13837 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister for Hunting and Fishing

13837 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister for Hunting and Fishing: What fee increases have been proposed or approved since 27 November 2023 for any chair, deputy chair, member, presiding member, or other appointed role on any Crown entity board, committee, authority, tribunal, or other statutory body within their ministerial portfolio, broken down by (a) the name of the entity and the specific role; (b) the fee (annual, daily, or per-meeting rate as applicable) immediately prior to the increase and the date that fee was last set; (c) the new approved fee and the effective date of the increase; (d) the percentage increase; (e) whether the increase was approved by them as the responsible minister or referred to the Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee, and if the latter, the date of that approval; (f) whether the increase was made pursuant to the Cabinet Fees Framework changes of July 2025 or on another basis; (g) the primary justification recorded for the increase; (h) whether the proposed increase was approved, declined, or scaled back, and if declined or scaled back, the reasons recorded for that decision; (i) whether any part of the increase was applied backdated and if so to what date; (j) the total annual cost to the Crown of all increases approved within their portfolio; and (k) whether each review was initiated by them as the responsible minister, the entity itself, or the Public Service Commission?

Hon James Meager: I am advised that, since 27 November 2023, fee increases have been proposed or approved for only one statutory body within my portfolio as Minister for Hunting and Fishing. The responses to your further questions, follow: a) The Chair and members of the NZ Game Animal Council (the Council). b) The daily meeting fees, immediately prior to the increase, were $215 for members and $290 for the Chair. These fees had been in place since the Council’s establishment, in 2014. c) The daily fees were increased to $290 for members and $400 for the Chair, on 15 May 2025. d) The new fees represented a 35 percent and 38 percent increase, respectively. e) I approved the increase on 11 April 2025, following support for the decision from the PSC and their advice that the decision was not required to be referred to APH. f) The increase was made pursuant to the Cabinet Fees Framework documented in Cabinet Office Circular CO(22)2. g) The primary justification for the increase was a review of the Council’s classification, in relation to the Cabinet Fees Framework. h) I approved the proposed increase. i) The Council was notified the full value of the increase was to be backdated to 1 July 2024. j) As the approved fee increases come from the Council’s baseline funding, there is no additional cost to the Crown. k) The review was initiated by a requested by the Council.