20088 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

20088 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What regular monitoring process is agreed to and resourced in relation to Ministry of Social Development automated decision-making about checking if Student Allowance and Loan applications are getting a benefit or have debt with the Ministry of Social Development?

Hon Louise Upston: I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development’s (the Ministry) Automated Decision-Making standards states that regular monitoring proportionate to the risks involved must be carried out to ensure that the ADM continues to produce expected results and to ensure the potential for bias and discrimination is well managed. The Ministry complies with this standard and that monitoring for this process is carried out in response to any changes to the systems involved. More information regarding the Ministry’s ADM standards can be found here: https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/initiatives/phrae/adm-standard.html.