ESOIA800
Karen Thompson
[FYI request #33007 email]
Tēnā koe Karen,
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request, received on 26
November 2025, in which you requested the following information:
You recently were quoted as saying you were disgusted because principals
had contacted you saying they were forced to go on lists saying they support
te tiriti or to make announcements that they support te tiriti.
Please provide all correspondence from schools and principals that support
your statement including notes about phone calls. The names of schools and
people can be redacted.
I have considered your request under the Act.
I did not say that any principal was being forced to go on a list. I am interpreting your
request to be for background information on the statement I was quoted as saying,
which was:
“I think it’s frankly disgusting, the behaviour, creating maps around the country
and lists that people feel they have to be on, otherwise they’ll be maligned.”
The contact with principals on which I have based my statement are as follows:
- I can recall approximately six phone calls I had from principals.
- I can recall principals, board members, and teachers approaching me at
events and out in public across the country.
- I have received two emails from principals and one email from a school board
chair in scope of your request. I am releasing these to you, attached as
Appendix A, with some information withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act,
to protect the privacy of natural persons.
Some of these principals advised that several of their colleagues have also felt the
same pressure as they have.
As required under section 9(1) of the Act, I have considered the public interest in
releasing the information withheld. I do not consider the public interest
considerations favouring the release of this information are sufficient to outweigh the
need to withhold it at this time.
Thank you again for your email. You have the right to ask an Ombudsman to review
this decision. You can do this by writing to [email address] or Office
of the Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.
Kind regards
Hon Erica Stanford
Minister of Education
