17/06/2024
Marcus Cook
[FYI request #26902 email]
Tēnā koe Marcus
OIA: 1329302 - Further to OIA 1322372 - Kumeu College clarification of site details
Thank you for your email of 21 May 2024 to the Ministry of Education (the Ministry) requesting the
following information:
1) First, at the top of page two, you advise there is a second site that comprises the potential
Kumeu College site. Could you clarify whether this is *additional* or *alternative* to the site
for which negotiations are ongoing. If this is an additional site, could you broadly advise
progress in regard to that site (acknowledging the restrictions of providing too much detail).
2)
Second, your very helpful table shows "month and year negotiations concluded" but your
footnote 3 states this was "settlement date". Could you please update to the date on which
agreement was reached, or clarify that payment was in fact made on the same day
agreement was reached (or within a couple of business days thereof).
Your request has been considered under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act).
In response to
part one, the second site is additional to the site for which negotiations are ongoing.
There are two sites that comprise the potential College site and negotiations with the second
landowner have not yet commenced. The Ministry remains in discussions with the owners of the
first site. Information about the location of the potential College site is not publicly available to
ensure that any commercial negotiations are not impacted. Therefore, any further details relating to
these negotiations, are withheld under section 9(2)(j) of the Act, to enable the Ministry to carry on,
without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations.
As required under section 9(1) of the Act, I have considered the public interest in releasing the
information withheld. I do not consider the public interest considerations favouring the release of
this information are sufficient to outweigh the need to withhold it at this time.
In response to
part two, I confirm that the payment was made on the same day the agreement
was reached.
Please note, we may publish this response on our website after five working days. Your name and
contact details wil be removed.
8 Gilmer Terrace, Levels Ground floor, 1, 2, and 6-14, Wellington
PO Box 1666, Wel ington 6140 Phone: +64 4 463 8000
Thank you again for your email. You have the right to ask an Ombudsman to review my decision
on your request, in accordance with section 28 of the Act. You can do this by writing to
[email address] or to Office of the Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.
Nāku noa, nā
Isabel Evans
Hautū | Deputy Secretary
Te Mahau | Te Tai Raro (North)
OIA: 1329302
