3638 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister of Education

3638 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister of Education: On how many occasions, if any, during the 2025 calendar year did each agency for which the Minister has responsibility suggest to a requestor that a fee would be charged for providing information requested under the Official Information Act and for each instance what was the cost suggested, the reason for the charge, and the date of the request?

Hon Erica Stanford: I am advised by the Education Review Office that in 2025 one individual whose request was declined due to substantive collation was invited to request further exploration work on the cost required to process it but did not take up this offer. On one occasion in 2025, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority in seeking refinement of a substantial OIA request, asked if the requestor would consider payment if they weren’t able to refine the request. No specific cost was suggested at that point. In communications with requesters in the 2025 calendar year, the Ministry of Education and Education New Zealand have not suggested a charge for providing official information.