Safe spaces

James made this Official Information request to University of Auckland

The request was successful.

From: James

Dear University of Auckland,

Under the OIA I would like to request the following:

How many "Safe Spaces" does Auckland University currently provide?

Please provide the number/amount and name of each space which is restricted/zoned/provided for a specific ethnicity or gender.

Please provide the date of when each space was first provided.

Given the well publicized violence against Asian students overt over the years, please provide all correspondence (email, text, etc) if any, relating to the creation of a "Safe Space" for Asian students. Has a "Safe Space" for Asian students been allocated? If so, when?

Please provide, if possible, the number and percentage of Asian, Māori, and Pasifika students who have attended Auckland University from 2016 to 2024.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

James

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From: James

Dear University of Auckland,

By law this OIA request should have had a response in 20 business days.

Please advise immediately.

Thank you

Yours faithfully,

James

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From: Landon Watt
University of Auckland


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 Dear James,

 

I refer to your email of 4 April 2024. The University’s response follows.
I apologise for the delay.

 

”Please provide, if possible, the number and percentage of Asian, Māori,
and Pasifika students who have attended Auckland University from 2016 to
2024.”

 

This information is publicly available in the University’s annual reports,
which are published at
[1]https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/a....
This part of your request is refused under section 18(d) of the OIA.

 

Questions about “Safe spaces” provided by the University of Auckland

 

Official information requested under the OIA must be specified with due
particularity. It is unclear which spaces you wish to request information
about as “safe spaces”, but please see below information about dedicated
spaces in Accommodation and on Campus.

 

In Accommodation we provide various spaces that support student identity
and individuality. All residences offer single gender floors or apartments
or pods depending on the level of demand from incoming students. Some
residences offer the option of Pasifika living spaces and floors including
O’Rorke Hall and we offer optional Kaupapa Māori floors at Waipārūrū and
Grafton Halls. Some residences, where there is demand, also offer
‘Rainbow’ or LGBTQ+ living spaces. In addition, and upon request, we will
create alcohol free and under 18 specific floors or pods. We try to
accommodate to students’ diverse needs where we can.

 

Accommodation: Given these spaces are homes, student residents can have
guests and invite friends to their living spaces within reason (in line
with all our accommodation spaces)  and afterhours guests are accepted
upon approval from the Resident Manager and resident team members (again
this applies to all living spaces in all our residences).

              

Across our Campuses the University and Students Associations provide the
following types of spaces.

 

 

Campus spaces: There is no system to enforce or monitor access other than
for the Terence O’Neill Centre for students with disabilities which is
swipe card enabled for students registered with our Disabilities Services.

 

Requests for information about spaces

 

Please consider the information provided above and advise whether you wish
to request further information about spaces provided by the University.

 

Request for communications about a “Safe Space” for Asian students

 

It is unclear whether you would consider any of the spaces listed above to
be “safe spaces” for Asian students. If you wish to request communications
about any particular space listed above, please advise. You should note
that many of the dedicated spaces provided by the University have been
established for decades and that, where the University cannot provide
information requested under the OIA without substantial collation or
research, we may have to refuse it under section 18(f) of the OIA.

 

You have the right to make a complaint to an Ombudsman if you are
dissatisfied with this response.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Landon Watt
Legal Advisor
Office of the Vice-Chancellor

Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland  

 

From: James <[2][FOI #26312 email]>
Sent: Thursday, April 4, 2024 12:00 PM
To: legal <[3][University of Auckland request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Safe spaces

 

Dear University of Auckland,

Under the OIA I would like to request the following:

How many "Safe Spaces" does Auckland University currently provide?

Please provide the number/amount and name of each space which is
restricted/zoned/provided for a specific ethnicity or gender.

Please provide the date of when each space was first provided.

Given the well publicized violence against Asian students overt over the
years, please provide all correspondence (email, text, etc) if any,
relating to the creation of a "Safe Space" for Asian students. Has a "Safe
Space" for Asian students been allocated? If so, when?

Please provide, if possible, the number and percentage of Asian, Māori,
and Pasifika students who have attended Auckland University from 2016 to
2024.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

James

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