News story research process
John Sims made this Official Information request to Television New Zealand Limited
The request was partially successful.
From: John Sims
Kia ora Television New Zealand Limited,
I would like to request some information after reading your news story: https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/03/08/teach...
Please send me a copy of any and all documents, emails, or internet usage history featuring any detail about what the reporter was searching for when he came across the spreadsheet referred to in this news story.
Yours faithfully,
John Sims
From: OIA
Television New Zealand Limited
Dear John Sims
We have received your email of 8 March requesting information related to
the 1 News story on the leak of confidential information by the Teaching
Council.
We will consider your request and provide you with a response in 20
working days.
Regards
Official Information Act Requests
e. [TVNZ request email]
[1]tvnz-horizontal.jpg [2]1-news.jpg
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References
Visible links
3. https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/...
From: OIA
Television New Zealand Limited
Dear Mr Sims
We refer to your email received at 6:54 pm on 8 March 2022 (your Request)
requesting, in part, information under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act).
Request
You have requested a copy of any and all documents, emails, or internet
usage history featuring any detail about what the reporter was searching
for when he came across the spreadsheet referred to in the news story
available at
[1]https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/03/08/teach...
.
The reporter was simply typing into Google the name of a person and a
suburb, while researching an unrelated potential news item. Beyond that,
TVNZ is not able to provide further information.
That is because:
1. The requested information relates to the privacy of natural persons
(i.e. their name and suburb). This information is therefore withheld
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act; and
2. Once the reporter found the spreadsheet referred to in the linked
article, he immediately requested legal advice. Legal professional
privilege applies and some of the requested information is therefore
withheld under section 9(2)(h) of the Act.
We trust this information assists. As you may know, if you are
dissatisfied with TVNZ’s response to your Request, section 28 of the Act
sets out the circumstances under which you may seek review or further
investigation by the Ombudsman.
Regards
Official Information Act Requests
e. [TVNZ request email]
[2]tvnz-horizontal.jpg [3]1-news.jpg
[4][IMG]
References
Visible links
1. https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/03/08/teach...
4. https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/...
Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence
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Luke C left an annotation ()
In relation to the first point, I'm not convinced that 9(2)(a) applies as the name and suburb is likely to be in the electoral role, which is available from public libraries and the National Library. I suspect the real reason is that TVNZ doesn't want to divulge what it was searching on. They have not provided the information you sought.
In relation to the second point of the response, While some information may be legally privileged, TVNZ can choose to waive that privilege particularly ifvits in the public interest.
The gist of your request is asking "what the reporter was searching for". I don't think the legal advice would be all that relevant. They can redact the legal advice if necessary, but release the other infornation in the document, such as the name of the search terms.
Link to this