Ministry of Education says official’s leaked OIA comments ‘inconsistent’ with expectations, launches internal review

Dr Catherine Law (left) and Education Minister Erica Stanford. Photo / NZME

The Ministry of Education says comments from a senior official telling staff not to put certain information in writing are “inconsistent” with expectations of staff and obligations under the Official Information Act.

The matter has also been the subject of an urgent debate in the House this afternoon, after Speaker Gerry Brownlee granted a request from Labour’s Ginny Andersen.

It follows a leaked video, obtained exclusively by the Herald , showing Dr Catherine Law, the programme lead for the secondary school curriculum refresh, telling workers not to put in writing that “stuff has gone backwards and forwards” with the minister’s office.

She notes the information is “OIA-able”, referring to the Official Information Act, a freedom of information law allowing New Zealanders to request official information about activities and correspondence within government.