20 October 2023
MBIE ref: DOIA 2324-0732
Letty Smith
[FYI request #24303 email]
Tēnā koe Letty
Thank you for your email of 2 October 2023 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act (the Act), the following information:
I would like a breakdown of the funding provided to staff employed within policy roles for university
or polytechnic or other tertiary study of papers in the nature of that for degrees, masters degrees,
or professional legal studies (profs), broken down by type of study, and amounts by year for the
financial years 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23 and for the current financial year up to 1 September
2023.
On 6 October 2023, you were advised that MBIE does not record this information in a way that enables us
to provide answers to the level of detail you requested. On 8 October 2023, you agreed to the following
amended request:
Funding granted to staff from the MBIE Development Fund in the financial years of 2020/21,
2021/22, 2022/23 for:
• course fees for any professional development (including study); and
• staff where it is clear they were in a Policy role at the time of undertaking the professional
development.
No funding was provided to policy staff for professional development course fees for the 2020/21 and
2021/22 financial years as COVID-19 travel restrictions meant that staff could not attend the requested
courses.
In the financial year of 2022/23 a total of $41,549.84 was funded to 5 policy staff for professional
development course fees.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further assistance,
please contac
t [email address].
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.
Nāku noa, nā
Cassie Revel
Acting Chief People Officer
People and Culture
Corporate Services, Finance & Enablement
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