Tēnā koe Edward

We acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act request.

If we have any questions or need to seek clarification on any points we will be in touch soon. Otherwise, we will seek to respond to your request as soon as practicable and no later than 20 working days after the date your request was received (by 22 April 2026). If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of this timeframe.

Ngā mihi

JO PEARSON (she/her)
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
University of Otago | Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka

New Zealand | Aotearoa

Email/Īmera [University of Otago request email]

Tçnâ koe Edward

I refer to your information request dated 21 March 2026 made under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). You have requested the following information:

I would like to request information regarding Mâori applicants who commenced study in 2026 for the following programmes:

* Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
* Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)

Specifically, I request:

1. The number of Mâori applicants who applied for each programme.
2. The number of Mâori applicants who were offered interviews for Bds .
3. The number of Mâori applicants who received offers of admission for each programme.
4. The number of Mâori applicants who ultimately enrolled (i.e., commenced study) in each programme.
5. If available, the minimum and average GPA (or equivalent academic score) of Mâori applicants who were offered admission for each programme.
6. The GPA cut-off for Mâori applicants in order to be offered interviews for BDS.

If possible, I would appreciate the information being provided separately for each programme (MBChB and BDS).

Please provide the information in an electronic format.

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The Act requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no later than 20 working days after the date your request was received. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet that time limit. We are therefore writing to notify you, pursuant to section 15A of the Act, of an extension of the time to make our decision in respect of your request, by a further 20 working days – to 21 May 2026. However, we will endeavour to provide the information sooner if possible. We thank you for your patience.

If you are not satisfied with our extension of time, you have the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the Act. However, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss any concerns with you first.

Ngâ mihi

JO PEARSON (she/her)
Coordinator Official Information and Compliance | Kaituitui Pârongo Ôkawa me te Tautukunga

Office of the Registrar and Secretary to the Council | Te Tari o Te Pouroki me te Kaituhi ki te Kaunihera
University of Otago | Ôtâkou Whakaihu Waka

New Zealand | Aotearoa

Email/Îmera [University of Otago request email]
 

Kia ora Edward

Please find attached the University of Otago's response to your Official Information Act request dated 21 March 2026.

Kā mihi

JO PEARSON (she/her)
Coordinator Official Information and Compliance | Kaituitui Pārongo Ōkawa me te Tautukunga

Office of the Registrar and Secretary to the Council | Te Tari o Te Pouroki me te Kaituhi ki te Kaunihera
University of Otago | Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka

New Zealand | Aotearoa

Email/Īmera [University of Otago request email]