Sarah Hil sdene
[FYI request #26725 email]
9 July 2024
Dear Sarah,
OIA 23-24-54: Trade Commissioner & Regional Director Costs
Thank you for your email of 13 May 2024 to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE),
making a request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). You requested the following
information:
Of the taxpayer funded annual NZTE budget allocated to international Trade Commissioner
roles and Regional Director roles, please provide detail for the below costs, by region:
1. Al NZTE funded private accommodation costs (rent/leases and or property purchases),
including living costs (electricity, water, broadband, telephony, food).
2. Al NZTE funded private vehicle costs per role - lease/rent of vehicles, gasoline,
maintenance, taxes.
3. Al NZTE funded school education costs - including fees, travel, equipment, computers, and
extracurricular activities.
4. Al NZTE funded private staff at accommodation - cleaners, maids, gardeners, chefs/cooks,
drivers.
5. Al NZTE funded flights, both international & domestic - for al family members.
6. Al NZTE funded insurances for health, life, property, contents/assets, and income.
7. Al NZTE funded reimbursements or cover for any personal tax costs or payments.
8. Al NZTE funded costs per role not listed above.
Salaries & names obviously cannot be provided, so these are not requested.
NZTE’s response to your request is as follows.
International trade is critical to New Zealand’s economy. NZTE is the government agency
tasked with growing New Zealand businesses internationally.
Trade Commissioner’s (TCs) are the leaders of our international offices. Having TC’s in market
is global practice. Government-funded TC networks based offshore exist in several countries.
These networks play a crucial role in promoting international trade and economic relations,
attracting investment, and building strong economic ties between countries.
The purpose of the TC role is to lead and build the capability of the local team who act as the
face of New Zealand in the international market, promoting our country and encouraging
relationships between in-market companies and our customers in New Zealand. Regional
Directors (RDs) are responsible for overall leadership of the region, including leading our TCs.
Many of these roles require NZ citizenship, due to security requirements and requirements of
the relevant country. NZTE’s approach is usually based on seconding a New Zealander
offshore for a period of three to five years. This ensures connectivity between our teams in New
Zealand and our teams offshore, who are typically locally engaged.
T: +64 4 816 8100
F: +64 4 816 8101
W: nzte.govt.nz
W: newzealand.com/business
Level 15, The Majestic Centre, 100 Wil is Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand, PO Box 2878, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
The package is made up of:
• Base salary; and
• Al owances and benefits paid to maintain a New Zealand equivalent standard of living
and compensate for the challenges accepted in taking up an overseas assignment. This
is based on family composition and location.
Information addressing your request can be found in Appendix One.
Please note:
•
We have combined TC and RD roles, as to provide more detailed information may
breach the privacy of the persons involved.
•
The ‘other costs’ category includes items such as relocation expenses, visa costs and
language training. These vary depending on assignment start and end dates, host
country requirements, and language capabilities.
•
There are also costs paid centrally (not by region) that include insurances, landing pads
for returning TCs and RDs and fringe benefit tax considerations.
•
Al accommodation is leased, NZTE does not own any property in overseas markets.
•
We have excluded costs associated with the Dubai Expo 2020 as they were one-off
costs associated with the duration of the Expo event.
•
In many locations, an NZTE office car is provided for use by the team for business
purposes. In some locations drivers are employed for the NZTE team to support travel
and event and business activity. They are not for the personal use of TCs and RDs,
therefore these costs have not been included.
•
To provide any further detailed information would require substantial collation.
You have the right under section 28(3) of the Act to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at:
www.ombudsman.parliament.govt.nz or freephone: 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Melissa Trochon
Director – Board & Ministerial
APPENDIX ONE
Regions
Question Category
FY 22-23 ($ NZD)
Australia /
Q1. Private Accommodation Costs
101,443
P acific
Q2. Private Vehicle Costs
4,883
Q3. School Education Costs
Q4. Private Staff at Accommodation Costs 24,312
Q5. Expat Flight Costs
10,114
Q6. Medical/Health & Insurance Costs
52,717
Q8. Other Costs
5,710
Europe, Middle
Q1. Private Accommodation Costs
917,874
E ast & Africa
Q2. Private Vehicle Costs
48,133
Q3. School Education Costs
427,007
Q4. Private Staff at Accommodation Costs 26,317
Q5. Expat Flight Costs
54,519
Q6. Medical/Health & Insurance Costs
13,895
Q7. Personal Tax Costs
3,511
Q8. Other Costs
237,986
Greater China
Q1. Private Accommodation Costs
907,251
Q2. Private Vehicle Costs
70,332
Q3. School Education Costs
217,799
Q4. Private Staff at Accommodation Costs 46,906
Q5. Expat Flight Costs
79,953
Q6. Medical/Health & Insurance Costs
72,173
Q8. Other Costs
107,793
Latin America
Q1. Private Accommodation Costs
251,997
Q2. Private Vehicle Costs
8,591
Q3. School Education Costs
71,758
Q4. Private Staff at Accommodation Costs 14,311
Q5. Expat Flight Costs
4,440
Q6. Medical/Health & Insurance Costs
6,491
Q7. Personal Tax Costs
119
Q8. Other Costs
2,483
North America
Q1. Private Accommodation Costs
789,727
Q2. Private Vehicle Costs
14,040
Q3. School Education Costs
425,073
Q6. Medical/Health & Insurance Costs
53,288
Q7. Personal Tax Costs
3,131
Q8. Other Costs
4,916
South East &
Q1. Private Accommodation Costs
571,069
E ast Asia
Q2. Private Vehicle Costs
54,786
Q3. School Education Costs
245,372
Q4. Private Staff at Accommodation Costs 42,369
Q5. Expat Flight Costs
58,363
Q6. Medical/Health & Insurance Costs
15,818
Q7. Personal Tax Costs
1,153
Q8. Other Costs
454,616
Centrally paid Q1. Private Accommodation Costs
8,974
cost
s
Q2. Private Vehicle Costs
Q5. Expat Flight Costs
20,163
Q6. Medical/Health & Insurance Costs
1,103,555
Q7. Personal Tax Costs
2,091,670
Q8. Other Costs
234,899
