Cost of engaging Rusell McVeach to act on behald of the Board of Trustees
Howard Rait made this Official Information request to Fergusson Intermediate (Trentham)
The request was partially successful.
From: Howard Rait
Dear Fergusson Intermediate (Trentham),
1. Is or has the Board of Trustees of Ferguson Intermediate School ("Board") going to be paying for, has already paid for, or is currently paying for the services provided by the firm "Russell McVeagh" (www.russellmcveagh.com) to act on their behalf in relation to a number of long overdue and outstanding Official Information Act Requests made by myself?
2. If so, how much did this cost or how much is it going to cost the Board/School, (Fergusson Intermediate) or the Ministry of Education?
3. If the Board, School or Ministry of Education has not paid for or is not paying for or not going to be paying for the services provided by the firm Russell McVeach, provide how the Board has managed to acquire the services of this firm for nil expense.
Yours faithfully,
Yours faithfully,
Howard Rait
Howard Rait left an annotation ()
Catherine Marks <catherine.marks@russellmcveagh.com> - A lawyer from the legal firm Russell Mcveagh was engaged by the school to answer this (and all my other Information requests that have been refused). She said she will provide the information, however it is about $5000.00 dollars at this stage. As of today 28/4/18 (6 months later) still no official information has been supplied.
Oliver Lineham (FYI.org.nz volunteer) left an annotation ()
Hi Howard,
Will you or have you made a complaint to the Ombudsman regarding your various requests? I encourage you to do so.
Although I can't see their responses it sounds like there are various grounds: ignoring/delay, not responding in the way preferred (i.e. they are contacting you outside of FYI), not giving refusal reasons, and possibly claiming frivolous/vexatious unjustifiably.
Oliver
Howard Rait left an annotation ()
Hi Oliver, Yes I have made complaints to the Ombudsman - there are several other OIA and LGOIMA requests they (Fergusson Intermediate School) have either not responded to or refused (for no good reason). The School is currently under investigation by both the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
regards
Howie
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Howard Rait left an annotation ()
Sorry all the title is meant to say "Behalf" not Behald.
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