Reference: 20230293

08 August 2023

Delia Mason
[FYI request #23001 email]

Dear Delia

Thank you for your Official Information Act request, received on 4 June 2023. You
requested the following:
Please provide copies of all advice you provided to Ministers in 2020-2022 about
whether Universities should be eligible to receive the COVID-19 wage subsidy or
any financial support to assist Universities during the pandemic.

Please provide copies of all advice you provided to Ministers in 2020-2022 about
the funding of universities, including the impact of drops in the number of
international students.
Context for tertiary sector funding
Several documents released in this request relate to overall tertiary sector funding
Budget initiatives such as tertiary subsidy cost adjustments or tertiary enrolment
advice. The funding for these initiatives is not allocated solely to universities, however,
these funding sources make up a large portion of the funding universities receive from
the Government. Allocations are made across the sector to all Tertiary education
providers. The amount an individual university or provider receives can be found in the
relevant organisation’s annual report or via the Tertiary Education Commission’s
website.
Information being released
Please find enclosed the following documents:
Item  Date
Document Description
Decision
1.    02 July
Email - RE: Cabinet Papers for Consultation - Noting
Release relevant
2021
Cabinet paper - Additional discretion for the Tertiary
sections
Education Commission
Note that this advice relates to a draft paper and
preliminary proposal. Recent Cabinet decisions have
superseded this previous proposal. Details of this
Cabinet decision will be released by the Ministry of
Education shortly.
1 The Terrace
PO Box 3724
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
tel. +64-4-472-2733

https://treasury.govt.nz

2.    13 July
Email - RE: re ROB 2032 - FW: PRE-
Release relevant
2021
CONSULTATION: Noting Cabinet paper - Additional
sections
discretion for the Tertiary Education Commission
Note that this advice relates to a draft paper and
preliminary proposal. Recent Cabinet decisions have
superseded this previous proposal. Details of this
Cabinet decision will be released by the Ministry of
Education shortly.
3.    30
Email - Cabinet Papers for Consultation – Managing
Release relevant
November
Apprenticeship Boost Initiative, Mana in Mahi, and
sections
2021
Tertiary Education Funding Pressures
Note that this briefing relates to a paper found here:
https://assets.education.govt.nz/public/Documents/our-
work/information-releases/Issue-Specific-
release/Budget-2022/08a.-Managing-Apprenticeship-
Boost-Initiative_Redacted.pdf

The following documents have previously been released. Please find enclosed
excerpts relevant to your request which were previously withheld. The page number
the excerpt relates to and a link the relevant previous release can be found below:

Item  Date
Document Description
Previous Release
Decision
4.    19 February
Treasury Report
https://www.treasury.gov
Release
2020
T2020/327: Proposed
t.nz/sites/default/files/20
previously
Budget 2020 Education
20-07/b20-t2020-327-
withheld excerpt –
Package
4241721.pdf
Page 5
5.    24 June
Budget Ministers’ meeting
https://www.treasury.gov
Release
2020
COVID-19 Response and
t.nz/sites/default/files/20
previously
Recovery Fund (CRRF) –
20-08/b20-budget-
withheld excerpt –
Round 2
ministers-meeting-
Page 4
slides-24jun20-
4298422.pdf
6.    16 March
Treasury Report
https://www.treasury.gov
Release
2022
T2022/601: Draft Budget
t.nz/sites/default/files/20
previously
Ministers 5 material - 16
22-09/b22-t2022-601-
withheld excerpt –
March 2022 - Budget
4626658.pdf
Page 7
2022 Information Release
Note that the cost
adjustment figures shown
in this excerpt were not
final. The final approved
at Budget was 2.75%.
7.    25 February
Budget Ministers'
https://www.treasury.gov
Release
2022
Materials: Budget
t.nz/sites/default/files/20
previously
Ministers 3 Slides -
21-08/b21-t2020-3762-
withheld excerpt –
Budget 2022 - Wellbeing
4385458.pdf
Page 31
Analysis Final

8.    4 March
Treasury Report: Budget
https://www.treasury.gov
Release
2022
2022: Revised Education
t.nz/sites/default/files/20
previously
Package
22-09/b22-t2022-453-
withheld excerpt –
4622296.pdf
Page 6
2

