42274 (2025). Lemauga Lydia Sosene to the Minister for Vocational Education

Written Question

Published date: 09 Sep 2025

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	42274 (2025)
Question asked:	26 Aug 2025
Member asking:	Lemauga Lydia Sosene
Portfolio:	Minister for Vocational Education
Minister replying:	Hon Penny Simmonds
Answer received:	03 Sep 2025
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_42274_2025
Document guid:	1afc4846-f8d0-40c2-9fea-bf24da62324b

42274 (2025). Lemauga Lydia Sosene to the Minister for Vocational Education: How many, if any, Koru memberships have been purchased by each department or entity that the Minister is responsible for from 27 November 2023 to August 2024; and for what purpose?

Hon Penny Simmonds: The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) paid for four Koru memberships from 27 November 2023 to August 2024. In October 2023 TEC revised its Travel Policy to allow TEC to pay for Koru Club memberships for staff taking 15 or more domestic return flights for the year. TEC requires a plan to be produced for the staff members for a financial year showing the planned travel signed off by a Deputy Chief Executive. Koru memberships were paid for the Manager Relationships and three Investment Relationship Managers. Relationship Managers are key to building and sustaining effective relationships with tertiary education organisations and regional stakeholders.