Good afternoon Claudia,
Apologies for the delay in our response to your email.  
I can confirm that Parkside School has no record of Mr Clarke's original
email.  We received an email dated 5th July 2025 but as we were on school
holidays, this was not seen until we returned to the school office on
Monday 14th July 2025 to begin Term 3.  We did receive a second email
dated 13th July 2025 however, this was also during our school holiday
break.
As per your email, please see below our response to Joe Clarke's request: 

First name Last name Main Role
Emma Romo Occupational Therapist
Jade Gudgeon Occupational Therapist
Stephanie Kaio Occupational Therapist
Givona Rush Speech Language Therapist
Jennya Charomova Speech Language Therapist
Jess Wilde Physiotherapist (Contract - 2x days p/w)
Trusha Gondalia Physiotherapist
Nicola  Parkin Psychologist
Renee Young Music Therapist
Chandresh Savsaviya IT Technician

Parkside School are currently advertising for one Speech Language
Therapist.
If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Kind regards,

Keren Phillips

Office Administrator

  [1]Home: Parkside School | 184 Wellington Street | Pukekohe, New
Zealand

[2]Email: [3][Parkside School request email] | [4]Receiver: (09) 238 9689   

 

On Tue, Jul 15, 2025 at 12:04 PM Info <[5][email address]>
wrote:

Tēnā koe

 

A complaint has been received from Joe Clarke about an alleged delay in
responding to his Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request. The
Ombudsman is sending preliminary inquiries in order to see whether there
is an opportunity for Parkside School to provide a response to Mr
Clarke’s OIA request without the need for a formal investigation.

 

Background

 

The Chief Ombudsman understands Mr Clarke made the following request

 

Please provide the total number of therapists and specialist staff you
employ identified by role. Please include both head count and EFTS.

Please include all psychologists, physical/sports engagement staff,
music therapists, engagement therapists, tech specialists,
physiotherapists, SLTs, play therapists, nurses etc. Do not include
teachers, teacher aides, librarians, facilities staff, administration
staff etc.

Total number to include base school and satellites.

Also include how many therapist or specialist vacancies you are
currently carrying.

After a response was not received from Parkside School another request
was sent stating:

I note that no reply has been received. You may not be familiar with the
requirements of the Official Information Act 1982, in which case I can
advise that, with limited exceptions, you were legally required to
respond to this request as soon as practicable and within 20 working
days i.e. by [applicable date].

I would appreciate a full response by 12 July. If that is not
forthcoming, I will be advising the Ombudsman.

I understand that as of 14 July 2025, Mr Clarke has not received a
response to his OIA request.

Preliminary inquiries

The Chief Ombudsman would appreciate advice as to the following:

1.       Was the request from Mr Clarke received by Parkside School and,
if so, when?

2.       Has Parkside School now made and communicated a decision on the
request? If so, please provide a copy of that decision for the
Ombudsman’s consideration.

3.       Are there any other circumstances of which the Ombudsman should
be aware, including information about any remedial action taken by
Parkside School?

4.       Whether there is any opportunity for Parkside School to
provide a response to Mr Clarke’s request?

As stated above, if there is any opportunity for Parkside School to
respond to Mr Clarke’s OIA request, it is unlikely that a formal
investigation will be commenced. I would be grateful if you could please
provide a response by 5PM 23 July 2025.

Additionally, it may be helpful to read the Ombudsman’s guide for the
OIA and School Boards which can be found here: [6]The OIA and school
boards | Ombudsman New Zealand.

If you have any queries, please feel free to email me at
[7][email address]

Ngā mihi nui

Claudia Monkhouse

Assistant Investigator Complaints Resolution

Office of the Ombudsman | Tari o te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata

 

Phone 0800 802 602 | Phone 04 473 9533 | Fax 04 471 2254

Email [8][email address] | [9]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz

PO Box 10152, Level 7, SolNet House, 70 The Terrace, Wellington

 

[10]image001-original

 

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References

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