended action It is recommended that you: 1. Note Information withheld to protect the free and frank expression of opinion NOTED 2. Discuss the course of action with the Minister for the Environment at the earliest opportunity, and prior to the next scheduled meeting on this subject on 22 July. Liz MacPherson Hon Nicky Wagner Government Statistician Minister of Statistics Date: Report to the Minister of Statistics: Specificity of topics for the Environmental Reporting Bill report Purpose 1. The purpose of this briefing is to Information withheld to protect the free and frank expression of opinion Background 2. The Bill in its current form states that before producing an environmental report, topics to be included in the report are jointly decided by the Minister for the Environment and the Minister of Statistics. Under clause 18 of the Bill, the Government Statistician (GS) is required, after consulting with the Secretary for the Environment, to decide what statistics will be used to measure those topics. Ministerial consideration of proposed topics 3. On 18 June a list of 88 topics covering five domains of the environment were considered by yourself and Minister Adams. This list proposed approximately 18 topics per domain. Following feedback that the first list did not provide the same level of specificity as the list of topics used in the Air Domain Report and some lack of clarity around the meaning of some topics, a new set was given to Ministers to consider. An example of the change for freshwater quality was: Topic list as at Corresponding topic list as at 18 June 2014 3 July 2014 Freshwater quality Concentrations of phosphorous Concentrations of ammonia Concentrations of nitrogen Water clarity River suspended sediment load Concentrations of pesticides Groundwater salinity Impact of change on the list of topics 4. The increased number of topics reflects a greater level of specificity in the definitions of the topics listed as at 18 June. 5. Information withheld to protect the free and frank expression of opinion 6. The Bill separates the roles of the Ministers from that of the GS in order to give effect to my independence as envisaged by the Bill. Information withheld to protect the free and frank expression of opinion, and the intention of the Bill to maintain the independence of the GS. Proposal to support the independence of topic and measures selection 7. To support clarity between the role of ministers to select topics and my role in the selection of statistics that measure the topics, I propose that: a you agree the topics, with the Minister for the Environment Information withheld to protect the free and frank expression of opinion - Information withheld to protect the free and frank expression of opinion - Statistics NZ and the Ministry for the Environment keep both ministers advised of the measures that will be used to inform the topics. 8. Information withheld to protect the free and frank expression of opinion 9. Therefore, to honour the intention of the Bill, it is important that there is clearly distinguishable differentiation between the topics selected by Ministers and the statistics the GS chooses to measure them. Next steps 10. I recommend that you discuss the approach proposed above with the Minister for the Environment at the earliest opportunity, and prior to the next scheduled meeting on this subject on 22 July. From: Michele Lloyd Sent: Wednesday, 26 November 2014 10:11 AM To: Liz MacPherson; Bridget Hamilton-Seymour; Colin Names withheld to protect privacy Cc: Environmental Reporting Team; Evelyn Wareham Names withheld to protect privacy Subject: Fle report back from jt Ministers meeting last night ERB etc Minister Smith is keen to have the public, ministers etc seeing environmental reporting working just like economic reporting eg GDP, CPI. There is no question about methodology, no question of ministerial interference, it is regular, relied on, etc. Minister Smith is very keen to maintain the 65?s independence and sees this is equally important to the Officers of Parliament's independence. He likened the G8 to a Supreme Courtjudge. Thatjudge is not an officer of parliament, but their position is clearly independent and they command enormous respect. That?s what he wants to maintain for the GS. (Excellent I thought.) He also warned us that environmental reporting will be more political and we have to be ready for that. Out of scope information removed unless closely related to the request report topics: Minister Smith concerned that the net is spread too widely. Wants us to concentrate on issues that are important and that are changing, not everything that could possibly matter, ie a small number of high quality statistics He also wants to have a strong regional story and doesn?t want it to be only a national story he wants to use the report to motivate regions to do better. He wants the population weighting to be clearer, to the point of suggesting that we could number of people day exceedences. (2 days in Auckland with 1.3m people is more than 40 days in