9.    09 March
Budget Ministers 4 -
https://www.treasury.gov
Release
2022
Revised Budget 2022
t.nz/sites/default/files/20
previously
Package
22-09/b22-budget-min-
withheld excerpt –
four-slide-4619044.pdf
page 13
Note that the cost
adjustment figures shown
in this excerpt were not
final. The final approved
at Budget was
$266.895m.
10.    22 March
Budget Ministers'
https://www.treasury.gov
Release
2022
Materials: Budget
t.nz/sites/default/files/20
previously
Ministers 5 Slides - 22
22-09/b22-budget-min-
withheld excerpt –
March 2022
five-slide-4623151.pdf
page 12
Note that the figures in
this excerpt are non-final.
Final amounts agreed at
Budget for these
initiatives can be found
here:
https://www.treasury.govt.
nz/sites/default/files/2022-
09/b22-frs-educ-tech-
4641357.pdf

I have decided to release the relevant parts of the documents listed above, subject to
information being withheld under one or more of the following sections of the Official
Information Act, as applicable:
•  direct dial phone numbers of officials, under section 9(2)(k)  – to prevent the
disclosure of information for improper gain or improper advantage.
Direct dial phone numbers of officials have been redacted under section 9(2)(k) in
order to reduce the possibility of staff being exposed to phishing, social engineering
and other scams. This is because information released under the OIA may end up in
the public domain, for example, on websites including Treasury’s website.
Some information has been redacted because it is not covered by the scope of your
request. This is because the documents include matters outside your specific request.
Information publicly available
The following information is also covered by your request and is publicly available on
the Treasury, Covid-19, Budget, Ministry of Education, or Interest website:
Item  Date
Document Description
Website Address
11.    17 April
Clarification on eligibility for the
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/d
2020
COVID-19 wage subsidy and
efault/files/2020-07/b20-t2020-327-
leave schemes (the Schemes)
4241721.pdf

and the implementation
approach
3

12.    22 April
Addendum to TR2020/912 -
https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/Proa
2020
Clarification on eligibility for the
ctive-Releases/proactive-release-
current COVID-19 wage subsidy
2020-june/Report-Addendum-

scheme
Clarification-on-eligibility-for-the-
current-COVID-19-wage-subsidy-
and-leave-schemes-the-Schemes-
and-the-implementation-
approach.pdf
13.    28 May
Treasury Report: Impact of
www.interest.co.nz/sites/default/file
2020
Covid -19 on Tertiary Education
s/embedded_images/OIA%20QE%
Organisations
20v%20MF.pdf
14.    11 February
Treasury Report T2022/117:
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/d
2021
Budget 2022 Bilateral: Hon
efault/files/2022-09/b22-t2022-117-
Chris Hipkins (Education and
4612852.pdf
COVID-19 Response Portfolios)
15.    26 March
Joint Education & Treasury
https://assets.education.govt.nz/pu
2021
Report: Managing increased
blic/Documents/our-
demand for tertiary education
work/information-releases/Issue-
and training
Specific-release-School-Building-
Performance/Budget-21/R-58.-
1254678_Redacted.pdf
16.    17 February
Treasury Report: Budget 2023
https://budget.govt.nz/information-
2023
Bilateral: Education Annex B -
release/2023/pdf/b23-educ-sib-initi-
Submitted Initiatives
4761633.pdf
17.    17 February
Budget 2023 Bilateral: Hon Jan
https://budget.govt.nz/information-
2023
Tinetti (Education)
release/2023/pdf/b23-t2023-146-
4746413.pdf

Accordingly, I have refused your request for the documents listed in the above table
under section 18(d) of the Official Information Act:
•  the information requested is or will soon be publicly available.
Some information has also been removed from documents listed in the above table as
we believe this information is either out of scope of this request or should continue to
be withheld under the Official Information Act, on the grounds described in the
documents.
In making my decision, I have considered the public interest considerations in section
9(1) of the Official Information Act.
Please  note  that  this  letter  (with  your  personal  details  removed)  and  enclosed
documents may be published on the Treasury website.
This reply addresses the information you requested. You have the right to ask the
Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision.
Yours sincerely

Laura King
Manager, Communities, Learning and Work
4

TOIA 20230293
Table Of Contents
1.
Cabinet Papers for Consultation - Managing Apprenticeship Boost Initiative, Mana
1
in Mahi, and Tertiary Education Funding Pressures
2.
RE re ROB 2032 - FW PRE-CONSULTATION Noting Cabinet paper - Additional
3
discretion for the Tertiary Education Commission
3.
RE Cabinet Papers for Consultation - Noting Cabinet paper - Additional discretion
6
for the Tertiary Education Commission
4.
Excerpt from - Budget Ministers' Materials
7

