Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/31682-fale-andrew-lesa-stuff-investigation-reveals-flawed-cv on September 30, 2025 08:37

Fale Andrew Lesā- Stuff investigation reveals flawed CV

john luke made this Official Information request to Department of Conservation

The request was successful.

From: john luke

Dear Department of Conservation,

In light of recent news, I understand that Fale Andrew Lesā is a former Deputy Chair of the Auckland Conservation Board. Could you please confirm whether he did, in fact, hold this position? If so, from what period?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/36076424...

Also, I would like requesting all documents and information you hold pertaining to the appointment of Fale Andrew Lesā to the Auckland Conservation Board.

Yours faithfully,

john luke

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From: do-not-reply
Department of Conservation

Kia ora John,

Thank you for your official information request to the Department of
Conservation, received on 21/07/2025.

Your reference number is OIAD-5482.

 

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and no
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was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
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If you have any queries email us at [1][email address].

Ngā mihi

Government Services

Department of Conservation

Te Papa Atawhai

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From: do-not-reply
Department of Conservation

Attachment OIAD 5482 Extension Luke.pdf
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Kia ora John
Thank you for your OIA request to the Department of Conservation which was
received on 21/07/2025
We are advising you that we are extending the 20 working day period to
respond to your request, as allowed under section 15A(1) of the Official
Information Act 1982. Please see attached letter for details.
If you have any queries email us at [1][email address] and
quote your reference number OIAD-5482.
Ngā mihi
Government Services
Department of Conservation
Te Papa Atawhai

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From: do-not-reply
Department of Conservation

Attachment OIAD 5482 Attachment Items 1 4.pdf
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Attachment OIAD 5482 Response Luke.pdf
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Kia ora John,

Please find attached the Department of Conservation’s response to your
request, which we received on 21/07/2025.

If you have any queries email us at [1][email address]. 

Ngā mihi

Government Services

Department of Conservation

Te Papa Atawhai

Caution - This message and accompanying data may contain information that
is confidential or subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient you are notified that any use, dissemination, distribution or
copying of this message or data is prohibited. If you received this email
in error, please notify us immediately and erase all copies of the message
and attachments. We apologise for the inconvenience. Thank you.

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News Reader left an annotation ()

Hey John, just helping out on your requests . I see that DOC has responded and it does appear re: one of the claims made (he is a former elected councillor of Manukau City Council) was stated by Mr Lesa himself. This ties in with the other OIA request you had made to Auckland Council who succeeded the Manukau City Council after amalgamation re: Mr Lesa claims on this point. I did some further research FYI, was able to access the former Manukau City Council web archive on the Wayback machine including the last election results before super city amalgamation (https://web.archive.org/web/201005221526...) and the list of the current councillors at the time (https://web.archive.org/web/201005212149...) and it does appear he was never a councillor despite what he may have claimed otherwise on his CV to DOC . To that end, I believe it is an exaggeration of what his actual position was in council at that time. To be a councillor is actually a pretty high level position below the mayor and deputy mayor. From the links on the Wayback machine (and re that NZ Herald article I provided in the other annotation) , he was only an elected committed member for the Pacific Islands Advisory Committee. This can be verified via these links from the old council website (https://web.archive.org/web/201005220106..., https://web.archive.org/web/201005221217...). This ties in with the Stuff investigation reveals about his exaggeration of his positions etc.

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