Dear Victoria University of Wellington,

This letter is a formal request for information under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).
Financial Transactions between HWT and Victoria University

Could you detail the financial relationship between HWT and Victoria University? This includes:
Any funding provided by Victoria University to HWT.
Any financial transactions from HWT to Victoria University.
Victoria University's role in funding the journal mentioned in Question 8 (if applicable).
Victoria University's involvement in the HWT scholarship application and screening process.
The percentage of the five HWT staff salaries/wages covered by Victoria University.
Any instances of HWT funding activities that benefit Victoria University, potentially replacing university funding due to budgetary constraints.

The below questions have also been sent to DPMC but if Victoria University can also answer any that are applicable - Nga Mihi.

1. Staff at HWT**

* A recent media article indicated that there are five staff members at the HWT. Could you please provide a breakdown of these roles and their corresponding annual salary bands (e.g., $50,000-$60,000)?
* Do any of the staff currently hold Terrorism, Defence or Security qualifications?
* How were these staff positions filled? Was there a formal application process? If so, when and where was this process advertised?
* Are these staff members solely employed by Victoria University, or are they affiliated with other universities as well?
* Are the students all on site ? if not how often are they engaged with ?
* Given that HWT is described as a scholarship management entity, could you please explain the rationale behind having five staff members?
* Are staff conducting research that is funded by HWT

2. Location of HWT**

* Is there a plan to rotate the location of HWT among different universities, or will it remain permanently at Victoria University?

3. Scholarship Awards**

* Please provide details on the number of scholarships awarded to students each year, and the universities associated with these scholarship recipients (excluding personal names). HWT only have Masters and PHD advertised on the website. Are there others?

4. Scholarship Application Screening**

* Could you clarify the process for screening scholarship applications? Are applications screened before being presented to the board, or does the board conduct its own screening?
* is there a priortisation of candidates for any reason ? charateristics - gender, race, culture for example ?
* If applications are pre-screened, who performs this screening? Is this process subject to peer review or external audit? For example how is bias managed.

5. HWT Associates**

* Please outline the recruitment process for HWT associates.
* Was there a formal application process in place? If so, were these applications subject to peer review or audit? when were they advertised ?
* Do the HWT associates sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) as part of their involvement?
* Are the associates financially compensated for their contributions? If so, could you elaborate on the associated costs?

6. PCVE Qualifications**

* Do any of the HWT staff or associates possess qualifications in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE)?
* If not have HWT engaged with someone who is qualified ?

7. Involvement of Postdoctoral People (Emma Rakete and Kyle Matthews) and Costs and Overseas Conferences and Travel**

* Does HWT engage with researchers beyond PhD students, such as recent graduates like Ms. Emma Rakete and Mr. Kyle Matthews? If so, could you clarify the nature of their involvement with the program?
* Were these opportunities for Ms. Rakete and Mr. Matthews publicly advertised?
* Are there are post doctoral researchers with HWT?
* Does HWT fund overseas conferences and travel for its staff, associates, or collaborating researchers? If so, could you provide details on the associated costs, the expected outputs or deliverables resulting from this travel/research/projects, and the selection process for such funding?

8. Security Oversight

Could you describe the oversight mechanisms in place to ensure HWT's research focus aligns with or is at least learning about national security priorities? terrorism?
Do any staff have experience or qualifications in Security, Defence or Policing ?
Are the students provided access to security scholars/experts?
Is HWT funding the 'Crime Media Culture journal? if so why ?

https://defsec.net.nz/2024/06/15/underst...

9 Financial Audit
Has there been a check and balance on spending at HWT this year ?
If so when?
Can HWT still meet its objective to fund PHD and Masters?
Or is it restricted due to the costs related to the above matters ?

Thank you for your time in responding to these queries.
While there are a few questions they should be very straight forward.
Thank you
Catherine

Dear OIA Requests - Victoria University - HWT

Thank you for your response to my O, however DPMC who also had the same request said that Victoria University would be responding to the majority of questions for example : part 1, 3,4,5,6,7,8,9, they answered part 1 and said 2 would be if this is not the case then perhaps Victoria Uni needs to discuss this with DPMC. While I appreciate the time OIAs can take, these are not difficult questions I would have thought it was information that would be kept as part of normal admin.

