Ref: OI/20/00643
Level 9, 44 The Terrace
PO Box 27048
29 October 2020
Wellington, New Zealand 6141
P +64 4 462 5200
John Luke
www.tec.govt.nz
[FYI request #13697 email]
Tēnā koe John
Thank you for your request, received on 7 September 2020, for the following information under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
I noted on your website, https://www.tec.govt.nz/rove/coves/construction-cove-roi/
"An independent panel of industry experts evaluated submissions at each stage, and put forward a
recommendation to the TEC Board."
May I have the name and bio of the member's of this independent panel, what is this panel's term of
reference, job descriptions and pay rate. How you select these members from the public and how you
call for public application to these positions.
How many recommendations they have provided to TEC board so far and I would like to request all
the meeting minutes this independent panel had so far.
There were four industry experts who evaluated submissions for the construction CoVE. I have
attached a biography for each member and an extract of the description of services from the
contacts with the panel members. The expert panel members received a rate of $125 per hour for
their work on the panel, with fees capped at a maximum of $5000. The chief executive of BRANZ
waived her fee as she considered that supporting this work was part of BRANZ’s contribution to the
industry.
The panel members were selected following a search by the TEC’s Monitoring and Crown Ownership
(MCO) team. MCO are TEC’s primary team responsible for recommending panel and board
candidates across the tertiary education sector. Panel members were identified based on an agreed
set of criteria:
› Industry expertise and experience
› Tertiary expertise and experience
› Standard setting expertise and experience
› Innovation, recognised for introducing new ways of meeting opportunities in the context
of their industry
› Professional links, for example membership on boards and associations
It was not intended that all candidates have expertise and experience across all these areas but that
the panel, as a whole, will reflect these.
There was no public application process for selecting panel members.
The panel has made one recommendation to the TEC Board.
I am refusing your request for meeting minutes as they contain evaluations of the tenders we
received for setting up the construction COVE. This decision is consistent with section 9(2)(ba)(i) of
the act which allows the TEC to withhold information which is subject to an obligation of confidence.
I am satisfied, in terms of section 9(1) of the Act, that the need to withhold the information referred
to above is not outweighed by other considerations that render it desirable, in the public interest, to
make the information available.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
The TEC intends to publish its response to this request on our website with your personal details
removed. Consistent with the Act, we are publishing responses in the interests of transparency and
accountability, and to improve access to official information.
Nāku noa, nā
Tim Fowler
Chief Executive
Tertiary Education Commission
Biographies of Construction Cove Selection Panel
Name
Biography
Richard Merrifield
Richard is the owner of a building company in the Nelson region undertaking project management and consulting
work on housing projects. He is Deputy Chairman of the Building Practitioners Board and a member of the
Member Standards NZ Board
Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board. He is a former Director of the Building Research Association New
Zealand and former chairman of the Building Research Advisory Council. Mr Merrifield is a member of the
Construction Strategy Group and a former Chair of the Certified Builders Association. He was also a member of
the Minister of Building and Housing Task Force on Productivity and the Building Act Review Advisory Group.
Chelydra Percy
Chelydra has been CE of BRANZ since 2013. Prior to starting with BRANZ, Chelydra held a range of leadership
roles with science and innovation organisations such as Callaghan Innovation, KiwiStar Optics and Scion.
BRANZ Chief Executive
Chelydra has also worked in the electricity supply and telecommunication industries. She is a graduate of Victoria
University of Wellington and a Companion of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand.
Jenny Parker
Jenny is passionate about promoting the benefits of New Zealand’s construction sector and NAWIC to young
women. During her time as NAWIC President, Jenny has focused on education by creating awareness of how
Architectural Consultant - T&R
NAWIC can support students and guide them through their careers. She is also keen to support women in trades
Interior Systems NZ
and would like to see NAWIC expand its membership base in this growing area. NAWIC is committed to inspiring
President - National Association
women to take up leadership roles in construction and is fostering strong relationships with industry partners to
of Women in Construction NZ
grow our active role across the industry. At T&R, Jenny works alongside architects and designers to provide
innovative building design recommendations and solutions for commercial acoustic and seismic ceiling designs.
