58145 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Education

58145 (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 2020?

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 2020 was $34,667 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 spent $1,707 including GST on an end of year event. New Zealand Qualifications Authority Education’s total expenditure for end of year events in November and December 2020 was $5,065 excluding GST. NZQA’s practice every year has been to make an allowance of between $5 to $15 per head. The Education Review Office’s total expenditure for end of year events for November and December 2020 was $5,350 including GST. This reflects $25 per a fixed and permanent employee, as per ERO’s policy.