University’s about-turn on costs

Auckland University has done an about-turn and partially refunded costs it charged Stuff for information requested on its response to a proposed Waikato medical school.

The move came after Ombudsman Leo Donnelly labelled the university’s decision to charge the media outlet more than $530 for 53 emails unreasonable. In March 2017, Stuff filed an Official Information Act request with Auckland University, asking for emails and documents relating to the medical school.

Auckland and Otago universities were openly critical of a bid by Waikato University and the Waikato DHB to establish the country’s third med school.

Auckland University agreed to release emails written by its medical programme head Professor Warwick Bagg but only after it was paid $532.

Those emails that were provided were censured, with blocks of text blacked out.

Stuff lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman over the university’s handling of the OIA request.

In his decision, Donnelly ruled the university was entitled to withhold some information under the Official Information Act in order to maintain ‘‘effective conduct of public affairs’’ through free and frank expressions of opinions. However, the university’s decision to charge $532 was unreasonable.

Donnelly said the university had indicated that there were 202 emails relevant to Stuff’s request.

‘‘It created a reasonable expectation that you would receive these (minus any information withheld under the OIA) if you paid the charge.

However, it later transpired that only 53 emails were within the scope of your request,’’ Donnelly said.

Donnelly asked the university to reduce its fee by half in recognition of the fact it didn’t advise Stuff further scoping was required to determine whether all of the 202 emails were within scope.

Auckland University complied with the request, and refunded $304 on April 27.

Otago University law professor Andrew Geddis said the Ombudsman was‘‘very aware’’ of the impact charging had on the release of information.