CSA OIA Response 1340666.pdf

19/02/2025
John Wilson
[FYI request #29349 email]
Tēnā koe John
OIA: 1340666 – Communication between Charter School Agency and Associate Minister of
Education concerning Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki
Thank you for your email of 27 November 2024 to the Charter School Agency (the CSA)
requesting the following information:
I am writing to request the following information regarding the recent PR announcement by
the ACT Party, as reproduced by the Stuff website "First new charter school given green
light, 2025 opening", concerning the approval of "Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki"
as one of the first charter schools:

1.  All communications (including emails, letters, meeting records, etc.) between David
Seymour or his office and representatives of the Charter School Agency concerning
Mastery Schools New Zealand—Arapaki, including communications related to any press
release.

2.  A copy of any application submitted by Mastery Schools Australia or Mastery Schools
New Zealand to the Charter School Agency for consideration as a charter school
provider.

3.  All correspondence (including emails, letters, or other written communication) between
the Charter School Agency and representatives of Mastery Schools New Zealand or
Mastery Schools Australia.

4.  A copy of any assessment report related to the application by Mastery Schools New
Zealand or Mastery Schools Australia, including any evaluations, recommendations, or
reviews conducted by the Charter School Agency or other involved bodies.

5.  A breakdown of the total cost associated with the establishment of Mastery Schools New
Zealand – Arapaki
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
Charter School Agency, 1 The Terrace, Mezzanine floor, Wellington 6011
PO Box 1666, Wellingon 6140 Phone: +64 4 463 8000 Fax: +64 4 463 8001
charterschools.govt.nz

On 16 January 2025, we responded to parts two to five of your request, and the timeframe for a
response to part one of your request was extended under section 15A(1)(b) of the Act.
The information in scope of part one of your request is set out in the document tables below and
attached as Appendices A and B.
Please note, some information has been withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect the
privacy of natural persons.
As required under section 9(1) of the Act, I have considered the public interest in releasing the
information withheld. I do not consider the public interest considerations favouring the release of
this information are sufficient to outweigh the need to withhold it at this time.
Where information has now been published, these documents have been refused under
section 18(d) of the Act, as the information is publicly available.
Information which is specific to other charter schools has also been removed as out of scope of
your request.
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

Hannah Cameron
Head of Applications and Contracts
Charter School Agency

OIA: 1340666
charterschools.govt.nz

Appendix A Document table
#
Date

METIS #
Title

Decision on release
1
22 Nov
1340248
Briefing: Timelines and
Release in part. Information has
2024
Announcements for New
been withheld under section 9(2)(a) of
Charter Schools
the Act.
Out of scope information removed.
1A
Annex 1: Draft media release for the
Refer to document 6A, Appendix B.
announcement of the inaugural Charter school –
Final version released in part.
Mastery School New Zealand - Arapaki
2
26 Nov
1340445
Education Report: Gazette  Release in part. Information has
2024
Notices for the
been withheld under section 9(2)(a) of
Establishment of Charter
the Act.
Schools
2A
Annex 1: Gazette notices notifying the
Refused.
establishment of charter schools to open in
Information has been refused under
February 2025
section 18(d) of the Act. Information is

publicly available at the following link:

Gazette - Search results

Appendix B Document table
#
Date
From
To
Subject
Decision on release
1
25 Nov
CSA official
Office of
RE: Further
Release in part. Information
2024
Hon David
background on
has been withheld under
Seymour
Master Schools
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
New Zealand due
1pm today
1A
20241125 – Mastery Schools NZ – Arapaki – opening run
Release in part. Information
sheet
has been withheld under
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
2
20 - 25
CSA official
Office of
RE: Briefing re
Release in part. Information
Nov 2024
Hon David
Charter School
has been withheld under
Seymour
contracts and
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
upcoming

announcements
2A
20241125 – Mastery Schools NZ – Arapaki – opening run
Release in part. Information
sheet
has been withheld under
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
OIA: 1340666
charterschools.govt.nz

3
25 Nov
Office of
Charter
RE: Further
Release in part. Information
2024
Hon David
School
background on
has been withheld under
Seymour
Agency
Master Schools
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
New Zealand due
1pm today
4
25 Nov
Office of
CSA official
RE: Wednesday
Release in part. Information
2024
Hon David
announcement
has been withheld under
Seymour
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
5
26 Nov
CSA official
Office of
RE: PR for
Release in part. Information
2024
Hon David
tomorrow
has been withheld under
Seymour
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
5A
20241126 - FINAL - CSA Media Release - first charter
Release in part. Information
school announced - diversity is key
has been withheld under
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
6
26 Nov
CSA official
Office of
RE: PR for
Release in part. Information
2024
Hon David
tomorrow
has been withheld under
Seymour
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
6A
FINAL Mastery Schools New Zealand Arapaki
Release in part. Information
has been withheld under
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
7
27 Nov
Erica Doust
Office of
RE: Diary -
Release in part. Information
2024
Hon David
Tipene & Busy
has been withheld under
Seymour
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
7A
Charter Schools Daily Contracting Status Report
Release in part. Out of
scope information removed.

OIA: 1340666
charterschools.govt.nz