Media Release
8 May 2003
“What’s The Education Minister Hiding?”
Asks New Zealand First
New Zealand First’s education spokesperson Brian Donnelly claims that the Minister of Education is deliberately breaking
the law by not meeting the provisions of the Official Information Act.
“On Friday 14 March 2003, the office of Trevor Mallard received an Official Information Act application from one of New
Zealand First’s staff seeking a range of material pertaining to the issue of funding for an independent school near
Tokoroa.
“When the material was not received within the statutory time limit, a follow-up letter was sent on 15th April. Now,
almost a month later there still has been no material received since the time limit expired.
“The only conclusion for such stone-walling, especially as it is in defiance of legal requirements, is that the Minister
is hiding something that he doesn’t want to be made public,” said Mr Donnelly.
ENDS