27815 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister for Tertiary Education

27815 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister for Tertiary Education: What is the total additional annual cost, if any, of all board fee increases approved by the Minister since 27 November 2023 across any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible, broken down by organisation and year, as at 8 June 2026?

Hon Penny Simmonds: A temporary increase of 25% was approved from 10 November 2025 to 30 June 2026 for the Tertiary Education Commission Chair and Deputy Chair. The only fee increase approved during this period was an increase to the maximum fee payable to the Chairs/Chancellors, Deputy Chairs/Pro Chancellors and members of the governing councils of universities and wānanga. Under clause 17(1) of Schedule 11 of the Education and Training Act 2020, I set the maximum fees for the governing councils of universities, wānanga and polytechnics in accordance with the Fees Framework, and the individual council must then determine the actual fee level up to the maximum. Following the introduction of the 2025 Fees Framework, a fee review was carried out for the university and wānanga governing councils, and an increase was made to the maximum fee level with effect from 1 November 2025. The actual annual fees paid to the governing councils of universities and wānanga will be reported in each institution’s annual report, as these fees are paid from within each institution’s baselines.