21 March 2022
Nathaniel Manning
By email: [FYI request #18618 email]
Tēnā koe Nathaniel
Official information request for costs associated with occupation of Pipitea
Campus
I refer to your request for information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act)
dated 21 February 2022:
1)
As of 21/02/2022, what has the overall cost of the prostests been on the university,
and how are these costs broken down? For example, categories could be (but not
limited to);
- extra security or infrastructure
- reallocating staff and resources to other campuses
- marketing and comms
- Cost to service providers/delays of services.
2)
What is the forecasted cost of closing Pipitea campus until mid-April, and of
cleaning up vandalism and damage after the protest?
3)
How are these costs covered financially (e.g. insurance, student services levy,
academic costs, government funding etc.)?
The total costs associated with the occupation of the Pipitea campus are not currently
known. The work to restore the campus to a safe environment for students and staff is
ongoing and the final costs associated with this work will not be known until the work is
complete. It is anticipated that costs relating to the clean-up and repair of the campus will
be approximately $46,000 including GST. This includes removing rubbish, cleaning and
waterblasting, replacing broken doors and glass panes, and maintenance to the grounds
around Pipitea campus which were damaged during the occupation by protestors.
Currently the University has received invoices for the following expenditure associated
with the protest:
Security costs
$26,322.10
Legal Advice
$3,399.62
In addition, the University has incurred significant internal costs such as those relating to
reallocating staff and classes to other campuses, retaining staff to work additional
security shifts and overtime, marketing and communications regarding the occupation,
costs regarding delays of services, and rental and utility costs incurred despite not being
able to utilise the campus for University purposes are not recorded distinctly and
therefore cannot be provided without substantial collation and research. In many cases
the information does not exist or is not held in a form that allows the University to
calculate the true cost of the occupation of the Pipitea campus. Therefore, this aspect of
your request is refused in accordance with s18(f) of the Act as the information cannot be
made available without substantial collation and research ; s18(e) of the Act as the
information does not exist; and s18(g) of the Act as the information is not held by the
University.
Costs incurred due to the protest will be funded through the University’s usual operating
budgets and not through the Student Services Levy.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of the
decisions made regarding this request. Information about how to make a complaint is
available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact me at
[VUW request email]. Ngā mihi nui
Blair Doherty
Senior Advisor, Official Information and Privacy
Legal Services
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington