26036 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister of Education

26036 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister of Education: How many confidential settlement agreements, non-disclosure agreements or confidentiality clauses, if any, have been entered into with employees, former employees, contractors, or office holders by any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible since 27 November 2023, broken down by organisation, total cost, and year, as at 5 June 2026?

Hon Erica Stanford: I am advised that Ministry of Education (the Ministry) aggregates employee settlement information, with both financial and non-financial included. Therefore, the numbers provided below encompasses both financial settlements and confidential settlements that may or may not have had financial payments associated with them: • 2024: 18 agreements, totalling $225,419.63 • 2025: 11 agreements, totalling $186,468.63 • 2026 (to 5 June): four agreements, totalling $10,000. I am advised that, between 27 November 2023 and 5 June 2026, Education New Zealand entered into six confidential settlement agreements totalling $324,506, broken down below: • 2023/24: $116,000 • 2024/25: $121,058 • 2025/26: $87,448. No non-disclosure agreements have been entered into over this period. Confidentiality clauses are a standard provision in all individual employment agreements. I am advised that, between 27 November 2023 and 5 June 2026, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority entered into 13 confidential settlement agreements totalling $85,850, broken down below: • 2024: $63,850 • 2025: $15,000 • 2026: $7,000. I am advised that, between 27 November 2023 and 5 June 2026, the Education Review Office (ERO) that less than five confidential settlement agreements. The total cost was $26,850 in 2024, and $42,453 in 2025. ERO has not entered into any non-disclosure agreements over the period.