24/09/2024
Patrick Pink
[FYI request #28206 email]
Tēnā koe Patrick
OIA: 1334984 – Demolition of buildings at Riverdale School
Thank you for your email of 27 August 2024 to the Ministry of Education (the Ministry), via the FYI
website, requesting the following information:
Al written documents and information about the specific emergency health and safety
reasons for the demolition of buildings at Riverdale School in Gisborne during December
2023 to January 2024.
Your request has been considered under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act).
Please accept my apologies that your previous requests for information regarding the health and
safety reasons for the removal of the BLENNZ team from the Riverdale School building and the
demolition of the building have not been responded to.
These buildings were due for replacement and following Cyclone Gabrielle the buildings were
identified to as representing an increasing health and safety risk due to water damage and further
deterioration. This led to the decision to vacate and demolish the block.
Please find the information in scope of your request attached as
Appendix A. Please note the
following information I am withholding under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect the privacy of
natural persons:
• The names and contact details, that are not already publicly available, of non-Ministry and
former Ministry staff. I am providing your name as you are the requestor, however other
information in the email chain involving yourself includes withheld information due to it
being made publicly available on the FYI website.
• The cellphone numbers of Ministry staff.
• Photographs of individuals.
• Please note that some photographs in Document 1 are not visible. These have not been
withheld from you, these are also how they appear to the Ministry.
Auckland Office, Level 3, 12-18 Normanby Road, Mt Eden, Auckland 1024
Private Bag 92644, Symonds Street, Auckland 1149 Phone: +64 9 632 9400
Some financial figures have also been withheld under section 9(2)(j) of the Act, to enable a
Minister of the Crown or any public service agency holding the information to carry on, without
prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial 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.
You can find further information regarding the information I am releasing to you in the
Document
Table below this letter.
Following your consideration of the attached information, please contact me directly should you
wish to discuss any element further and I can arrange for the appropriate local property team
member or subject matter expert to be available to you.
Please note that we may publish this response on our website after five working days. Your name
and contact details in this letter will be removed.
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
Sam Fowler
Head of Property
Te Pou Hanganga, Matihiko | Infrastructure and Digital
OIA: 1334984
Document Table
#
Date
Title
Decision on release
1
26 Jun
Damage Assessment
Release in ful .
2023
(Gisborne Heavy Rainfal ) –
Construction Observation
2
3 Jul
FW: Riverdale School
Release in part. Information has been withheld under
2023
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
2A
RiverdaleSchoolStoutStreet
Release in part. Information has been withheld under
[initials withheld]8_20723e
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
3
11 Jul
20230711 - Comment -
Release in part. Information has been withheld under
2023
Riverdale School - Mould
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
Results - Block B roof
3A
RiverdaleSchoolStoutStreet
See Document 2A.
[initials withheld]8_20723e
4
3 Oct
RE: Riverdale urgent works
Release in part. Information has been withheld under
2023
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
4A
Photo's from Riverdale
Release in part. Information has been withheld under
School
section 9(2)(a) of the Act. Out of scope information has
also been withheld.
5
4 Oct
RE: Riverdale urgent works
Release in part. Information has been withheld under
2023
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
6
4 Oct
RE: Riverdale School
Release in part. Information has been withheld under
2023
(Gisborne) | Invitation for
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
your school - Ngā iti
Kahurangi – small or
remote schools programme
7
5 Oct
Memo: Risk of continued
Release in part. Information has been withheld under
2023
occupation of Cyclone
sections 9(2)(a) and 9(2)(j) of the Act.
damaged classrooms –
Riverdale School,
Gisborne
8
18 Oct
RE: Riverdale School
Release in part. Information has been withheld under
2023
section 9(2)(a) of the Act. Out of scope information has
also been withheld.
9
31 Oct
RE: Cobham School -
Release in part. Information has been withheld under
2023
Temp location
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
10 2 Nov
RE: Cobham Shift BLENNZ
Release in part. Information has been withheld under
2023
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
11 15 May
Riverdale School Single
Release in part. In scope information provided in
2024
Stage Business Case
accordance with section 16(1)(e) of the Act.
OIA: 1334984
Document Outline
