9/09/2024
John Wilson
[FYI request #28070 email]
Tēnā koe John
OIA: 1334321 – List of 78 charter school applicants
Thank you for your email of 15 August 2024 to the Charter Schools Agency (the CSA) requesting
the following information:
I am requesting a list of the 78 charter school applications, including those from new
providers and existing state schools seeking conversion, as mentioned in David
Seymour’s press release dated 15 August 2024, titled "Overwhelming Demand to Open
Charter Schools.”
Your request has been considered under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act).
Confidentiality for applicants is imperative to the independence and credibility of the charter school
selection process at this early stage. While 78 applications were received, only a limited number
wil progress to Stage Two of the selection process.
I am therefore refusing your request under section 18(a) of the Act, since, by virtue of
section 9(2)(ba)(i ) of the Act, there is good reason to withhold the information to protect
information which is subject to an obligation of confidence, where the making available of the
information would be likely otherwise to damage the public interest.
As required under section 9(1) of the Act, I have considered the public interest in releasing the
information withheld. I do not consider that the public interest considerations favouring the release
of this information are sufficient to outweigh the need to withhold it at this time.
Once the selection process is complete and decisions have been made at the end of Stage Two,
the CSA wil consider proactively releasing this information. We expect that this will be in October
this year. I consider that the public interest wil be met by the proactive release of information in
due course. In addition, applicants that are successful in progressing to Stage Two of the selection
process wil be required to consult their community.
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.
8 Gilmer Terrace, Levels Ground floor, 1, 2, and 6-14, Wellington
PO Box 1666, Wel ington 6140 Phone: +64 4 463 8000
Nāku noa, nā
Jane Lee
Chief Executive
Charter Schools Agency
OIA: 1334321
