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CMC
[FYI request #34572 email]
29 May 2026
Tēnā koe CMC
OIA: GEMS-47949 – employment or contracting arrangements for Programme
Lead – Phase 5 subjects
Thank you for your email of 1 May 2026 to the Ministry of Education (the Ministry)
requesting the following information:
I am writing to make a request under the Official Information Act 1982 in
relation to the employment or contracting arrangements for Dr. Catherine Law
in her role as Programme Lead, Phase 5 New Zealand Curriculum at the
Ministry of Education.
Specifically, I request the following information:
1. CONTRACT TYPE & TERMS
•
Whether Catherine Law was engaged as a permanent employee, fixed-
term employee, or independent contractor
•
The start date and, if applicable, end date of her engagement
•
A copy of the relevant employment agreement or contract (with any
legally protected personal information redacted as appropriate)
2. REMUNERATION
•
The salary, rate of pay, or contractor fee applicable to this role
•
Any additional allowances, benefits, or payments made in connection
with this role
3. RECRUITMENT & APPOINTMENT PROCESS
•
Whether the role was advertised publicly, and if so, where and when
•
The process followed to appoint Catherine Law to this role, including any
interview or assessment process
•
The names and positions of those responsible for making the
appointment decision
4. RELATED COMMUNICATIONS
•
Any ministerial briefings, internal memos, emails, or other
communications relating to the appointment of Catherine Law to this role.
Wellington – National Office, PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140
Phone: +64 4 463 8000
education.govt.nz
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Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
In response to
part one of your request, Dr Catherine Law has been seconded from
her substantive role as Principal of Avonside Girls’ High School to the role of
Programme Lead – Phase 5 Subjects. The intended duration of the secondment is
from November 2025 to December 2026. A copy of the Ministry’s standard Sector
Secondment Agreement is attached as
Appendix A.
I am refusing
part two of your request under section 18(a) of the Act, since, by virtue
of section 9(2)(a) of the Act, there is good reason to withhold this information to
protect the privacy of natural persons.
Regarding
part three of your request, I can advise as follows:
• The secondment was not publicly advertised
• Dr Law was interviewed for the position by Pauline Cleaver, Hautū | Deputy
Secretary, Te Poutāhū | Curriculum Centre
• The approval not to advertise and approval to appoint were provided by the
then Acting Te Tumu Whakarae mō te Mātauranga | Secretary for Education,
Andy Jackson.
We have identified one email in scope of
part four of your request, which I am
releasing in part as
Appendix B, with some information withheld under
section 9(2)(a) of the Act, as above.
As required under section 9(1) of the Act, I have considered the public interest in
releasing the information withheld. I do not consider that the public interest
considerations favouring the release of this information are sufficient to outweigh the
need to withhold it at this time.
Please note, we may publish this response on our website after five working days.
Your name and contact details will be removed.
Thank you again for your email. You have the right to ask an Ombudsman to review
my decision on your request, in accordance with section 28 of the Act. You can do
this by writing to [email address] or to Office of the Ombudsman,
PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.
Nāku noa, nā
Antony Harvey
General Manager, Business Operations
Te Poutāhū | Curriculum Centre
education.govt.nz
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OIA: GEMS-47949
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