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Joel Robinson
[FYI request #34642 email]
9 July 2026
Tēnā koe Joel
OIA: GEMS-48030 – Pūhoro STEMM Academy
Thank you for your email of 8 May 2026 to the Ministry of Education (the Ministry)
requesting the following information:
This request relates to any funding, contracts, grants, sponsorships,
procurement arrangements, partnership agreements, memoranda of
understanding, or other financial support provided by your organisation to
Pūhoro Charitable Trust, Pūhoro STEMM Academy, or Pūhoro.
Please provide information for the period 1 July 2023 to the date for:
1. A list of all funding arrangements with Pūhoro, including the name of the
arrangement, start and end date, total approved value, amount paid by
financial year, and whether the funding was contestable or non-contestable.
2. Copies of the relevant funding agreements, contracts, data-sharing
agreements, grant agreements, variations, memoranda of understanding,
schedules of deliverables, reporting requirements, and performance
measures.
3. Copies of reporting received from Pūhoro, including milestone reports,
performance reports, monitoring reports, evaluation reports, acquittals,
invoices, and evidence of delivery.
4. Any outcome data held by your organisation relating to Pūhoro, including
the number of participants who entered tertiary study, degree-level study,
engineering, technology, IT/computer science, science, health, other
STEMM pathways, or STEMM employment.
5. Any substantive correspondence, including emails, between your
organisation and Pūhoro relating to:
a. renewal, extension, variation, or increase of funding.
b. reporting, performance measures, or outcome data.
c. definitions of “transition to tertiary”, “STEMM pathway”, “science
qualification”, or similar outcome measures.
Wel ington – National Office, PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140
Phone: +64 4 463 8000
education.govt.nz
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d. concerns or issues with delivery, reporting, payment, invoicing, or
contract performance.
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
Regarding
part one of your request, I am releasing the information in
Tables One
and Two below. None of the funding was contestable, because Pūhoro delivers a
unique program that provides STEM subjects by Māori for Māori, and there is no
other organisation that provides this kind of program or to the scale of Pūhoro within
the last 10 years.
Table One: An overview of the total contract value to date
Start date
June 2023 (Variation 1)
End date
31 January 2027
Contract total value Contract Report
1. Initial Contract Details:
• Total Contract Value: $2,970,000
• Contract Period: June 2021 – January 2023
2. Contract Variation 1:
• Date of Variation: 20 July 2023
• Originating Budget: Budget 23
• Updated Total Contract Value: $20,700,000
Table Two: Payments by Financial year
Financial Year
Amount (exclusive GST)
2022-2023
$2,970,00 (PAID)
2023/2024
$2,970,00
2024/2025
$3,960,000
2025/2026
$4,950,00
2026/2027
$5,850,00
Total contract value
$20,700,00.00
We identified one document in scope of
part two of your request, being
the Outcome
Agreement for Pūhoro Charitable Trust Board (Variation 1) 2023. This agreement is
published on the Ministry’s website at
https://web-assets.education.govt.nz/s3fs-
public/2024-11/1336577%20-%20Appendix%20C.pdf?VersionId=
s9xUWoHKuCTtWdSyvo.XRaKaagY6Du3A. As such, I am refusing this part of your
request under section 18(d) of the Act, as the information requested is publicly
available.
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We have identified 14 documents in scope of
part three of your request.
I am releasing six invoices as
Appendix A – five in full, and one in part, with some
information withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect the privacy of natural
persons.
I am refusing the Annual Report 2021-2022 under section 18(d) of the Act, as above,
as this is published on our website here:
https://web-assets.education.govt.nz/
s3fs-public/2024-11/1336577%20-%20Appendix%20B.pdf?VersionId=
vsQd0BDzZQnjBXrv3RC_zyIXV9fQdyiM.
I am releasing the remainder of the documents – five reports and two presentations –
as
Appendices B, C, D, E and F. Please note that some information is withheld from
Appendices B, C, D, E under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, as above. I am releasing
Appendix F in full.
