[IN-CONFIDENCE - RELEASE EXTERNAL]
22/09/2025
R S Bicknel
[FYI request #31732 email]
Tēnā koe,
OIA: 1352602 – Updated request regarding appointment of Fale Andrew Lesa
Thank you for your email of 25 August 2025 to the Ministry of Education (the Ministry) requesting
the following information:
I request that you consider my request independently from the previous, earlier request.
There now exists a clear public interest in understanding how Mr Lesa came to be appointed to
various Crown boards. I contend that it is not acceptable to rely on the previous grounds used
to withhold information in the earlier release. A more appropriate response, given significant
community concern relating to Mr Lesa, and given other agencies have released information
relating to appointment processes, would be to undertake a fresh analysis.
I am concerned that you have not done so. I therefore must further request under the Official
Information Act all internal correspondence relating to my original OIA request produced by
officials.
I request an update in due course, and reserve the right to refer the matter to the Ombudsman.
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). On
3 September 2025, you were notified of the transfer of part of your request to Te Pūkenga under
section 14(b)(i ) of the Act.
We have identified two emails and one Microsoft Teams message within scope of your request. I
am releasing these in part as
Appendices A and B, with some information withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect the privacy of natural persons.
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.
Wellington National Office, 1 The Terrace, Levels 5 to 14, Wellington 6011
PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140, DX SR51201 Phone: +64 4 463 8000
[IN-CONFIDENCE - RELEASE EXTERNAL]
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
Emma Drysdale
Manager, Official and Parliamentary Information
Government, Executive and Ministerial Services
OIA: 1352602
[IN-CONFIDENCE - RELEASE EXTERNAL]
Appendix A - Emails
#
Date
From
To
Subject
Decision on release
1
18 August Scott
Jax Ritchie, RE: OIA Request
Released in part.
2025
Connew
Monika
1351962 -
Information has been
Staven,
Acknowledgement
withheld under section
Ministerials
9(2)(a) of the Act.
team
2
19 August Jax Ritchie
Cindy
PRESEND CHECK:
Released in full.
2025
McDonald
OIA Request 1351962
Appendix B – Microsoft Teams messages
#
Date
From
To
Decision on release
1
19 August 2025
Jax Ritchie
Emma Drysdale
Released in full.
OIA: 1352602
[IN-CONFIDENCE - RELEASE EXTERNAL]
