31 March 2026 
 
By email: [FYI request #33945 email] 
 
Tēnā koe AB 
 
I refer to your request for information dated 3 March 2026 made under the Official Information Act 
1982 (the Act).  You have requested: 
 
Please provide the cumulative GPAs distribution of all students who completed their Bachelor 
of Arts majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the end of 2023. Restrict this only to 
PPE grades, and do not include grades in other degrees. However, you may include grades that 
contribute to the GPA in the BA itself (acknowledging that the degree GPA will include some 
other arts papers). 
 
Our response to your request follows. 
 
Anonymised statistical academic results data for papers offered by the University between 2019 and 
2025 are now published on our website: https://www.otago.ac.nz/about/quickstats.  We do this so 
that all students can access this information at any time.  The data excludes information we would 
withhold under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect the privacy and wellbeing of students.  The 
University’s Proactive Release Policy for Academic Results is available here: 
https://www.otago.ac.nz/administration/policies/policy-collection/proactive-release-policy-for-
academic-results. 
 
The further information you have requested is not contained in existing reports held by the 
University.  Detailed statistical analysis of results, such as by particular cohorts, programmes or 
categories, can only be created by a small team within the University applying specialised and complex 
skills.  On past occasions where we may have provided this information, we did so because it was 
incidental to collating and providing the underlying grade and mark information held.  This is no longer 
the case, as the underlying grade and mark information is now publicly available.  
 
Accordingly, we decline to provide the requested information as the information would need to be 
created, and is not held, under section 18(g) of the Act.  However, we hope the information which is 
now publicly available will be helpful. 
 
If you are not satisfied with our response to your information request, section 28(3) of the Act 
provides you with the right to ask an Ombudsman to investigate and review this response. However, 
we would welcome the opportunity to discuss any concerns with you first. 
 
Ngā mihi 
 
Jo Pearson
 
Jo Pearson 
Coordinator Official Information and Compliance 
 
Office of the Registrar and Secretary to the Council | Te Tari o Te Pouroki me te Kaituhi ki te Kaunihera  
PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand 
[University of Otago request email] 
otago.ac.nz 

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