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Page 1 of 13
From:
Elliot Quitales [TSY]
To:
^parliament: Udayan Mukherjee
Cc:
@AMoFSecondees; Naomi Bennett [TSY]; Thomas Parry [TSY]; Ivan Esler [TSY]
Subject:
Cabinet Papers for Consultation - Managing Apprenticeship Boost Initiative, Mana in Mahi, and Tertiary Education Funding Pressures
Date:
Tuesday, 30 November 2021 4:56:00 pm
Attachments:
image001.png
MINISTERIAL CONSULTATION SWC paper - Managing Apprenticeship Boost Initiative Mana in Mahi and Tertiary Education Funding
Pressures.msg
[IN-CONFIDENCE]
Kia ora Udayan,
Please find our advice on this paper below:
Title of paper
Managing Apprenticeship Boost Initiative, Mana in Mahi, and Tertiary
Education Funding Pressures
Minister and
Hon Chris Hipkins, Ministry of Education
agency
Description
This paper seeks agreement on how to manage funding pressures
relating to three COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund initiatives: the
Apprenticeship Boost Initiative (ABI), Mana in Mahi (MiM), and Meeting
Increased Learner Need for Tertiary Education. This paper also seeks
agreement to provide people who were granted refugee/protected
person status whilst already living in New Zealand with access to the
same of student support for as other refugee groups who were granted
that status prior to arriving in New Zealand.
Comments
Out of Scope
Addressing shortfalls related to Increased Learner Need for Tertiary
Education through underspend of Fees Free
Our long standing preference has been for Fees Free underspends to be
returned to the centre to allow reprioritisation across all initiatives. However,
whilst Treasury has been generally cautious about the Ministry’s previous
proposals to transfer Fees Free underspends, we recognise that there are
genuine demand pressures over the next few years and that funding options
need to be considered if Government wants to fund these additional volume
pressures. It is timely to consider this at the beginning of the Budget process.
As such, we are tentatively supportive of the proposal for Cabinet to provide

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1
Page 2 of 13
joint-ministerial authority to transfer Fees Free underspends to fund 2022
demand pressures early in 2022, while we are still finalising our advice
around the education Budget package.
Consulting
1  December 2021
Minister's due
date
Cabinet or
SWC, 8 December 2021
Cabinet
Committee
Fiscal
Out of Scope
implications
Recommended
Support: Treasury recommends that you support this paper 1ou1 of Scope
-·
action
Nga mihi nui,
Ramon Quitales (he/him)  I Communities, Learning and Work  I Te Tai Ohanga -The Treasury
s9(2)(k)
I  Email/lM: Ramon Oujtales@treasury govt oz
Visit us online at https-//treasury govt oz/ and follow us on .Tulit!eL LinkedLn and lostagram

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From:
Aliot Quit;,les [ISYJ
To:
"'Parliroeot· Paul Voong
Cc:
Naomi Bennett (TSY): Nick carroll (TSYj
Subject:
RE: re ROB 2032 - FW: PRE-CONSULTATION: Noting cabinet paper - Additional discretion for the Tertiary Education
Commission
Date:
Tuesday, 13 July 2021 11:01:00 am
Attachments:
imageOOl.png
FW CJbioet Papers foe C:Orc;ultation -Noting cabinet paper - Additional di5Cretion foc the Iectiary E<hKation
Commission.msg
[IN-CONFIDENCE]
Kia ora Paul,
Overall, we're still cautious about this but we're comfortable with it going to consultation to get sector
input. We also heard that PMO had advised that the paper didn't need to go to Cabinet, but I have still
prepared a briefing on it in case it still did:
Additional Discretion for the Tertiary Education Commission
Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister of Education
Treasury contact: Ramon Quiiales s9(2Xk) �
Sion out contact: Nick Carroll s9(2)(k)
Description: This paper informs Cabinet that the Ministry will be conducting targeted consultation on a
proposal to give the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) additional discretion to invest in discretionary
projects over a small portion (up to 1% or ~$23 million) of existing volume-based funding for tertiary
education provision.
Comments: The proposal would enable the TEC to support discretionary projects such as innovative delivery
models and learning support methods in an effort to contribute to the Government's strategic goals for tertiary
education.
However, at a time I ke the present when there is high demand for tertiary enrolments, funding discretionary
projects would need to be traded off against funded enrolments. Reducing volume-based funding at a time
when domestic tertiary enrolments have significantly increased may lead to TEC seeking further financial
assistance from the Crown or reducing the number of funded tertiary enrolments. The Treasury supports the
proposal going to consultation to get the views of the sector, and will continue working with the Ministry of
Education to fully understand the proposal's wider implications.
Treasurv Recommendation: Suooort
Fiscal Implications
The proposal going to consultation in of itself does not have direct fiscal implications. However, if the proposal
in the paper is implemented, TEC may seek future Crown assistance to avoid reducing the number of funded
tertiary enrolments. The assistance sought may be up to 1% (-$23 million) of the 'Tertiary Education: Student
Achievement Component' MCA category in Vote Tertiary Education.
You may also recall that my email from the 2nd of July has some further points that we were still working
with MoE on. We're looking to meet with them again this week to discuss these further, and I have attached
the 2nd of July email for easy reference (if helpful).
As usual, please let me know if there are any further questions about any of the above.
Nga mihi nui,
[
Ramon Quitales �
(he/him)  I
J
Communities,  Learning and Work  I Te Tai Ohanga - The Treasury
s9(2Xk)
I  Email/lM: [email address]
Visit us online at https://treasury.govt.nz/ and follow us on Twitter. Linkedln and lnstagram
Out of scope