Masterton). He doesn?t like the airshed measure. He didn?t get the main messages coming out of the report we noted that they are there, but acknowledged that we want to do much better next time. In the meantime we continue as we are, but he wants to have another look at the number of topics. I think we should have a discussion about prioritising the set of topics that we do report on. Even with the set we have got, we (Stats) are going to struggle to do all the QA necessary. Names withheld to protect privacy, I will take this up with Malcolm. Michele From: stephenoakley@stats.govt.nz Sent: Tuesday, 13 January 2015 9:31 am. To: michele.lloyd@stats.govt.nz Cc: Names withheld to protect privacy Subject: RE: Weekly report to the Minister of Statistics for the period ending 16 January 2015 Environmental Reporting update Hi Happy New Year, my break was great, hope yours was too! I understand there have been some useful developments in the last week with the Office so l?ll talk to Michele about drafting a sentence or two for the Minister. A number of issues, such as the number of topics and regional focus were left hanging at the end of the last meeting with Ministers. We?ll need to talk to and Private Secretaries about a time and agenda for the next meeting. The unresolved issues could have a significant impact on the Report so the sooner we get clarity on Ministers? positions the better. Names withheld to protect privacy when are Ministers back in Wellington? Cheers, Stephen From: Liz MacPherson Sent: Wednesday, 30 July 2014 8:31 AM To: Colin Stephen Oakley Cc: Michele Lloyd Subject: RE: Environmental reporting (ERB) Briefing Hi all. it is good to back in Aotearoa. I agree entirely with Colin?s points re topics which was essentially my point re the para under the table. It essentially makes it look as if this is simply about semantics rather than a real policy technical issue. Information withheld to protect the free and Frank expression of opinion. On the cost issue I guess my point is that putting this in legislation is not necessary (and for that reason would be bad regulation). However as a belts and braces approach that ensures the comfort of Ministers it could be considered. I would argue strongly first that it was unnecessary however. On the relationship between environmental reporting and compliance monitoring/intervention evaluation I agree very strongly that we need to keep as much clear air between these as possible. The current para tends to conflate these issues. More later Liz Original Message From Colin To Liz Stephen OakleyNVA/StatisticsNZ/NZ Cc Michele Lond/WA/StatisticsNZ/NZ Sent on 29/07 11:02:16 pm. ZE12 Subject RE: Environmental reporting (ERB) Briefing Out of scope information removed On costs, I don?t think we need another statement in legislation on costs. The existing processes to ensure we take account of costs are robust and the paper does a good job of explaining this. On the topics measures, the text I think simplifies the issue to the point where it almost looks like a semantic issue. It needs to strengthened and aligned with a view that sees the topics/policy issues set at a level that does not get into specifying long lists of detailed issues. i think the details in appendix under option 1 goes a long way towards that, but the in the body of the report will need some more work. Information withheld to protect the free and frank expression of opinion. On the overlap between the regulatory reporting and environmental reporting. i wonder if we need to be more explicit that they need to be positioned separately even ifthey both use similar data. The text goes some way towards this, but it might need to be clearer. Original Message From Liz MacPherson/WA/StatisticsNZ/NZ To Stephen Oakley/VVA/StatisticsNZ/NZ Cc Colin Michele Lloyd/WAIStatisticsNZ/NZ Sent on 29/07 08:13:40 pm. ZE12 Subject RE: Environmental reporting (ERB) Briefing Hi Stephen Yes have thanks, though the last half hour with Lotus has worn some of the gloss off. Suffice to say I went through the document and inserted some comments using track changes, at least I thought I had. When I went to send the document the track changes did not appear. Anyway. . .. I am more comfortable with the our position is being articulated in this version of the paper than the previous one (Information withheld to protect the free and Frank expression of opinion). However the paragraph under the "what vs how" table is inconsistent with an approach which sees Option 1 as the preferred starting point for discussions with Ministers. This may be MfE's position, but it cannot be ours unless we are intending to move to Option 2 as our first best option. I think we could probably live with Option 2 (particularly if all references to levels were removed) but it would not be preference. On the issue being more direct about cost/benefit trade-offs in the Bill, essentially see this as simply being more explicit about something SNZ would be doing anyway. We should to not be contemplating new measures without considering cost/benefit. Cost