7 August 2023
By email
: [FYI request #23469 email]
Tēnā koe IB
I refer to your information request dated 11 July 2023 made under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act). You have requested mark and grade distributions for the LAWS411, LAWS413, LAWS414 and
LAWS440 papers offered by the University of Otago in Semester 1, 2023.
Subject to the following comments, please see attached the information you have requested.
• the information we have provided is correct as of 10 July 2023.
• on occasions where fewer than five students have failed a paper (i.e., received a grade of Fail
D or Fail E), we have determined that it is necessary to withhold the marks and specific grades
for these students to protect their privacy and wellbeing. We consider that withholding this
information is necessary to protect against the identity of these students being determined or
inferred, and their personal information (i.e., their marks) could be disclosed. We therefore
withhold this information pursuant to section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
• in the attached grade and mark distributions, we note that students who withdrew from the
papers or received an Aegrotat Pass (not a mark or grade) are excluded from the data.
I trust that this information will be helpful.
In the above cases, we consider that good reasons exist for withholding information, and this is not
outweighed by other considerations which would make it desirable, in the public interest, to make the
information available. If you are not satisfied with our response to your information request, section
28(3) of the Act provides you with the right to ask an Ombudsman to investigate and review this
response. However, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss any concerns with you first.
Yours sincerely
Kelsey Kennard
Official Information and Compliance Coordinator
Office of the Registrar