Dear University of Auckland,

Kia ora,

It has come to my attention that there has been a significant degree of racism when assessing decisions of plagiarism at the University of Auckland.

Anecdotally I am informed that a recent assignment had a large number of students punished, and all the non Pākehā/European students were not sanctioned, whereas none of the Pākehā/European students were sanctioned.

Accordingly, under the OIA I request:

1. In the 2019 Academic year a breakdown of all incidents of plagiarism, with a break down on the number of incidents, how each of the individual incidents were dealt with and the ethnic background of each person found to have plagiarised, and what sanction each of these students received - names can be redacted according to s9(2)(a) to protect privacy.
2. All correspondence, memos, text, phone calls, papers, emails in relation to issues of plagiarism. Including notification by relevant staff to the University, and any comments, views, opinions about the decision on how students should, or should not be punished by academic staff, students and any other relevant staff.

Ngā mihi

Sam McDonald
Enrolled Barrister & Solicitor

Dear University of Auckland,

Kia ora anō,

Sorry an amendment to my request and it should read as follows:

Kia ora,

It has come to my attention that there has been a significant degree of racism when assessing decisions of plagiarism at the University of Auckland.

Anecdotally I am informed that a recent assignment had a large number of students punished, and all the non Pākehā/European students were sanctioned, whereas none of the Pākehā/European students were sanctioned.

Accordingly, under the OIA I request:

1. In the 2019 Academic year a breakdown of all incidents of plagiarism, with a break down on the number of incidents, how each of the individual incidents were dealt with and the ethnic background of each person found to have plagiarised, and what sanction each of these students received - names can be redacted according to s9(2)(a) to protect privacy.
2. All correspondence, memos, text, phone calls, papers, emails in relation to issues of plagiarism. Including notification by relevant staff to the University, and any comments, views, opinions about the decision on how students should, or should not be punished by academic staff, students and any other relevant staff.

Ngā mihi

Sam McDonald
Enrolled Barrister & Solicitor

Yours faithfully,

Sam McDonald

Kia ora Ms Ewert,

I refer to your letter of December 13 2019. Please accept this as notice that I will be requesting an investigation (with the Office of the Ombudsman) under Part 5 of the Act.

I note, too, you didn’t inform me of this to review, in your letter, which is sloppy, to say the least. Hopefully you’re able to rectify this practise in future.

Ngā mihi,

Sam McDonald | Enrolled Barrister & Solicitor