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By email

4 February 2014 File Ref: E/01/05/02 Jordan Williams NZ Taxpayers' Union Inc. Jordan@taxpayers.org.nz

Shed 39, Harbour Quays PO Box 11646 Manners Street Wellington 6142 T 04 384 5708 F 04 385 6960 www.gw.govt.nz

Dear Mr Williams

Request for information 2014/09


I refer to your request for information dated 17 January 2014, which was received by Greater Wellington Regional Council on 17 January 2014. You have requested the following information: This is a request for information under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 relating to investment property owned by Centre Port, damaged in the Julys Cook Strait earthquake swarm, specifically the Harbour Quays portfolio. We request the following information: (a) What is the total cost of repairing earthquake damage (including work that is still required to be complete? (b) What is the lost income as a result of the earthquake swarm? (c) Has CentrePort sought advice on impairment of the property portfolio as a result of the earthquake swarm? Does it intend to write down any assets as a result of the quake? (d) For each of the above, please detail the proportion or the amount that is being borne by: (i) CentrePort; (ii) the Council The Council is paying NIL (iii) insurers; (iv) leaseholders; and (v) other parties?

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(e) What steps has CentrePort taken to reduce the potential damage of further quakes? (f) When does CentrePort expect all staff to be able to return to the Harbour Quays site? Finally, please provide any reports on CentrePort properites and building since the earthquake swarm, including any meeting minutes that cover any of the matters listed above. Greater Wellington Regional Councils response follows. Cost and loss of income due to earthquakes Greater Wellington Regional Council and WRC Holdings Ltd do not hold any information related to questions (a) (e) above, except for (d) (ii). Therefore this part of your request is being refused under section 17(g) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (the Act) on the grounds that the information requested is not held by Greater Wellington Regional Council or WRC Holdings Ltd. When does CentrePort expect all staff to be able to return to the Harbour Quays site? Greater Wellington Regional Council has been advised by CentrePort that in relation to the BNZ returning to the premises, the tenant is currently re-occupying on a progressive basis at a timetable driven by their business needs. The tenant has requested all communication regarding their tenancy be directed through them. Reports on CentrePort properties and buildings since the earthquake swarm CentrePort provided a quarterly report which included information relating to the BNZ Building on Harbour Quays to WRC Holdings in December 2013. The majority of the information contained within the quarterly report is outside the scope of your request. A summary of the information contained in the report which relates to the BNZ Building on Harbour Quays is provided below. Greater Wellington Regional Council has elected to withhold some information contained within the report relating to the BNZ Building as we consider that the release of the information would be likely to adversely affect the commercial positions of CentrePort and BNZ as it contains details of the lease agreement between CentrePort and BNZ. Therefore, this information is being withheld under section 7(2)(b)(ii) of the Act, on the grounds that the release of the information would be likely to unreasonably prejudice the commercial position of the persons who supplied or who are the subject of the information. We have considered whether the public interest in the requested information outweighs Greater Wellington Regional Councils need to withhold certain aspects of the requested documents. As a result, we do not consider that the public interest outweighs Greater Wellington Regional Councils reason for withholding parts of the information under the grounds identified above. Summary of information contained within the Quarterly Report September 2013 The quarter was dominated by the two earthquake events of 21 July and 16 August. The first event on 21 July caused damage to both the Port (with a section of the Seawall collapsing into the Sea) and to the internal fit-out of the BNZ tenanted property resulting in the BNZ vacating the premises.
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The 16 August event caused further damage to the Seawall and Port land and resulted in extending the period for repairing the internal fit-out to the BNZ building. The Port has been fully operational following both earthquakes. There was no structural damage to any of the Port or Harbour Quays buildings. If you have any concerns with the decision(s) referred to in this letter, you have the right to request an investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 27(3) of the Act. Yours sincerely

Leigh-Anne Buxton General Manager, People and Capability People and Capability DD: (04) 830 4133 leigh-anne.buxton@gw.govt.nz

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