58144 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Education

58144 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Education: How much, if any, did the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, spend on christmas, holiday, end of year, and any other types of celebratory functions or parties during November and December in 2024?

Hon Erica Stanford: I am advised that the Ministry of Education’s (the Ministry) total expenditure for end of year events in November and December 2024 was $9,899 excluding GST. This is in line with the Ministry’s Sensitive Expenditure Policy. I refer the Member to the attached table showing the Ministry’s headcount as at 31 December each year, total expenditure on end of year events, and the per-head cost. Education New Zealand did not fund any end of year events in November and December 2024. New Zealand Qualifications Authority Education authorised each division to organise their own Christmas event at $6 per head. The total budget for November and December 2024 was $3000 excluding GST. The Education Review Office’s total expenditure for end of year events for November and December 2024 was $4,860 including GST. In 2024 ERO’s policy was changed with the contribution reducing to $20 per fixed and permanent employee.