21989 (2025). Ingrid Leary to the Minister of Education

21989 (2025). Ingrid Leary to the Minister of Education: How many publicly funded counsellors were employed in schools across NZ in 2023?

Hon Erica Stanford: I am advised by the Ministry of Education that it does not collect data on the number of counsellors employed in schools. However, some information on guidance counsellors employed in schools can be found in Ministry payroll data. In 2023, 190 guidance counsellors (headcount) were paid by the Ministry. This number does not include guidance counsellors and other counsellors who may be paid through other mechanisms than Education payroll (for example, a contract with an external supplier).