8/07/2025 
George Bryant 
[FYI request #31220 email]  
Tēnā koe George 
OIA: 1349140 – Lincoln school sites 
Thank you for your email of 5 June 2025 to the Minister of Education, Hon Erica Stanford, which 
was transferred to the Ministry of Education (the Ministry) on 6 June 2025, requesting the following 
information:  
On the 28th of May [the Minister] announced that MoE has procured a new site for a primary 
school in Lincoln. 
  
1.  Where is this site located? 
  
2.  What is the timeline for turning this site into a school? 
  
[The Minister] also talked about adding classrooms to the two existing primary schools in 
Lincoln. 
  
3.  What is the timeline for these expansions for each school? 
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).  
Regarding part one of your request, a preferred site has been identified, however, I am unable to 
confirm the location of the site as the Ministry is still in commercial negotiations with the current 
landowner. As such, I am refusing this part of your request under section 18(a) of the Act, that by 
virtue of section 9(2)(j) of the Act, the withholding of the information is necessary to enable any 
public service agency or organisation 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 that the public interest considerations favouring the release 
of this information are sufficient to outweigh the need to withhold it at this time. 
Regarding part two of your request, funding for the construction of the new school is separate to 
that for the land purchase and is subject to prioritisation in future budget years. This funding will be 
considered alongside other priorities for growth regionally and nationally. We are therefore unable 
Christchurch Office, Te Urutī, 48 Hereford Street, West End, Christchurch, 8013 
PO Box 2522, Addington, Christchurch 8140 Phone: +64 3 378 7300  

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to confirm a timeline or definitive network date for the new school and I am refusing this part of 
your request under section 18(e) of the Act, as the information requested does not currently exist. 
Regarding part three of your request, Hon Erica Stanford announced ten classrooms at Lincoln 
Primary School and a 12-classroom, including two learning support spaces, expansion for Ararira 
Springs Primary School. Both of these projects are scheduled to be completed by July 2026. 
Please note, we may publish this response on our website after five working days. Your name and 
contact details 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 
 
 
 
 
Simon Cruickshank 
Regional Infrastructure Manager, Southern 
School Property 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OIA: 1349140 

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