24 April 2026
Mr T
By email: [FYI request #34244 email]
Official Information Request: Review of Rūmaki Māori
1.
I refer to your request dated 25 March 2026 (subsequently amended by email dated
1 April 2026) for:
1.1 “A copy of the ful review report, and any associated documents including
emails, undertaken by the School;
1.2 The author(s) of the review, including the individual and/or
organisation/company commissioned to undertake it;
1.3 Information on the experience, skil s, and expertise held by the author(s),
particularly in relation to undertaking reviews grounded in a Te Ao Māori
framework or strategy, including Ngā Ara Whakamua: the Māori Success
Strategy;
1.4 Information on how the review has been considered and implemented,
including: a) Decisions made by the School and/or Board in response to the
review and b) Any governance considerations or resolutions arising from the
review”.
(
First Request)
1.5 All information “…relating to the resignation of the Head of Department Māori,
including how this resignation relates to, or was informed by, the review.
(
Second Request)
2.
In relation to your First Request:
2.1 In response to information requested at paragraph 1.2 and 1.3 above, Te
Whānau Rūmaki o Te Puna Review (
Review) was conducted by Intepeople, an
independent agency specialising in (among other things) Human Resources
consulting and Workplace Investigations. Information about Intepeople can be
found on its website https://www.intepeople.co.nz/.
2.2 The Board engaged Intepeople to undertake the Review to understand the
current culture and performance of Te Whānau Rūmaki and to provide rich
insights and recommendations on how to move forward to best
achieve Ngā Ara Whakamua: The Māori Success
Strategy. That process involved Intepeople interviewing twenty-two
(22) participants, including the WBHS Senior Leadership
Team, Te Whānau Rūmaki leadership, Kaiako o te reo Māori and other
relevant staff (
Participants).
2.3 In response to information requested at paragraph 1.4 above, the
Board resolved to accept Intepeople’s recommendations, with the focus being
to continue to provide a space for māori ākonga to grow and flourish across al
areas from culture to academia consistent with Ngā Ara Whakamua: the Māori
Success Strategy. An in-person hui to collectively work through how whānau
and school can deliver on the strategic priorities of Ngā Ara Whakamua wil be
held on May 12, 2026.
2.4 In response to information requested at paragraph 1.1 above, the Board has
decided to withhold disclosure of the information sought, in reliance on sections
9(2)(ba)(i) and 9(2)(a) Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act).
2.5 To encourage their participation in the Review process, Participants were
expressly assured by Intepeople and the school that their information (including
their identity and the details of the information they provided) would be kept
confidential and would not be provided to any party outside the Board. The
Board considers that releasing the Review would breach this promise of
confidentiality and would amount to a breach of trust and confidence the school
owes to the Participants. This would also likely prejudice the supply of similar
information from the Participants (and other Kaiako) in future reviews
concerning Te Whānau Rūmaki o Te Puna or the wider school generally, as
they would be reluctant to participate and supply information. The continued
supply of this information is in the public interest because, in the absence of
receiving such information, the Review could, among other things, result in a
distorted or incomplete perspective of how the school can move forward to best
achieve Ngā Ara Whakamua: The Māori Success Strategy.
2.6 The Review is also withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the
privacy of the Participants who only make up 12% of school Kaiako whose
identities are readily identifiable.
2.7 In making this decision, the Board has balanced the reasons for withholding the
information against the public interest in its release, as required by section 9(1)
of the Act. Although the Board acknowledges the public interest in ensuring
transparency and accountability, this must be weighed against other
countervailing public interests. There is a strong public interest in protecting the
privacy of the Participants and, crucial y in ensuring that undertakings of
confidentiality given during a sensitive internal review process are upheld.
Accordingly, any public interest in disclosure of the Review is outweighed by
the public interest.
3.
In relation to your Second Request, you have sought information about private
employment issues regarding the (now former) “Head of Department, Māori”. The
Board is withholding any information that may exist under s 9(2)(a) of the Act on the
basis that disclosure would constitute a breach of privacy and there is no (or very
little) public interest in the disclosure of those materials.
4.
You have the right to complain to the Ombudsman and seek an investigation and
review of this decision. The contact details for the Ombudsman are here:
https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/contact-ombudsman.
Phone +64 9 410 8667
Web www.westlake.school.nz
30 Forrest Hil Road, Takapuna, Auckland 0620, New Zealand.
Headmaster Mr P Fordham
Yours faithfully,
Paul Fordham
Headmaster
On behalf of the Westlake Boys’ High School Board of Trustees
Phone +64 9 410 8667
Web www.westlake.school.nz
30 Forrest Hil Road, Takapuna, Auckland 0620, New Zealand.
Headmaster Mr P Fordham
