Dear Jorja,

 

I refer to your request of 10 March 2026, for official information under
the Official Information Act 1982.

 

The University will respond to your request as soon as reasonably
practicable, and within the Official Information Act’s maximum time limit
of 20 working days from the date of your request (9 April 2026) unless
that time limit is extended under the Act.

Yours sincerely,

Adam

 

[1]signature_1301701140

Adam Miller

Kaiâwhina Ture | Legal Assistant

Te tari o te Ihorangi | Office of the Vice-Chancellor

Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland

[2]Image

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: jorja <[FOI #34020 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 11:27 PM
To: Legal <[University of Auckland request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - UTAS Disability Places in the
University of Auckland Medical Programme and Equity Choices
 
Dear University of Auckland,

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following
information regarding admission seat allocations for the University of
Auckland medical programme:

1. The total number of domestic places available in the medical programme
for each year from 2015 to 2026.

2. The number of places allocated under the UTAS (Undergraduate Targeted
Admission Scheme) disability pathway for each of those years.

3. Any internal documents, reports, or reviews that discuss the allocation
or review of UTAS disability pathway places during this period.

4. Any analysis undertaken by the faculty or the Equity Office regarding
proportionality for students with disabilities when determining UTAS
reserved places.

5. The rationale for maintaining two UTAS disability places despite
increases in the total number of domestic seats.

6. Any plans or discussions within the university about increasing UTAS
disability pathway places in the future.

For context, publicly available information from FYI states that domestic
medical programme places increased from 257 in 2015 to 317 in 2026, while
UTAS disability places remained at two.
Jorja

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #34020 email]

Is [University of Auckland request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to University of Auckland? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[3]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[4]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
3. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
4. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

Dear Jorja

I refer to your request of 10 March 2025, for official information under
the Official Information Act 1982.

As consultations necessary to make a decision on your request are such
that a response cannot reasonably be given within the original time limit,
the University has extended the time limit for your request by 20 working
days under section 15A(1)(b) of the OIA.

The new maximum time limit for the University’s response is 8 May 2026; we
will respond to your request as soon as reasonably practicable.
You have the right to make a complaint to an Ombudsman if you are
dissatisfied with this extension.
Yours sincerely, 

Landon Watt
Legal Advisor
Office of the Vice-Chancellor

Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Adam Miller <[email address]> on behalf of Legal
<[University of Auckland request email]>
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2026 4:59 PM
To: jorja <[FOI #34020 email]>
Cc: Legal <[University of Auckland request email]>
Subject: Re: Official Information request - UTAS Disability Places in the
University of Auckland Medical Programme and Equity Choices

Dear Jorja,

 

I refer to your request of 10 March 2026, for official information under
the Official Information Act 1982.

 

The University will respond to your request as soon as reasonably
practicable, and within the Official Information Act’s maximum time limit
of 20 working days from the date of your request (9 April 2026) unless
that time limit is extended under the Act.

Yours sincerely,

Adam

 

[1]signature_1301701140

Adam Miller

Kaiāwhina Ture | Legal Assistant

Te tari o te Ihorangi | Office of the Vice-Chancellor

Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland

[2]Image

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: jorja <[FOI #34020 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 11:27 PM
To: Legal <[University of Auckland request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - UTAS Disability Places in the
University of Auckland Medical Programme and Equity Choices
 
Dear University of Auckland,

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following
information regarding admission seat allocations for the University of
Auckland medical programme:

1. The total number of domestic places available in the medical programme
for each year from 2015 to 2026.

2. The number of places allocated under the UTAS (Undergraduate Targeted
Admission Scheme) disability pathway for each of those years.

3. Any internal documents, reports, or reviews that discuss the allocation
or review of UTAS disability pathway places during this period.

4. Any analysis undertaken by the faculty or the Equity Office regarding
proportionality for students with disabilities when determining UTAS
reserved places.

5. The rationale for maintaining two UTAS disability places despite
increases in the total number of domestic seats.

6. Any plans or discussions within the university about increasing UTAS
disability pathway places in the future.

For context, publicly available information from FYI states that domestic
medical programme places increased from 257 in 2015 to 317 in 2026, while
UTAS disability places remained at two.
Jorja

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #34020 email]

Is [University of Auckland request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to University of Auckland? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[3]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[4]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
3. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
4. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

Dear Jorja,

I refer to your request of 10 March 2026. I apologise for the delay in the
University's response. The University's response follows.

"1 The total number of domestic places available in the medical programme
for each year from 2015 to 2026."

The University has decided to provide this information in response to your
request. We will provide it as soon as reasonably practicable.