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Page 4 of 13
Out of Scope

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Page 5 of 13
Out of Scope

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Page 6 of 13
From:
Elliot Quitales [TSY]
To:
^Parliment: Paul Young
Cc:
Nick Carroll [TSY]; Naomi Bennett [TSY]
Subject:
RE: Cabinet Papers for Consultation - Noting Cabinet paper - Additional discretion for the Tertiary Education
Commission
Date:
Friday, 2 July 2021 2:05:00 pm
Attachments:
image001.png
image002.png
Kia ora Paul,
Here are my preliminary thoughts on the paper, noting that Minister Hipkins’ office has pushed
the paper back a little bit and that elements of the proposal may change before it goes to
Cabinet:
Our main concern is the cut that would be made to volume-based funding (up to 1% or
~$23 million) in a high-demand environment to enable these discretionary projects. The
proposal envisions lower allocations to focus on lowest value enrolments, but we don’t
yet exactly know from MoE what enrolment types would be considered lowest value.
We’re already seeing Massey University cutting off new domestic student enrolments,
and the proposal will be adding more pressure on volume-based funding when there is
already strong demand pressures caused by the pandemic;
If this proposal were to go ahead, it would reduce the amount of volume-based funding,
which could then result in further deficits – will there be any mitigations around the risk
that TEC might seek additional Crown funding for this down the line?
We are already in discussion with MoE to figure out clearer guidelines on the bounds of
what these discretionary projects could be; and
The proposal could place a lot of extra pressure on the TEC (in addition to the status quo)
to balance high value discretionary projects with limiting enrolments; we would want to
ensure that the TEC has the capacity and planning in place to give effect to the proposal in
a way that achieves the best outcomes.
Overall, there are a few things to be worked through, and feedback from wider consultation may
help MoE work through some of these issues (especially my concerns in the last two bullet points
above).
s9(2)(g)(i)
Ngā mihi nui,
Ramon Quitales (he/him) | Skills & Work | Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury
s9(2)(k)
| Email/IM: [email address]
Visit us online at https://treasury.govt.nz/ and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram
Out of Scope

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Page 7 of 13
Excerpt from: Budget Ministers' Materials: Budget Ministers 3 Slides -
Budget 2022 - Wellbeing Analysis Final – page 31
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2022-09/b22-budget-min-three-welb-4611267.pdf

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Excerpt from: Budget Ministers' Materials: Budget Ministers 4 Slide – pg 13
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2022-09/b22-budget-min-four-slide-4619044.pdf

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Page 9 of 13
Excerpt from: Treasury Report T2022/601: Draft Budget Ministers 5 material - 16
March 2022 - Budget 2022 Information Release – pg 7
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2022-09/b22-t2022-601-4626658.pdf

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Page  10 of 13
Excerpt from:  Budget Ministers'  Materials:  Budget  Ministers 5 Slides - 22  March 2022
- Budget 2022  Information Release - pg  12
Overview of changes since BM4
- Seated Pa  Parity in Eart
Leaming Out of Scope
- Cost adjustments scaled from
2.9% to 2.6% (-$22 miUion)
- Scale d tertiary demand due to
updated forecasts (-$49
million)
- I am also considering whether
to re�include the M�ori
Medium Property initiative
($35 million operating, .$191
million capital)
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2022-09/b22-budget-min-five-slide-4623151.pdf

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Page 11 of 13
Excerpt from: Budget Ministers' Materials: COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund
(CRRF) – Round 2 – Page 4
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2020-08/b20-budget-ministers-meeting-slides-
24jun20-4298422.pdf

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Excerpt from: Treasury Report: Budget 2022: Revised Education
Package, Page 6
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2022-09/b22-t2022-453-4622296.pdf

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Page 13 of 13
Excerpt from: Treasury Report: Proposed Budget 2020 Education
Package – Page 5
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2022-09/b22-t2021-2732-4558265.pdf

Document Outline