9340 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

9340 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What external legal costs, if any, were incurred by any department or entity for which the Minister is responsible in each financial year since 2020/21, broken down by department or entity and by the nature of the legal work (litigation, commercial advice, employment matters, Treaty matters, or other)?

Rt Hon Winston Peters: For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, I refer the Member to my response to WPQ 13655 (2025). I am advised that the Asia New Zealand Foundation has not incurred any relevant expenditure. For Antarctica New Zealand, expenditure across the specified financial years is as follows: In 2020/21, Scott Base Redevelopment commercial advice totalled NZ$215,000, with core business commercial advice of NZ$25,000 and employment‑related costs of NZ$17,000. In 2021/22, Scott Base Redevelopment commercial advice was NZ$179,000, Antarctic Science Platform commercial advice NZ$1,000, core business commercial advice NZ$21,000, and employment matters NZ$1,000. In 2022/23, Scott Base Redevelopment commercial advice was NZ$136,000, Antarctic Science Platform NZ$3,000, and core business commercial advice NZ$27,000. In 2023/24, Scott Base Redevelopment commercial advice totalled NZ$134,000, Antarctic Science Platform NZ$8,000, and core business commercial advice NZ$8,000. In 2024/25, Scott Base Redevelopment commercial advice amounted to NZ$568,000, Antarctic Science Platform NZ$79,000, core business commercial advice NZ$48,000, Scott Base Redevelopment employment matters NZ$9,000, and core business employment matters NZ$37,000. In 2025/26, Scott Base Redevelopment commercial advice totalled NZ$171,000, Antarctic Science Platform NZ$8,000, core business commercial advice NZ$11,000, and employment matters NZ$21,000.