[IN-CONFIDENCE - RELEASE EXTERNAL]
20/02/2026
Karen Thompson
[FYI request #32687 email]
Tēnā koe Karen
OIA: GEMS-46152 – Feedback from contributors to the Social Sciences Curriculum
Thank you for your email of 26 November 2025 to the Ministry of Education (the Ministry)
requesting the following information:
Please give all feedback provided by the following people who are named as writers,
contributors and reviewers in Tāhurangi, as well as the Ministry dedicated team’s feedback
on the various iterations of the social sciences curriculum leading up to the curriculum
documents that were released today, 29 October 2025.
[List of names]
I want to see any emails, texts, meeting notes, aide memoires, recollections or other
relevant documents that include the feedback these people gave.
I am happy to restrict the scope of my request to emails or formal documents from the
named members and meeting notes for the meetings they attended. Feel free to redact
personal names for their privacy.
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
Due to the iterative nature of the curriculum development process, the Ministry’s ability to provide
detailed information regarding point-in-time feedback or content changes proposed to the draft
curriculum is necessarily limited. Feedback is often provided verbally via mechanisms such as
facilitated sessions with contributing groups that are not formally minuted.
On this basis, we have searched our records for written feedback supplied to the Ministry by the
individuals identified via email. We have identified four documents and their attachments in scope
of your request, as set out in the
Appendix A Document Table below and attached in part as
Appendix A. I am withholding some information under the following sections of the Act:
• 9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of natural persons
• 9(2)(g)(i), to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank
expression of opinions by or between or to Ministers of the Crown or members of an
Wellington National Office, 1 The Terrace, Levels 5 to 14, Wellington 6011
PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140, DX SR51201 Phone: +64 4 463 8000
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organisation or officers and employees of any public service agency or organisation in the
course of their duty.
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
documents 2A, 3A and 4A, questions supplied to contributing group members for their
feedback were as follows:
1. Is it clear what students are expected to learn at each phase, and is the content
appropriately sequenced and level ed?
2. Are there opportunities for students to revisit and apply key ideas in different contexts to
support lasting learning?
3. Can this curriculum be taught effectively within the time available, with space for review,
practice, and consolidation?
4. Does the curriculum maintain a strong disciplinary identity and build depth across
phases?
5. Does Phase 4 content prepare students for future learning, including tertiary pathways?
6. Do you have any other comments you’d like to provide?
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
Claire Eden
General Manager, Business Operations
Te Mahau | Te Poutāhū (Curriculum Centre)
OIA: GEMS-46152
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Appendix A Document Table
#
Date
From
To
Subject
Decision on release
1
21 Aug [Withheld
Ministry
Feedback on the re-
Released in part.
2025
under section
officials
write of the Social
Information has been
9(2)(a) of the
Sciences curriculum withheld under
Act]
sections 9(2)(a) and
9(2)(g)(i) of the Act.
2
2 Sep
[Withheld
Ministry
Feedback on draft
Released in part.
2025
under section
officials
social science
Information has been
9(2)(a) of the
curriculum
withheld under
Act]
sections 9(2)(a) and
9(2)(g)(i) of the Act.
2A
Contributing group feedback form
Withheld in full. Information has been
withheld under section
9(2)(g)(i) of the Act.
3
2 Sep
[Withheld
Ministry
Re: Helping us
Released in part.
2025
under section
officials
update The New
Information has been
9(2)(a) of the
Zealand Curriculum: withheld under
Act]
Feedback on
sections 9(2)(a) and
snapshot of draft
9(2)(g)(i) of the Act.
learning area –
Social Sciences
3A
Contributing group feedback form
Withheld in full. Information has been
withheld under section
9(2)(g)(i) of the Act.
4
2 Sep
Ministry official [Withheld
RE: Helping us
Released in part.
2025
under
update The New
Information has been
section
Zealand Curriculum: withheld under
9(2)(a) of
Feedback on
sections 9(2)(a) and
the Act]
snapshot of draft
9(2)(g)(i) of the Act.
learning area –
Social Sciences
4A
Contributing group feedback form
Withheld in full. Information has been
withheld under section
9(2)(g)(i) of the Act.
OIA: GEMS-46152
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