is always a consideration. On the recognition of Maori issues Information withheld to protect the free and frank expression of opinion. What have the submitters been saying on this? I will get in contact when I arrive in NZ (which is at 6.25 amish) and see you later in the day. As always, thank you for all the effort you have been putting in. Liz Original Message From Stephen Oakley/WAIStatisticsNZ/NZ To Liz NZ Cc Colin NZ, Michele NZ Sent on 29/07 06:18:19 pm. ZE12 Subject Fw: Environmental reporting (ERB) Briefing Hi Liz, i hope you've had an enjoyable holiday. have provided the first draft of the briefing note which is scheduled to go to Ministers this Thursday lunchtime once you are happy with it. Michele and I will provide our initial feedback tomorrow morning. However, we thought it important that you have an early opportunity to see the briefing note and provide some high level feedback. From: Stephen Oakley Sent: Monday, 11 August 2014 10:08 AM To: Colin Cc: Liz MacPherson Subject: Re: FW: Environmental Reporting: revised topics, and advice on drafting changes Colin, Thank you for your comments on the current set of topics. Last week was quite frantic but i'm comfortable that the new list of topics is by far the best to date. It looks like the advice on costs is also where it needs to be. Information withheld to protect privacy I will pass on your feedback to name withheld to protect privacy to ensure a cover note is provided along with the latest A33. I've asked name withheld to protect privacy to print last week's A35 and drop them on your desk. If you have further comment you'd like addressed please drop me an email and I'll take care of it. Likewise, if you are comfortable with the topics as they are please let me know and l'll communicate this to Cheers, Stephen From: Colin To: Liz Stephen OakleylWAIStatisticsNZ/NZ Date: 1008/2014 07:30 PM Subject: FW: Environmental Reporting: revised topics, and advice on drafting changes Liz, Stephen Lots of hard work has gone into the descriptions over the last few days and it is a big step forward and a victory for plain English. On the issue of costs, the proposed language is as discussed with Ministers and should meet their needs. I can understand why you have moved from the approach discussed with Ministers. The approach of having a simple topic description, a more detailed description and then 'a reason for including? works well. In terms of meeting the need to set the topics at high level that doesn't predetermine the statistics the approach works very well. It should help Ministers understand what they are agreeing to and provide a way of explaining the topic selection to the public. My only concern is that it does vary from the approach discussed with Ministers and we will need to explain in any cover note why we have taken the approach in the attached A3. This should be done in a way that explains why it aligns with what the Ministers are looking for, rather than why it differs from what was discussed. will have another read of the detailed text and get back to you with additional comments In the morning if needed. Thanks Colin From: Stephen Oakley Sent: Friday, 8 August 2014 4:07 PM To: Colin Subject: ERB topics and cost clause Hi Colin, We've completed a redraft of the topics for the 2015 report and draft advice on a potential cost clause (name withheld to protect privacy has contributed to this). Name withheld to protect privacy will be sending these through to you shortly. Information withheld to protect privacy will talk to you on Monday morning about any concerns or amendments you'd like to see. The plan is to send the new topics and costs advice to Minister's Officers on Monday, once you and name withheld to protect privacy are comfortable with them. Have a good weekend. Stephen From: Stephen Oakley Sent: Monday, 4 August 2014 12:53 PM To: Liz MacPherson Names withheld to protect privacy Cc: Colin Michele Lloyd; Subject: Environmental reporting topics This afternoon's meeting with Ministers Hi Liz, There was a fair amount of 'to and fro? on Friday so we thought it would be useful to provide you with the final text that went to Ministers Adams and Wagner. On the substantive point of topic selection, with reference to the lists in Appendix One, the paper states the following: The G8 considers the first level clearly as topics, the second level as areas of focus for the measurement of a topic, and the third level as the specific statistics that could be used to measure topics. The GS feels that her independence (in deciding how the topic will be measured) is preserved if Ministers choose level two and therefore accepts this level of topics should Ministers choose it. However, she has a strong preference for level one as this: ?gives her more flexibility and choice as to which statistics she may choose to measure the topics and is therefore more consistent with the Government?s policy intention of independent reporting; callows measures to react to changes in environmental science priorities; and oprovides a level