Consultant and external contractor spending on draft curriculum
Ken Robertson made this Official Information request to Ministry of Education
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From: Ken Robertson
Dear Ministry of Education,
I request the following information relating to the development of the draft curriculums for Years 0–10 as released by the Ministry of Education on 28 October 2025.
1. The total amount of money the Ministry has spent on New Zealand and overseas external consultants and contractors (e.g. curriculum writers, design experts, subject-matter experts, and external advisory groups) specifically for the work on the draft curriculums covering the learning areas and framework released on 28 October 2025 (Science, Social Sciences, Health, The Arts, Learning Languages, Technology, and the draft framework of the New Zealand Curriculum | Te Mātaiaho).
2. A breakdown of the consultant spend by curriculum area
3. Whether the Ministry has forecast or budgeted further consultant expenditure for the completion, refinement, or implementation of the new curriculum (for example through to implementation in 2027 or 2028) and, if so, the amount forecast or budgeted.
I would also note that it is standard practice for government agencies to release detailed information relating to spending on consultants and contractors relating to individual projects, for example:
DPMC releasing six years of itemised spending on consultants linked to specific projects: https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/f...
DIA releasing all their spending on consultants for the Three Waters reforms: https://fyi.org.nz/request/20641/respons...
IRD releasing six years of consultant and contractor spending: https://www.ird.govt.nz/-/media/project/...
This principle was also recently upheld by the Ombudsman too in relation to recommending KiwiRail release its spending on management consultancy services: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/556...
Yours faithfully,
Ken Robertson
From: Enquiries National
Ministry of Education
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From: Enquiries National
Ministry of Education
[IN-CONFIDENCE - RELEASE EXTERNAL]
Kia ora Ken,
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Ngā mihi,
Enquiries National Team | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of
Education | PN education.govt.nz
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outcomes He mea tārai e mātou te mātauranga kia rangatira ai, kia mana
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