Second whistleblower says ministry staff were told to avoid OIA notes
A second whistleblower says an Education Ministry manager told staff to stop taking notes when teachers criticised draft curriculums.
RNZ reported the claim on 23 September 2026. RNZ
What the latest allegation says
The meeting was a hui of about 60 teachers. According to RNZ, it was called to discuss the place of te reo Māori in the languages curriculum and other curriculum documents. RNZ said it had agreed not to name the whistleblower.
According to that account, the manager described the teachers' criticism as "out of scope". The whistleblower alleged she did not want it in notes that could be requested under the Official Information Act — the law that allows the public to ask for government documents. The instruction, the whistleblower said, was to stop notetaking while the criticism was being voiced.
What happened earlier
The claim follows a leaked video reported by the NZ Herald on 21 September. NZ Herald The video showed a senior ministry manager telling staff not to put in writing feedback on a draft curriculum received from staff in Education Minister Erica Stanford's office.
After that video, RNZ reported on 22 September that other staff said it was not an isolated incident. Under the headline 'Education Ministry whistleblower claims OIA subversion not an isolated incident', RNZ reported claims that staff had been repeatedly asked to delete the word "Aotearoa" and other Māori terms from draft curriculums.
What the ministry and the Ombudsman have said
The ministry said the comments in the video did not meet its expectations for transparency, record-keeping or compliance with the Official Information Act. It said it was actively addressing those areas and considering whether action or changes were required.
A formal internal review began after the video became public. Newstalk ZB The ministry described the official's comments as inconsistent with expectations.
Chief Ombudsman John Allen said he had significant concerns and was considering a broader investigation under the Ombudsmen Act. He requested an urgent meeting with the head of the ministry after the allegations about circumventing the Act. RNZ
The secondary teachers union said it feared what the video appeared to show about getting around the Act, according to RNZ reporting on 21 September.
The broader context here is the difference between a single comment and a pattern. One recorded comment can be handled as a conduct and training matter. Two separate allegations, in different settings and involving different managers, raise the question of practice and culture. That is the point where an issue often moves from an internal review to independent oversight.
Looking at what this means for next steps, the Ombudsman's language will be watched. Significant concerns and a possible investigation under the Ombudsmen Act would mean closer scrutiny of record-keeping and advice. For the minister's office, the closeness is sensitive. The first video was about handling feedback from Stanford's staff. The second allegation was about teacher feedback on te reo Māori and curriculum content. Both concern how disagreement and ministerial input are recorded when curriculum decisions can be requested under the OIA.
