Our Ref: OIA-26-410
6 May 2026
Taraia Brown
[FYI request #34403 email]
Dear Taraia
Re: Official Information Act request regarding Shiloh Christian Academy. I refer to your email to the Education Review Office dated 7 April 2026 requesting the following
information under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA):
1. Copies of all ERO review reports relating to Shiloh Christian Academy.
a. Any draft reports, internal assessments, or correspondence relating to those reviews.
b. Any findings relating to student safety, discipline practices (including corporal
punishment), or complaints.
2. Complaints and Notifications
a. Records of any complaints received by the ERO regarding Shiloh Christian Academy.
b. Any referrals made to other agencies (e.g., Police, CYFS/Oranga Tamariki, Teaching
Council).
3. Policies and Guidance
a. Any policies, procedures, or guidance in place during the relevant period governing
oversight of private schools, particularly in relation to student safety and abuse reporting.
ERO took began reviewing private schools following our establishment under the Education and
Training Act 1989. Over the time Shiloh Christian Academy was in operation (1981-2006), four reviews
were undertaken by ERO. I am providing our final reports of these reviews to you in full.
Further information, including material predating 1997 and any underlying review evidence, if still held
would be located in ERO’s offsite storage across a significant number of boxes. Each box would have to
be manually searched through to find any files that may be in scope. There is no way to narrow the
search to a more manageable size. For this reason, I am refusing your request for any additional
information held by ERO relating to the school under section 18(f) of the OIA, as it would require
significant resources to undertake substantial collation and research. However, you may find additional
historical mater
ial through Archives New Zealand, particularly for periods prior to 1989.
Your request also asks for information related to oversight of private schools during this time period,
particularly in relation to child wellbeing and safety. The Education and Training Act 1989 (the Act) set
out wh
at criteria a private school must meet to be registered, an
d ERO’s reviews were centred around
those criteria. Private schools were required to meet the registration criteria and to comply with
Ko te Tamaiti te Pūtake o te Kaupapa
The Child – the Heart of the Matter
general law, with the Ministry of Education being responsible for any decision regarding their license
to operate.
It may be relevant to your request to note that the most important change between 2006 and current
legislative requirements is the 2019 amendment to the Act. This amendment added a requirement for
private schools to ensure they are emotionally and physically safe for students. As a result, ERO's
review and public reporting process was expanded to include this important area.
Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official information requests
where possible. We do not publish requesters' personal information.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available
at http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone
0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi,
Sharon Kelly
Director Schools
Ko te Tamaiti te Pūtake o te Kaupapa
The Child – the Heart of the Matter
