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15/12/2025
Adriana van Altvorst
[FYI request #32866 email]
Tēnā koe Adriana
OIA: GEMS-45750 - Ministry supplier conflicts of interest
Thank you for your emails via the FYI website of 15 November 2025 and 17 November 2025 to the
Ministry of Education (the Ministry) requesting the following information:
1. Supplier Conflict of Interest Policy:
•
Please provide a copy of the Ministry of Education's current policy document that
outlines the management of conflicts of interest involving suppliers.
•
If the policy includes specific procedures or guidelines for identifying, declaring,
managing, or mitigating conflicts of interest, please include these as well.
•
Please also provide information on the consequences for failing to adhere to the policy,
such as non-declaration or mismanagement of conflicts.
2. Registry of Supplier Conflicts of Interest:
•
Please confirm whether the Ministry maintains a registry of conflicts of interest for
suppliers.
•
If a registry exists, please describe the process for recording and updating conflict of
interest declarations.
•
Please specify the types of information that are recorded in the registry for each
declared conflict.
•
Please clarify who has access to the registry (e.g., Ministry staff, the public) and how
access is controlled.
3. Supplier Information:
•
Please provide a list of the names of companies currently registered on the registry of
conflicts of interest that have active contracts with the Ministry valued at over $30,000.
•
For each company listed, please include the date the conflict of interest was registered
and a brief description of the nature of the conflict.
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
In response to
part one of your request, the Ministry has a Conflict of Interest policy that is in line
with Public Service Commission guidance and covers conflicts including those with suppliers, we
provide a link to this guidance below:
https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/assets/DirectoryFile/Conflicts-of-interest-model-standards.pdf.
Wellington National Office, 1 The Terrace, Levels 5 to 14, Wellington 6011
PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140, DX SR51201 Phone: +64 4 463 8000
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The Ministry does not currently have a standalone Supplier Conflict of Interest Policy. This will be
captured once the Ministry’s Supplier Code of Conduct is approved. We anticipate that the
Ministry’s Supplier Code of Conduct wil be published and available on the Ministry’s website by
early 2026.
As such, I am refusing this part of your request under section 18(e) of the Act, as the information
does not yet exist. However, the Ministry’s RFx Response Form template contains a Conflict of
Interest Declaration section that is completed by suppliers. I am providing an extract of this as
Annex A below.
In response to
part two and three of your request, the Ministry does not maintain a registry of
conflicts of interest for suppliers. I am therefore refusing the subpart of your request for a list of
companies under section 18(e) of the Act, as above.
Please note, we may publish this response on our website after five working days. Your name and
contact details wil be removed.
Thank you again for your email. You have the right to ask an Ombudsman to review my decision
on your request, in accordance with section 28 of the Act. You can do this by writing to
[email address] or to Office of the Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.
Nāku noa, nā
Aditi Cook
Chief Procurement Officer
Te Pou Rangatōpū | Corporate
REF: GEMS-45750
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Annex A:
REF: GEMS-45750
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