Media release

Date: 24 September 2013

DOC to review submission process

The Director General of Conservation Lou Sanson says he has asked for a review of the department’s process for dealing with its submission on the Tukituki Catchment Proposal.

Mr Sanson says he stands by the decision taken by his senior managers not to submit on the wider environmental aspects of the proposal and says the Minister did not direct DOC about the submission it was making.

Mr Sanson says he does have questions about the time frames for making final decisions on the submission.

Mr Sanson says he has also initiated an internal investigation into the unauthorised release of a departmental email in connection with the submission.

He says the release of these emails calls the department’s integrity into question and he has asked an independent reviewer to look into this issue.

Mr Sanson says he will not be commenting further on either of these enquiries while they are underway.

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