3 May 2024
Johann Jayatilleke
By email
: [FYI request #26388 email]
Tēnā koe Johann
Re: Official Information request – Eligibility to HSFY
I refer to your information request dated 10 April 2024 made under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act). You have requested confirmation of whether you can receive dispensation for prior
university study when being admitted to the University of Otago’s HSFY programme.
Please see below our response to your request.
The Act enables people to request official information from organisations such as the University of
Otago. However, the Act only applies to information that is already held by the University. There is no
obligation for us to create information in order to respond to a request.
The information you are seeking in this case is not already held by the University of Otago but would
need to be created in order to respond to your request. We believe that this information would need
to be created as it would require our staff to interpret your personal circumstances, and then generate
an opinion on whether you would be able to receive a dispensation for prior university study in
entering the University’s HSFY programme.
I am therefore refusing your request under section 18(g) of the Act, because the University does not
hold the information you have requested. I note that our Admissions Office is the best place to lodge
your query, and I understand that you may have now received a response to your email dated 30
March 2024 to our Admissions Office. If you require additional assistance or wish to discuss your
personal circumstances further with our staff, please contact AskOtago at
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is availab
le at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi
Kelsey Kennard
Official Information and Compliance Coordinator
Office of the Registrar
