Lack of transparency, use of obfuscating language, and the suppression of information is used by management to hinder accountability and impede the ability of staff and students to make informed decisions. Leaking information exposes wrongdoing, promotes transparency, and holds our institutions accountable.
Leaking information has risks, including legal consequences and personal repercussions. However there are strategies to mitigate discovery or allow others to take the burden.
Quick tips:
- Leaking doesn't always have to be secret information, it can just be something that is not widely known, or not known to the right people.
- Leaks from staff are one of the only ways students can find out what is happening in their institution (AUSA doesn't share much).
- Do not use work email or devices to leak information.
- You can use social media, forums, or email to leak information, but be cautious of metadata or connections to your online identity.
- Use of Official Infomation Act (OIA) requests can expose information and protect the leaker.
- You are welcome to meet up in person to share information.
- Verify the accuracy of the information before leaking. Inaccurate information can undermine credibility and cause harm.
- Alternatively provide the limitations of your knowledge or the information you are sharing - rumor is okay if it is clear that it is a rumor, this can impower us to investigate further.It's a lot to consider. If you would like help be in touch with us and let us know that you have information to leak, but would like assistance doing so safely.Contact:
- email@wearetheuniversity.org
- Reminder: use a personal email address, not your work/study email address.
- Instagram
Legal
Academic Freedom
Students and staff are protected by the Education Act 2020, which enshrines academic freedom, protecting the freedom of academic staff and students to engage in research. If you would like to participate in research about the university, you are protected by this act. Many people at the University of Auckland study and have ongoing research projects about universities.
267 Academic freedom and institutional autonomy of institutions (other than Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology)
- (1) It is the intention of Parliament in enacting the provisions of this Act relating to universities and wānanga that academic freedom and the autonomy of those institutions are preserved and enhanced.
- (2) In exercising their academic freedom and autonomy, institutions must act in a manner that is consistent with—
- (a) the need for institutions to maintain the highest ethical standards and the need to permit public scrutiny to ensure the maintenance of those standards; and
- (b) the need for institutions to be accountable and make proper use of resources allocated to them.
- (3) In performing their functions, the councils and chief executives of institutions, Ministers, and authorities and agencies of the Crown must act in all respects so as to give effect to the intention of Parliament as expressed in this section.
- (4) In this section, academic freedom, in relation to an institution, means—
- (a) the freedom of academic staff and students, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, to put forward new ideas, and to state controversial or unpopular opinions:
- (b) the freedom of academic staff and students to engage in research:
- (c) the freedom of the institution and its staff to regulate the subject matter of courses taught at the institution:
- (d) the freedom of the institution and its staff to teach and assess students in the manner that they consider best promotes learning:
- (e) the freedom of the institution through its chief executive to appoint its own staff.
- (5) This section does not apply to Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (for which section 318 provides).
Whistleblower Protection
See here for more information about the Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act 2022