12 December 2025
H.S
Via email: [FYI request #33144 email]
Tēnā koe
Official Information Act 1982 – Request for Enrolment Information (Your Request of 5 December 2025)
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act request dated 5 December 2025,
submitted via the FYI website, in which you seek detailed enrolment information relating to Year 9
enrolment at Burnside High School for 2026.
Verification of Eligibility under Section 12
Before I can process your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), I am required to
establish your eligibility to make a request pursuant to section 12(1) of the Act.
Section 12(1) of the Act provides that a person may make a request for official information if they are:
(a)
a New Zealand citizen; or
(b)
a permanent resident of New Zealand; or
(c)
a person who is in New Zealand; or
(d)
a body corporate which is incorporated in New Zealand; or
(e)
a body corporate which is incorporated outside New Zealand but which has a place of
business in New Zealand.
The Office of the Ombudsman's published guidance, The OIA for Ministers and Agencies (August 2019),
confirms that "Agencies are entitled to satisfy themselves as to the requester's eligibility to make a
request under the OIA". The guidance further notes that "if a request is made by email or over the
internet, agencies are entitled to ask reasonable questions to check whether the person is eligible to
make a request."
Your request was submitted via the FYI website using only your initials, and no information has been
provided to establish which of the above eligibility categories you satisfy. Given the detailed nature of
the enrolment data you have requested, I consider it reasonable and appropriate to confirm your
eligibility before processing your request.
Information Required
To enable me to verify your eligibility under section 12(1), please provide one of the following:
1.
Confirmation that you are a New Zealand citizen (a copy of a New Zealand passport,
certificate of citizenship, or birth certificate); or
03 358 8383
151 Greers Road
[Burnside High School request email]
PO Box 29 677
burnside.school.nz
Christchurch 8440
2.
Confirmation that you are a permanent resident of New Zealand (a copy of your
permanent resident visa or residence class visa); or
3.
Evidence that you are currently in New Zealand, such as a New Zealand address (for
example, a recent utility bill, council rates notice, or letter from a government agency
showing your name and a New Zealand address); or
4.
If you are making this request on behalf of a body corporate, confirmation of the
company's New Zealand incorporation or place of business.
Next Steps
Upon receipt of confirmation of your eligibility, I will treat your request as received for the purposes of
the Act, and the statutory 20 working day timeframe will commence from the working day following
receipt of that confirmation.
I note the Ombudsman's guidance that agencies should query eligibility promptly so as not to
unnecessarily delay the processing of valid requests. I have endeavoured to contact you promptly upon
receipt of your request to minimise any delay.
Please note that the school administration office closes for the summer vacation from 20 December
2025 until 26 January 2026. During this period, any correspondence regarding this matter should be
directed to [email address], which will be monitored periodically.
If you have any concerns about this decision, you have the right to seek an investigation and review by
the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by calling freephone 0800 802 602.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of this correspondence or your request, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Ngā mihi nui,
Scott Haines
Principal
