41023 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Education

41023 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Education: In the Minister’s departments, ministries and agencies, if any, what savings have been identified, between 27 November 2023 and 10 July 2024?

Hon Erica Stanford: These decisions are the responsibility of the relevant agency Chief Executive. In response to the Government’s savings requirements, the Ministry of Education (the Ministry) identified opportunities for savings such as reducing spend on contractors and consultants, professional services, and travel and meetings. The Ministry also identified areas to reduce work and duplication to align with Government priorities, which will result in a reduction in the Ministry’s workforce. In relation to the Ministry's change process, please see response to written parliamentary question 40375 (2024). For information regarding savings that have been identified through the Budget Process, please refer to https://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/budgets/budget-2024. I am advised that the Education Review Office (ERO) identified savings in the areas of travel, consultants and contractors and publications. As part of Budget 2024, ERO transferred funding of $1.080 million from 2023/24 to 2025/25 to meet one-off cost pressures relating to the baseline savings, managing future cost pressures, and enable system improvements to provide efficiencies. The amount transferred reflected the expected savings in these areas to 30 June 2024. The New Zealand Qualifications Authority advises that, in the period from 27 November 2023 to 10 July 2024, it has achieved savings in the areas of professional services, travel and accommodation, and printing, publications and distribution of approximately $4.1 million.