15/07/2025
Joe Clarke
[FYI request #30595 email]
Tēnā koe Joe
OIA: 1346608 – Appointment of LSM at Halswell and Westbridge Residential Specialist
Schools
Thank you for your email of 4 May 2025 to the Ministry of Education (the Ministry) clarifying your
request for the following information about the appointment of a Limited Statutory Manager at
Halswell and Westbridge Residential Specialist Schools:
…the recommendation document, the supporting documents referred to in it, and the
response from the decision maker
Your request has been considered under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act).
Please find the requested information attached as the Appendix and details of the Ministry’s
decision on release of the information set out in the document table below.
We have identified nine documents in scope of your request. This includes the memo which
proposed a Limited Statutory Manager for the Combined Board of Westbridge Residential School
and Halswell Residential College, which has been identified as the recommendation document,
and the supporting documents referred to in the memo. We consider the decision maker response
is included at the end of the memo.
Some information has been withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the privacy of
natural persons. The information withheld comprises the personal information of students and staff
at Westbridge Residential School, Ministry staff and private third-party contact details which are not
publicly available. The identity of one private third party has also been withheld on privacy grounds.
Regarding section 9(1) of the Act, we have considered the public interest favouring release of the
information withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act and concluded that it does not outweigh the
privacy interests of the individuals concerned.
Wellington National Office, 1 The Terrace, Levels 5 to 14, Wellington 6011
PO Box 1666, Wel ington 6140, DX SR51201 Phone: +64 4 463 8000
It should be noted that the Ministry has taken the issues and concerns raised in the
recommendation document very seriously, which is reflected in our response of dissolving the
Combined Board of Halswell and Westbridge Residential Specialist Schools and appointing a
Commissioner across both schools.
Please note, we may publish this response on our website after five working days. Your name and
contact details wil 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
Lynda Pura-Watson
General Manager
Learning Support, Te Pae Aronui
OIA: 1346608
Document table
#
Date
Title
Decision on release
1
16 Dec 2024
ERO let er to Ministry
Released in ful .
2
19 Dec 2024
Letter to WRS
Released in part. Information
has been withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
3
17 Jan 2025
WRS Letter to Acting
Released in part. Information
Secretary for Education
has been withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
4
24 Jan 2025
WRS Amended Action
Released in part. Information
Plan Notification letter
has been withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
5
28 Feb 2025
WRS update email
Released in part. Information
has been withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
6
13 March 2025 Notes from MOE/Board
Released in part. Information
hui held 13 March 2025 - has been withheld under section
email
9(2)(a) of the Act.
7
14 March 2025 Email from Tanya
Released in ful .
Harvey
8
14 March 2025 Memo: Proposed Limited
Released in part. Information
Statutory Manager for
has been withheld under section
the Combined Board of
9(2)(a) of the Act.
Westbridge
Residential School and
Halswell Residential
College
9
19 March 2025 Update -
Released in part. Information
Westbridge/Halswell RS has been withheld under section
- email
9(2)(a) of the Act.
OIA: 1346608
Document Outline
