52817 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

52817 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations: What is the total sum of money spent, if any, on contractors and consultants to assist in any change processes, role disestablishments, and/or restructures, at departments, ministries and agencies for which the Minister is responsible, since 27 November 2023, listed by month and agency?

Hon Paul Goldsmith: I am advised that contractors and consultants typically invoice Te Arawhiti on a monthly basis. Invoices for hours worked or work completed are usually sent the month after taking place, or even later. Te Arawhiti is not able to provide full monthly expenditure for August until invoices have been received. The following was spent on contractors and consultants: $99,178.85 in May 2024 (of which $2,995.50 was paid for by MoJ); $120,737.97 in June 2024 (of which $12,003.01 was paid by MoJ); and $48,297.35 in July 2024 (of which $14,782.01 was paid by MoJ) and $1,762.09 in August 2024. The Service Level Agreement between Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and with Te Arawhiti includes People (Human Resources) support but does not cover organisation design expertise. As a result, the Ministry of Justice engaged a contractor to fulfil this specific requirement of which some of their time was spent assisting Te Arawhiti. I am further advised that Te Arawhiti did not have any contractor nor consultant expenditure for this purpose before May 2024.