Whistleblowers pledge testimony as Ombudsman launches probe into ministry secrecy

After a video emerged of a ministry manager telling staff to omit written references to the Education Minister’s office, the Office of the Ombudsman announced a formal investigation. Nine whistleblowers, many from the ministry’s curriculum centre, contacted the media to confirm a pattern of verbal directives to keep sensitive information undocumented, citing concerns about the Official Information Act. Three plan to make protected disclosures, and former employee Claire Coleman has offered to participate directly.

Chief Ombudsman John Allen said the probe will examine whether the ministry deliberately failed to keep records and whether it met its legal duties under the Official Information Act and the Public Records Act, without assessing the curriculum’s substantive content. The Education Ministry acknowledged the video fell short of its expectations but declined comment on the whistleblowers’ claims and has halted an internal review in favor of the Ombudsman’s work. Critics, including Coleman, argue the secrecy undermines transparency and may have allowed foreign consultancy Learning First to exert undue influence on curriculum drafts.