[IN-CONFIDENCE - RELEASE EXTERNAL]
25/09/2025
Julia Schiller
Coordinating Group for Aotearoa Covid Action
[FYI request #32313 email]
Tēnā koe Julia Schiller
OIA: 1353212 - Ventilation regarding walled classrooms
Thank you for your email of 15 September 2025 via the FYI website to the Ministry of Education
(the Ministry) requesting the following information:
We note with interest the Ministry's plan to retrofit schools to created walled classrooms.
This presents an opportunity to slow the spread of airborne illnesses. Are there concurrent
written plans to provide adequate ventilation and air purification in order to meet
international standards for indoor air quality, and if so, can you provide them?
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
In response to your request, the Ministry has established guidance - Designing Quality Learning
Spaces (DQLS) which provides the requirements for the main internal environmental quality
factors; acoustics, lighting and visual comfort and indoor air quality and thermal comfort.
The DQLS standards set clear expectations for ventilation and indoor air quality in refurbished or
retrofitted school buildings. These standards are grounded in industry best practice and current
research (including international benchmarks) to ensure healthy learning environments.
Please refer to Section 3 (pp. 42–46) of the guidance at the following link: https://web-
assets.education.govt.nz/s3fs-public/2025-05/Indoor-Air-Quality-and-Thermal-Comfort-V2-v2.0-
2022.pdf?VersionId=vHQ.PxUEjSKvhri0MBSUobG5kHFQBb0K.
Additional information regarding ventilation guidance can be found on the Ministry’s website, we
provide this link: https://web-assets.education.govt.nz/s3fs-public/2024-12/Ventilation-Guidance-
for-New-Zealand-Schools.pdf?VersionId=v9URuRKYMcxzHq01n7KOaTBx7B6ebn3B.
As the information request is publicly available, I am refusing your request in full under section
18(d) of the Act, as the information requested is publicly available.
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.
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]
[IN-CONFIDENCE - RELEASE EXTERNAL]
Nāku noa, nā
Renelle Gronert
Director, School Design
School Property Office
OIA: 1353212
[IN-CONFIDENCE - RELEASE EXTERNAL]