› 28 years’ experience in the construction of earth buildings
Verena Maeder
› Business owner since 2002: SolidEarth Ltd
https://www.earthbuildingschool.c
› Trained in Building Biology and Ecology in Switzerland, also trained in architecture
om/about.html
› 2007-2014 Chairwoman of the Earth Building Association NZ
› Currently on the committee to revise NZ Earth Building Standards
› Awarded 2017 Tradeswoman of the Year by National Association of Women in Construction
› Runs workshops and community projects to share her knowledge of natural building
Description of Services
Background
In 2018 the Minister of Education (the Minister) announced a review of the Vocational Education and Training (VET)
System. This was followed by a proposal for system reform in February 2019, and consultation on the proposed
changes as part of the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) programme. One of the fundamental changes in the
new VET system is the introduction of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs).
CoVEs will be part of the fabric of New Zealand’s new vocational education system. CoVEs will play a key role in
driving innovation and excellence in vocational teaching and learning in areas of strategic importance to New
Zealand by strengthening links with industry and communities.
In August 2019, the Minister announced that the first two pilot CoVEs to be established will be for the Primary
Sector and the Construction Sector. A dedicated CoVE project was established within the Reform of Vocational
Education (RoVE) Programme in mid-August 2019, to establish the first two pilot CoVEs for Primary Sector and
Construction and develop the framework for selecting future CoVEs. It is intended that each CoVE will be made up
of a consortium of interested parties, funded under an agreement with government for a specific period (up to five
years). It is intended that CoVEs are an enduring part of the vocational education system.
CoVE applications will be evaluated by an independent Expert Evaluation Panel (the Panel), including industry
experts in the relevant sectors. There will be one Panel for the Primary Sector CoVE, and another Panel for the
Construction CoVE.
Description of Services
The Panels will review and evaluate applications to establish a CoVE. Specifically, to provide expert, independent
advice about the most appropriate challenges and opportunities for the CoVE to address, shortlist applications, and
recommend the preferred applicants based on pre-agreed selection criteria to the TEC Board of Commissioners
(the TEC Board). The TEC Board holds the delegated decision authority in relation to the CoVEs funding.
The table below provides the time commitments which will involve up to five days of Panel meetings in person, and
some additional reading and briefing time.
Date
Time
Activity
Location
Tertiary Education Commission
Level 9, 44 The Terrace
Monday 24
Wellington
11:00AM
Panel Briefing
February
Room: 9.2 Māia
-1:00PM
(lunch will be provided)
2020
(or Skype if you are unable to
attend in person)
Friday, 20
12:00PM
Registrations of Interest due*
March 2020
Evaluate registrations of interest.
These will be packaged together and
emailed to you.
Monday, 23
As
Email your evaluations back to
Your base location
March 2020
required
[email address] as soon as you
have completed your evaluation, so that
these can be collated for the moderation
meeting.
Tertiary Education Commission
Thursday,
Meet with other Panel members to
9:00AM-
Level 9, 44 The Terrace
26 March
moderate evaluations and shortlist
5:00PM
Wellington
2020
applicants.
Room: 9.6 Pono
Friday, 27
To be
March 2020 confirmed
Friday, 20
12:00PM
Selected applicants invited to submit detailed proposals*
March 2020
Friday, 15
12:00PM
Detailed proposals due*
May 2020
Evaluate detailed proposals from
Friday 15
As
shortlisted applicants.
May 2020
required
These will be packaged together and
emailed to you.
Your base location
Email your evaluations back to
[email address] as soon as you
Monday 18
As
have completed your evaluation, so that
May 2020
required
these can be collated for the moderation
meeting.
Attend and evaluate in-person
Tuesday 19
9:00AM-
presentations from shortlisted
May 2020
5:00PM
applicants.
Wednesday,
Meet with other Panel members to
To be
TEC Head Office
20 May
moderate evaluations and recommend a
confirmed
Level 9, 44 The Terrace
2020
preferred applicant.
Wellington
Room: 9.1 Mārie
Thursday,
Placeholder for additional moderation if
To be
21 May
required
confirmed
2020
(depending on number of applications)
Monday, 8
-
TEC Board selects successful proposal*
June 2020
Wednesday,
-
TEC negotiate funding letter with successful consortium*
22 July 2020
CoVEs announcement*
Monday, 27
-
July 2020
Please do not communicate with anyone outside the Panel or Project Team
about who the selected applicant is until the CoVEs announcement has been
made.
Deliverables
1. At the RoI stage, evaluate Registrations of Interest and shortlist Applicants to progress to the RfP stage.
2. At the RfP stage, evaluate written Proposals and in-person presentations provided by shortlisted Applicants,
and make a recommendation about the preferred Applicant(s) to the TEC Board of Commissioners.
Specific code of conduct / health & safety / legislative requirement
The Supplier is expected to comply with the TEC’s Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest Policy, and Health and
Safety Policies and Procedures.