This is defamatory

Pamela Absolum made this Official Information request to Ministry of Justice

The request was refused by Ministry of Justice.

From: Pamela Absolum

Dear Ministry of Justice,
Happy New Year and welcome to - yes a year of intrigue.

I still have yet to receive any information from TVNZ. This is
taken from a report by Kelvin Smythe. Not only is it to do with
education, but also the legal side of things.

I would be grateful if you would look into my getting information.

Thanks
Pam Absolum
Templeton

"The Christchurch Press, having used the OIA, had the Adviser’s
Report

On 7 April, TVNZ 6.00 pm news carried a story of allegations of
financial impropriety by the principal. The commissioner made no
public comment to set the record straight, even though she had a
copy of Mike Rondel’s Finances Scoping Report at hand.

Michael Parkin, TVNZ, contacted the principal by email about a
letter he had received. She did not respond except to alert the
commissioner. The commissioner decided to hire a private
investigator, Paul Bass, to pursue the matter, at the cost of many
tens of thousands of dollars. The principal was informed that there
would be a full forensic investigation. The result came to no
conclusion though a futile attempt was made to point the blame
towards the principal. "

Yours faithfully,

Pamela Absolum

Yours faithfully,

Pamela Absolum

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From: correspondence, official
Ministry of Justice

Hi Pamela,

What information are you requesting from the Ministry of Justice?

Kind regards,

Sophie
Correspondence Team
Ministry of Justice

show quoted sections

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From: Pamela Absolum

Dear correspondence, official,

Sorry Sophie.

Under the Official Information Act, I would like to request the
source of and the information given to Michael Parkin, reporter for
TV One regarding: Mrs Peggy Burrows who is supposed to have 'leaked
confidential information' to TV One.

Quote:
"Peggy Burrows is accused of disclosing confidential board
documents along with an anonymous defensive letter, which is in
breach of staff privacy and a gagging order preventing her from
talking to media."

It is of concern that along with documents and an ANONYMOUS
defensive letter, Mrs Burrows has been suspended.
EXPLANATION:
WHAT I WANT IS A COPY OF THE INFORMATION GIVEN TO MICHAEL PARKIN AND A COPY OF THE ANONYMOUS LETTER.

IT WOULD APPEAR, THAT ON THIS INFORMATION, MICHAEL PARKIN CONTACTED THE PRINCIPAL, PEGGY BURROWS, WHO REFUSED TO COMMENT TO HIM AS SHE WAS TOLD NOT TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC OR ANYONE, WHICH SHE UPHELD.
MICHAEL PARKIN THEN WENT TO THE SCHOOL AND FILMED PLUS USED THE INFORMATION AND THE ANONYMOUS INFORMATION TO BROADCAST TO NEW ZEALAND ON TVONE ABOUT PEGGY BURROWS.

THE INFORMATION BROADCAST CAN BE CONSIDERED DEFAMATORY TOWARDS PEGGY BURROWS.

THE INFORMATION SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN BROADCAST WITHOUT THOROUGH RESEARCH AND USING UNSIGNED INFORMATION IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS.

THIS NEEDS TO BE CLEARED UP, AS PEGGY BURROWS WAS SUSPENDED AS PRINCIPAL BASED ON THIS BROADCAST BY MICHAEL PARKIN. THE COMMISSIONER ACCUSED PEGGY BURROWS OF 'LEAKING' INFORMATION, AND THUS FAR, AFTER $135,000 FORSENIC RESEARCH THROUGH PEGGY BURROWS LAP TOP AND COMPUTERS, HAS FOUND NOTHING TO LINK HER TO THE LEAKING OF INFORMATION.

THEREFORE, I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW THE INFORMATION LEAKED AND WHERE IT CAME FROM. BROADCASTING SUCH INFORMATION IS VERY DANGEROUS AND A SLUR ON A PERSON WHO CANNOT DEFEND HERSELF PUBLICLY.

REPORTERS SHOULD NOT BE PROTECTED AND NEITHER SHOULD TVNZ BE PROTECTED IF THEY BROADCAST INFORMATION THAT HAS NOT SIGNATURE OR CAN BE VERIFIED.

Yours sincerely,

Pamela Absolum

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Thomas Roberts left an annotation ()

And the Ministry of Justice will have this information because... why?

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Alex Harris left an annotation ()

This request will be unsuccessful. The Ombudsman has previously ruled that journalist's sources are protected under s9(2)(ba)(ii). See case W3043, which can be found on the Ombudsman's website using the search engine here:

http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/resou...

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Thomas Roberts left an annotation ()

That and last time I checked, it wasn't the MoJ's job to keep a database of sources used for news stories?

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From: Parkes, David
Ministry of Justice


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Dear Ms Absolum

 

Please see attached in response to your recent Official Information Act
request.

 

Regards

Dave

 

   

[1]http://justice.govt.nz/courts/shared/jus... David Parkes

Business Advisor to
the Deputy Secretary |
Corporate

[2]www.justice.govt.nz

 

 

 

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