I have provided the ones that still require a response, if you need to get the HWT board to answer some I will understand, perhaps HWT center need to provide you directly with the answers.

It seems that part of Victoria's role is as your response states - to quote " part of the University, as is the case with centers in New Zealand universities generally. As such, its staff, resources, and activities fall within the scope of the University’s legal framework, statutes, policies, and accountabilities"
Perhaps I misunderstand what that covers but it seems there is some onus on the university to respond to all the questions.

Regardless, the questions that still require a response from the initial request are, and I have added a. b, c to make it easier to answer as I do appreciate your time and how frustrating OIA's can be however I think some transparency is necessary.

1: Five Staff:
1a) A breakdown of the roles, annual salary bands and the process for those positions i.e. were they advertised?
1b) Any of the five staff also employed by Victoria University? or affiliated with any other university?
1c) Any staff hold Terrorism, Defense or Security Qualifications?
1d) HWT is described as a scholarship entity so what is the rationale behind five staff?
1e) Are students on site? if not how often are they engaged with?
1f) Are the staff conducting research funded by HWT

3: Scholarship Awards
The information asked for is not provided on the website therefore they remain unanswered
3a) Number of scholarships awarded each year (to be clear - in other words how many successful fundings done or underway)
3b) what universities are associated with the scholarship recipients (excluding personal names)
3c) HWT only have Masters and Phd Advertised on the website, are there others?

5) HWT associates
5a) Outline the recruitment process for HWT associates - was it a formal process? were they advertised? Applications? if so, were they reviewed or audited. If advertised when?
5b) Do HWT Associates sign an NDA? Non-disclosure agreement as part of their involvement?
5c) Are associates financially compensated for their contributions? if so can you elaborate on the associated costs?

6) PCVE Quals (Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism)
6a) Do any of the HWT staff or associates possess qualifications in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE)?
6b) If not have HWT engaged with someone who is qualified?

7) Involvement of Postdoctoral People (for example Emma Rakete and Kyle Matthews) and Costs and Overseas Conferences and Travel**
7a) Are there are post-doctoral researchers with HWT? (similar to the question below but extends beyond these two)
7b) Does HWT engage with researchers beyond PhD students, such as recent graduates like Ms. Emma Rakete and Mr. Kyle Matthews? If so, could you clarify the nature of their involvement with the program?
7c) Were these opportunities for Ms. Rakete and Mr. Matthews publicly advertised?
7d) Does HWT fund overseas conferences and travel for its staff, associates, or collaborating researchers? If so, could you provide details on the associated costs, the expected outputs or deliverables resulting from this travel/research/projects, and the selection process for such funding?

8) Security Oversight
8a) Could you describe the oversight mechanisms in place to ensure HWT's research focus aligns with or is at least learning about national security priorities? terrorism
8b) Do any staff have experience in Security, Defence or Policing ?
8c) Are the students provided access to security scholars/experts?

9) Financial Audit
9a) Has there been a check and balance on spending at HWT this year? If so, when?
9b) Can HWT still meet its objective to fund PHD and Masters? Or is it restricted due to the costs related to the above matters?

Response 8: From HWT website the Crime Media Culture Journal is being managed by one of Victoria's Professors outside of HWT so that won't be cheap and not just a clerical role or research assistant. Victoria will get the benefit of this engagement it is disingenuous to frame it otherwise.

Given the words "independent research center" were in the recommendation from the Royal Commission, the situation certainly does not appear to match that at the current time. The contradictions in Victoria's role in the recent responses might get clarified by the full response. The university certainly received a substantial amount of money to host the group.: The University received $1,325,000 from the Trust in 2023 and $1,325,000 in 2024 to fund the activities of the Centre. The University also received $482,000 directly from DPMC in 2022 to fund the Centre"

Again, I appreciate your time but if the questions had been answered I would not be in the position of rewriting this and providing a second opportunity to respond.

Yours sincerely,

Catherine

Dear OIA Requests,

I responded to your 1 August reply and it still sits unanswered .. ... Not good enough.