Refer to
Document Table Appendix A – Invoices for
Appendix A.
Refer to
Document Table Annual Reports and Presentations for
Appendices B,
C, D, E, F.
Pūhoro is not required to report to the Ministry on the outcomes specifically
requested in
part four of your request. However, Pūhoro is required to report to the
Ministry on rangatahi engagement and achievement, programme delivery activities,
regional growth, trends, challenges, and case studies, so some information relevant
to the requested outcomes is included in the annual reports being released in
Appendices B, C, D, E, and F. For example, Appendix B (page 13) states that “5000
rangtahi transitioned into STEMM industry employment”, and Appendix F includes
information on university entrance.
I am refusing information related to the outcomes that is not included in these
documents under section 18(g) of the Act, as the information is not held by the
Ministry, and I have no grounds for believing that it is either held by, or connected
more closely with the functions of, another department or organisation subject to the
Act.
In response to
part five of your request, we identified 21 email threads some with
attachments in scope of, which I am releasing in part as
Appendix G, with some
information withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, as above. Refer to
Document
Table Appendix G - correspondence for
Appendix G.
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.
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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
Darren Nathan
General Manager, Engagement and Delivery
Te Pou Tuarongo | Māori Education
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Document Table Appendix A - Invoices
# Date
Reference
Title
Decision on release
1 30 Jun Invoice
Operational payment released
Released in full.
2023
INV-0161
upon counter signed agreement
WK70022921 and Mid-Year verbal reporting –
20 Jul 2023.
2 16 Jan Invoice
As per agreement upon receipt
Released in part.
2024
INV-0204
of a satisfactory Annual written
Some information
WK70022921 Report – Jan 2024.
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
3 12 Jul
Invoice
Upon receipt of a satisfactory
Released in full.
2024
INV-0236
mid-year verbal report.
WK70022921
4 1 Jan
Invoice
As per agreement upon receipt
Released in full.
2025
INV-0283
of a satisfactory Annual written
WK70022921 Report – January 2025
5 1 Jul
Invoice
As per agreement upon receipt
Released in full.
2025
INV-0316
of a satisfactory Mid-Year verbal
WK70022921 report (pre-documentation
provided) – July 2025
6 1 Jan
Invoice
As per agreement upon receipt
Released in full.
2026
INV-0382
of a satisfactory Annual written
WK70022921 Report
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Document Table Annual Reports and Presentations
Apx Date
Title
Decision on release
2021-
Annual report
Refused.
2022
Information refused under section 18(d) of the
Pūhoro Charitable Act.
Trust
Pūrongo-Ā-Tau
Information is publicly available here:
https://web-assets.education.govt.nz/s3fs-
public/2024-11/1336577%20-
%20Appendix%20B.pdf?VersionId=vsQd0BD
zZQnjBXrv3RC_zyIXV9fQdyiM , with some
information withheld under sections 9(2)(a) and
9(2)(b)(ii) of the Act.
B
2022-
Annual report
Released in part. Some information withheld
2023
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
C
2023-
Annual report
Released in part. Some information withheld
2024
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
D
2023
Presentiations 1
Tauira Impact,
Released in part. Some information withheld
Presentation 2
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
E
2024-
Annual report
Released in part. Some information withheld
2025
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
F
Jul 2025
Academy report
Released in full.
Document Table Appendix G - correspondence
#
Date
From
To
Subject
Decision on release
1
3 Jul
Kemp
9(2)(a)
Re: Variation
Released in part.
2023
Reweti
Agreement
Some information
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
1.1
Attachment: Outcome agreement for Pūhoro Charitable Refused under section
Trust Board (Variation 1) June 2023
18(d) of the Act.
Refer to part 2
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#
Date
From
To
Subject
Decision on release
2
10 Jul
Kemp
Accounts
Pūhoro Charitable
Released in part.