of detail and plain English that will be more effective in telling a coherent story about New Zealand?s environment. I hope the meeting goes well and look forward to hearing how it went. Regards, Stephen PS Name withheld to protect privacy, if there's any supporting material or printing required for the meeting please let me know what we can do to help. My assumption is that Private Sectaries will have printed colour copies of the Aide Memoire (including topics) for all attendees. DRAFT Speaking notes for ERB Topics Meeting with Ministers (22 July 2014) Issue: Discussion Information withheld to protect the free and frank expression of opinion From: Stephen To: Environmental Reporting Team Cc: Names withheld to protect privacy Date: 05082014 12:03 PM Subject: Yesterday's meeting with Ministers on ERB topics Hi all, Feedback from the ERB topics meeting last night is very positive. Topics Ministers will be comfortable with level 1 topics once we present them in better plain English. A workshop will be held at probably tomorrow, to apply plain English to the existing topic lists. We understand that Ministers like the 'air' topics so this is our guide for the other 4 domains. Name withheld to protect privacy from Pubs will join us in the meeting and we're pushing for someone like Name withheld to protect privacy to do an independent review of the topics after the meeting. Moving to less detailed topics represents a significant shift and a good result for all of us that have been working towards less detailed topics using better plain English. 80 well done to everyone, the effort was well worth it in the end. (When this is all finished 1 think we deserve a few drinks somewhere in town). Costs Minister Adams has requested a clause to be added to the ERB on costs, and the good news here is that she has suggested using the words from our Principles and Protocols. Miori topics/measures I haven't heard anything specific about Maori topics so will investigate what feedback we received from Ministers. I assume the Maori stats workshop this morning is a good indication that customary use and mauri are still in. Our Minister is away on Friday so the deadline for new topics and the costs clause is likely to require delivery of all documentation to Ministers by Thursday afternoon. I'll confirm the exact time with our Private Secretary so we?re all be clear what needs to be done by when. Cheers, Stephen From: Sent: Monday, 25 August 2014 4:26 pm. To: Names withheld to protect privacy Cc: Malcolm McKee Subject: Re: Briefing note on topics for the 2015 report Hi Name withheld to protect privacy, thanks for the report have only a couple of points. Para 3. and para 14. I really don?t like the assertion that "all of the topics are measurable using robust statistical methods". I would much prefer "All of the topics are measurable. As with the Air Domain Report, the topics will be reported on using a national indicator, case study or commentary, once the robustness of the data and statistical methodology employed has been assessed." This would need to be repeated in para 14. Para 20: second sentence - doesn't make sense to me. suggest "setting out that the GS, when setting statistics, must have regard to the cost implications on government and other data providers" - or something like that. para 22. STates that it is the 63's view that it is a cost clause isn't necessary, but it reads before and after that as though both ME and STats don?t think it is necessary. Stats would prefer you to be with us, but if not, make is just us all the way through. Recommendations? I suggest that the sentence is followed by note that it is likely to delay Ministerial sign off of the topics which in turn puts the date the publication of the report at risk. or something like that. This is the main point in the paper but isn't in the recs. Thanks again oh a wee spelling mistake on para 2 proposed Michele Michele Lloyd Manager, Customer Policy and Research Customer Strategy and Delivery Group Statistics NZ Phone number withheld to protect privacy From: Sent: Tuesday, 19 August 2014 1:55 PM To: Tom Bowen Cc: James Palmer; Malcolm McKee; micheleJloyd@stats.govt.nz; Names withheld to protect Privacy Subject: Re: Commissioning information for topics BN Hi Tom, Good news about the general topics, looks like we may have almost nailed them this time. Information withheld to protect the free and frank expression of opinion We can certainly be more explicit about the methodology behind the Cultural Health Index and do some further thinking about other options. With regard to the costs clause this might be best discussed in tomorrow's commissioning meeting. I've only heard the outline of Minister Wagner's feedback so it might be best for Michele to elaborate. However, in summary I understand Information withheld to protect the free and frank expression of opinion but reasonably happy with the topics in general. Cheers, Stephen From: Stephen OakleyNVAIStatisticsNZINZ To: Tom Bowen Cc: James Palmer Malcolm McKee "micheIe.Iloyd@stats.qout.nz"