Dear OIA Requests - Victoria University - HWT

Thank you for your response to my O, however DPMC who also had the same request said that Victoria University would be responding to the majority of questions for example : part 1, 3,4,5,6,7,8,9, they answered part 1 and said 2 would be if this is not the case then perhaps Victoria Uni needs to discuss this with DPMC. While I appreciate the time OIAs can take, these are not difficult questions I would have thought it was information that would be kept as part of normal admin.

I have provided the ones that still require a response, if you need to get the HWT board to answer some I will understand, perhaps HWT center need to provide you directly with the answers.

It seems that part of Victoria's role is as your response states - to quote " part of the University, as is the case with centers in New Zealand universities generally. As such, its staff, resources, and activities fall within the scope of the University’s legal framework, statutes, policies, and accountabilities"
Perhaps I misunderstand what that covers but it seems there is some onus on the university to respond to all the questions.

Regardless, the questions that still require a response from the initial request are, and I have added a. b, c to make it easier to answer as I do appreciate your time and how frustrating OIA's can be however I think some transparency is necessary.

1: Five Staff:
1a) A breakdown of the roles, annual salary bands and the process for those positions i.e. were they advertised?
1b) Any of the five staff also employed by Victoria University? or affiliated with any other university?
1c) Any staff hold Terrorism, Defense or Security Qualifications?
1d) HWT is described as a scholarship entity so what is the rationale behind five staff?
1e) Are students on site? if not how often are they engaged with?
1f) Are the staff conducting research funded by HWT

3: Scholarship Awards
The information asked for is not provided on the website therefore they remain unanswered
3a) Number of scholarships awarded each year (to be clear - in other words how many successful fundings done or underway)
3b) what universities are associated with the scholarship recipients (excluding personal names)
3c) HWT only have Masters and Phd Advertised on the website, are there others?

5) HWT associates
5a) Outline the recruitment process for HWT associates - was it a formal process? were they advertised? Applications? if so, were they reviewed or audited. If advertised when?
5b) Do HWT Associates sign an NDA? Non-disclosure agreement as part of their involvement?
5c) Are associates financially compensated for their contributions? if so can you elaborate on the associated costs?

6) PCVE Quals (Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism)
6a) Do any of the HWT staff or associates possess qualifications in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE)?
6b) If not have HWT engaged with someone who is qualified?

7) Involvement of Postdoctoral People (for example Emma Rakete and Kyle Matthews) and Costs and Overseas Conferences and Travel**
7a) Are there are post-doctoral researchers with HWT? (similar to the question below but extends beyond these two)
7b) Does HWT engage with researchers beyond PhD students, such as recent graduates like Ms. Emma Rakete and Mr. Kyle Matthews? If so, could you clarify the nature of their involvement with the program?
7c) Were these opportunities for Ms. Rakete and Mr. Matthews publicly advertised?
7d) Does HWT fund overseas conferences and travel for its staff, associates, or collaborating researchers? If so, could you provide details on the associated costs, the expected outputs or deliverables resulting from this travel/research/projects, and the selection process for such funding?

8) Security Oversight
8a) Could you describe the oversight mechanisms in place to ensure HWT's research focus aligns with or is at least learning about national security priorities? terrorism
8b) Do any staff have experience in Security, Defence or Policing ?
8c) Are the students provided access to security scholars/experts?

9) Financial Audit
9a) Has there been a check and balance on spending at HWT this year? If so, when?
9b) Can HWT still meet its objective to fund PHD and Masters? Or is it restricted due to the costs related to the above matters?

Response 8: From HWT website the Crime Media Culture Journal is being managed by one of Victoria's Professors outside of HWT so that won't be cheap and not just a clerical role or research assistant. Victoria will get the benefit of this engagement it is disingenuous to frame it otherwise.

Given the words "independent research center" were in the recommendation from the Royal Commission, the situation certainly does not appear to match that at the current time. The contradictions in Victoria's role in the recent responses might get clarified by the full response. The university certainly received a substantial amount of money to host the group.: The University received $1,325,000 from the Trust in 2023 and $1,325,000 in 2024 to fund the activities of the Centre. The University also received $482,000 directly from DPMC in 2022 to fund the Centre"

Again, I appreciate your time but if the questions had been answered I would not be in the position of rewriting this and providing a second opportunity to respond.

Yours sincerely,

Catherine

Yours sincerely,

WGJ