3387 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister of Justice

3387 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister of Justice: What has been the total dollar spend for the ministry on contractors and consultants for each monthly accounting period since 19 November 2023 to the present date?

Hon Paul Goldsmith: I am advised that contractors and consultants typically invoice the Ministry of Justice on a monthly basis. Invoices for hours worked or work completed are usually sent to the Ministry the month after taking place, or even later. Therefore, monthly expenditure is not representative of the work completed in the same month. It represents the invoices entered into the Ministry’s Financial Management Information System for each completed month. I am advised that the combined contractor and consultant expenditure (both operating and capital) for the Ministry of Justice and Te Puna Aonui was $2.94M in November 2023, $2.36M in December 2023, $1.28M in January 2024, and $1.40M in February 2024. The Ministry is not able to provide its monthly expenditure for March until April.