ESOIA801
Anna Wilson
[FYI request #33008 email]
Tēnā koe Anna,
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request, received on 26
November 2025, in which you requested the following information:
1. A copy of all correspondence received by the Minister, the Minister's staff, or
the Minister's office from school representatives regarding Te Rārangi
Rangatira. For avoidance of doubt, correspondence refers to letters, emails,
texts, and WhatsApp messages.
2. A list of all phone calls from school representatives to the Minister or to the
Minister's staff where Te Rārangi Rangatira was discussed, including the date
the phone call was received.
3. All internal emails between the Minister, the Minister's staff, and the Ministry of
Education officials regarding Te Rārangi Rangatira.
I have considered your request under the Act.
In response to
part 1 of your request, I have not received any pieces of
correspondence specifically mentioning “Te Rārangi Rangatira.” A preliminary email
search for related terms such as “Treaty of Waitangi” or “Te Tiriti o Waitangi”
returned hundreds of emails, not all of which would be in scope of your request.
Manually determining which emails are in scope of your request would constitute
substantial collation and research. I am therefore refusing this part of your request
under section 18(f) of the Act.
In response to
part 2 of your request, I can recall approximately six phone calls I had
from principals. Furthermore, I can recall principals, board members, and teachers
approaching me at events and out in public across the country.
In response to
part 3 of your request, I am advised that my office has not identified
any internal emails in scope of your request. I am therefore refusing this part of your
request under section 18(e) of the Act, as the requested information does not exist.
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