"2 The number of places allocated under the UTAS (Undergraduate Targeted
Admission Scheme) disability pathway for each of those years."

There were two reserved places for the Students With Disabilities (SWD)
UTAS group for the University's MBChB for 2015-2026.

Under the University's UTAS Policy and Procedures, it is not compulsory to
fill UTAS places, and unallocated UTAS places are to be automatically
available first to UTAS groups and then to general places. This means that
the total number of places available to be allocated to the SWD UTAS for
the MBChB in a given year can significantly exceed the two reserved
places.

Any UTAS applicant who performs well enough in the MBChB selection process
to be offered a general place will be offered a general place rather than
a UTAS place. This means that the number of students with disabilities
admitted to the MBChB in any given year will be greater than the number
admitted under the SWD UTAS. To provide specific figures for context:

 

* In 2020, 59 students enrolled in the MBChB programme identified as
disabled, out of a total of 1329 students (2.7%).
* In 2026, 159 students enrolled in the MBChB programme identified as
disabled, out of a total of 1587 students (6.6%).
* From 2020 to 2026, the number of students enrolled in the MBChB
programme who identified as disabled has more than doubled while the
total number of students in the programme has increased by
approximately one fifth.

"3. Any internal documents, reports, or reviews that discuss the
allocation or review of UTAS disability pathway places during this
period."

The University's programme limitations are decided each year under the
Limitation of Entry Statute 1991. Programme limitations are put to Council
for their decision each year and are published on the University's website
for the relevant year at
[1]https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/a....
Versions for previous years are published in Council Part A agenda
materials for the relevant meeting - the Council Part A Agenda archive is
available on our website at
[2]https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/a...
minutes are available at
[3]https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/a....

Although the Programme Limitations is the document that sets the
allocation for the SWD UTAS annually, it does not discuss the specific
allocation of reserved places. Our staff have not identified documents
which specifically discuss the allocation or review of UTAS disability
pathway places during this period.

"4. Any analysis undertaken by the faculty or the Equity Office regarding
proportionality for students with disabilities when determining UTAS
reserved places."

We have not been able to locate documents which contain an analysis
undertaken by the faculty or the Equity Office regarding proportionality
for students with disabilities when determining UTAS reserved places.

"5. The rationale for maintaining two UTAS disability places despite
increases in the total number of domestic seats."

As stated in response to your earlier requests, we have not been able to
locate documents which discuss or review the allocation of UTAS disability
places for the MBChB programme for this period.

"6. Any plans or discussions within the university about increasing UTAS
disability pathway places in the future."

Programme Limitations for the MBChB commencing in 2027 and 2028 have been
set and continue to reserve two places for the SWD UTAS. We cannot advise
whether there have been any "discussions within the University" about this
topic, or any topic, for the specified period, as it is not practical for
us to make enquiries with all our staff to respond to OIA requests; please
note that the University employed 6,250 FTE staff in 2025. This part of
your request is refused under section 18(f) of the OIA.

Where we have stated that we cannot locate documents within the scope of
your request, that is a refusal of your request under section 18(e) of the
OIA, that the documents requested either do not exist or cannot be found.

You have the right to make a complaint to an Ombudsman if you are
dissatisfied with the University's response.

Yours sincerely,

Landon Watt
Legal Advisor
Office of the Vice-Chancellor
Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: jorja <[FOI #34020 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 11:27 PM
To: Legal <[University of Auckland request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - UTAS Disability Places in the
University of Auckland Medical Programme and Equity Choices

 

Dear University of Auckland,

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following
information regarding admission seat allocations for the University of
Auckland medical programme:

1. The total number of domestic places available in the medical programme
for each year from 2015 to 2026.

2. The number of places allocated under the UTAS (Undergraduate Targeted
Admission Scheme) disability pathway for each of those years.

3. Any internal documents, reports, or reviews that discuss the allocation
or review of UTAS disability pathway places during this period.

4. Any analysis undertaken by the faculty or the Equity Office regarding
proportionality for students with disabilities when determining UTAS
reserved places.

5. The rationale for maintaining two UTAS disability places despite
increases in the total number of domestic seats.

6. Any plans or discussions within the university about increasing UTAS
disability pathway places in the future.

For context, publicly available information from FYI states that domestic
medical programme places increased from 257 in 2015 to 317 in 2026, while
UTAS disability places remained at two.
Jorja

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #34020 email]

Is [University of Auckland request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to University of Auckland? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[4]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[5]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/a...
2. https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/a...
3. https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/a...
4. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
5. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers