What consulting companies is Auckland Uni working with and how much are the companies being paid?
Samuel Mehr made this Official Information request to University of Auckland
The request was partially successful.
From: Samuel Mehr
Dear University of Auckland,
Could you please provide a list of contracts the University entered into, in 2024 and 2025, with external consulting firms; the topic of the work undertaken (e.g., strategic planning); and the total cost of each contract to the University?
The companies could include, for example, Nous Group, McKinsey, PwC, Deloitte, and any other firms commonly referred to as "consultancies" or "consulting companies".
Yours faithfully,
Samuel Mehr
From: Landon Watt
University of Auckland
Dear Samuel,
As consultations necessary to make a decision on your request are such
that a response cannot reasonably be given within the original time limit,
the University has extended the time limit for your request until 11
November 2025 under section 15A(1)(b) of the OIA. We will respond to your
request as soon as reasonably practicable.
You have the right to make a complaint to an Ombudsman if you are
dissatisfied with this extension.
Yours sincerely,
Landon Watt
Legal Advisor
Office of the Vice-Chancellor
Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland
show quoted sections
From: Landon Watt
University of Auckland
Dear Samuel,
I refer to your request of 15 September 2025.I apologise for the delay in
the University's response. The University’s response follows.
“Could you please provide a list of contracts the University entered into,
in 2024 and 2025, with external consulting firms; the topic of the work
undertaken (e.g., strategic planning); and the total cost of each contract
to the University”
We cannot provide all the information requested without substantial
collation or research. The official information held by the University
which we can provide without substantial collation or research is as
follows:
Supplier Currency 2024 2025 Total Nature of work
payments payments (2024–2025)
Multidisciplinary
consulting
PWC services
Consulting including
New NZD 414,466.77 199,427.25 613,894.02 strategy, digital
Zealand LP transformation,
technology, and
organisational
change advisory.
Strategic design
Nous Group and performance,
Pty NZD 169174.74 304627.97 473802.71 and
Limited transformation
services.
Insights Organisational
Catalyst AUD 9(2)(b)(ii) 9(2)(b)(ii) design and
Advisory strategy
Pty Ltd development.
The information provided above is not complete and we do not warrant its
accuracy - in particular, the descriptions in “nature of work” are
indicative only. Detailed and accurate financial information is provided
in the financial statements included in the University’s Annual Reports.
The University’s response constitutes a partial refusal of your request
under section 18(f) of the OIA. Further, the information requested for
Insights Catalyst Advisory Pty Ltd is withheld under section 9(2)(b)(ii)
to protect information where the making available of the information would
be likely unreasonably to prejudice their commercial position. You have
the right to make a complaint to an Ombudsman if you are dissatisfied with
the University’s response.
Yours sincerely,
Landon Watt
Legal Advisor
Office of the Vice-Chancellor
Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland
show quoted sections
From: Samuel Mehr
Dear Landon Watt,
Thank you for your reply!
Yours sincerely,
Samuel Mehr
Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence (note: this contains the same information already available above).

