University told off for NCEA breach

Massey University has been rebuked by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) for breaking an embargo on NCEA results.

The university sent enrolling students a letter congratulating them on gaining entry based on their NCEA level 3 results, The Dominion Post reported today.

NZQA said the letter broke a January 28 embargo when all students would have received official grade notification by post or on the internet.

Spokeswoman Heather Church said students should know about their success through the official channels.

"It's not really appropriate to hear it from another organisation."

NZQA acting chief executive Karen Sewell would raise the issue with Massey vice-chancellor Judith Kinnear.

However Massey spokeswoman Rachel Donald said the university believed it had done nothing wrong.

A letter from Ms Sewell to all universities had said an embargo "did not prevent you and your colleagues from using the results to advise students about the progress of their admission applications or answer related queries".

It is understood that other universities sent similar letters, and warned the authority that some students might get them before their results.

- NZPA