2023
Reweti Payable
Trust Invoice –
Some information
MOE11407
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
Invoice: refer to Appendix A document 2
3
8 Aug
Kemp
k.davis@m Pūhoro STEMM
Released in part.
2023
Reweti
inisters.go
Academy update
Some information
vt.nz
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
3.1
Attachment: Letter to Minister Kelvin Davis
Released in full.
4
16 Aug Kemp
9(2)(a)
Te Tai Tokerau
Released in part.
2023
Reweti
Wānanga + Rangatahi Some information
feedback
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
5
18 Jan Kemp
9(2)(a)
Annual Report
Released in part.
2024
Reweti
Milestone Due Jan 20th Some information
2024
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
Invoice 0204: refer to Appendix A document 3
6
19 Jan Kemp
9(2)(a)
Another link, just in
Released in part.
2024
Reweti
case….
Some information
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
7
30 Jan Kemp
9(2)(a)
Re: Pūhoro
Released in part.
2024
Reweti
Achievement and
Some information
Engagement
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
8
25 Mar Kemp
9(2)(a)
Re: Request for
Released in part.
2024
Reweti
scheduling of July
Some information
Meeting in person
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
9
23 May Kemp
Parliament
Re: Mere-Hēni Email
Released in part.
2024
Reweti , Ministry
Some information
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
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#
Date
From
To
Subject
Decision on release
10
11 Jun Kemp
9(2)(a)
Mid-Year Activity
Released in part.
2024
Reweti
Verbal Report –
Some information
Request for in person
withheld under section
meeting
9(2)(a) of the Act.
11
15 Jul
Kemp
9(2)(a)
MoE Verbal Report
Released in part.
2024
Reweti
Presentation and
Some information
Ministry Invoice
withheld under section
Submission
9(2)(a) of the Act.
Invoice 0236: refer to Appendix A document 4
Presentation: refer to Appendix D
12
9 Jul
Kemp
9(2)(a)
Data Request
Released in part.
2024
Reweti
Some information
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
13
18 Dec Pūhoro 9(2)(a)
Map showing all the
Released in part.
2024
Kura and enrolment
Some information
numbers
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
13.1 Pūhoro Secondary Tauira Number 2024-12-18.xlsx
Released in part. Some information
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
13.2 Pūhoro Secondary Tauira Numbers (Map and Table)
Released in full.
2024-12-18.pptx
14
14 Jan Kemp
9(2)(a)
Pūhoro Annual Report
Released in part.
2025
Reweti
submission & Ministry
Some information
Invoice submission
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
Invoice 0283: refer to Appendix A document 5
15
16 July Pūhoro Kemp
Re: confirmation of
Released in part.
2025
Reweti,
Literacy Rate Date
Some information
9(2)(a)
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
15.1 Numeracy and Literacy Cumulative figures 2025-
Released in full.
07.xlsx
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#
Date
From
To
Subject
Decision on release
16
16 Jul
Pūhoro 9(2)(a)
Re: Confirmation of
Released in part.
2025
Literacy Rate Date
Some information
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
17
3 Dec Kemp
9(2)(a)
Invitation: Te
Released in full.
2025
Reweti
Ngahurutanga o
Pūhoro STEMM-10
Years Impact
18
14 Jan Kemp
9(2)(a)
Pūhoro STEMM-
Released in part.
2026
Reweti
Annual Report
Some information
Submission&Ministry
withheld under section
Invoice
9(2)(a) of the Act.
Invoice 0382: refer to Appendix A document 7
19
16 Jan Pūhoro 9(2)(a)
Values for 2023 and
Released in part.
2026
2024 NCEA STEM
Some information
Standard pass rates
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
20
27 Jan Pūhoro 9(2)(a)
Pūhoro Data request
Released in part.
2026
Some information
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
20.1 MoE request 2026-01-26.docx
Released in part. Some information
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
21
20 Apr Pūhoro 9(2)(a)
Re: Pūhoro Data
Released in part.
2026
request
Some information
withheld under section
9(2)(a) of the Act.
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