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3/03/2026
Julian Jackson
[FYI request #33338 email]
Tēnā koe Julian
OIA: GEMS-46719 – Early Childhood Education (ECE) Funding Review Ministerial Advisory
Group (MAG)
Thank you for your email of 20 December 2025 to the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet (DPMC) requesting the following information:
Regarding ministerial advisory groups established since the formation of the current
coalition government (National, ACT, and New Zealand First) following the 2023 general
election:
1. A complete list of all ministerial advisory groups formed since 27 November 2023,
including their official titles, responsible ministers, and terms of reference.
2. For each such group, please provide:
a) The total allocated budget (including any revisions) for the group’s operations for the
2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.
b) A breakdown and the totals of actual expenditures to date, including but not limited to:
payments or honoraria to members, catering and venue costs, administrative or
secretariat support, travel and accommodation, and any other operational expenses;
c) Copies of any Cabinet papers, funding approvals, or internal budgeting documents
authorizing the group’s financial resourcing.
This request follows recent public reports indicating significant spending by some advisory
groups—for example, nearly $24,000 on catering for meetings of the Ministerial Advisory
Group for victims of retail crime—and growing public interest in transparency around such
expenditures
As you are aware, your request was been partially transferred to relevant Ministers. Because
Minister Seymour holds the Early Education portfolio, your request was sent to his office on 2
February 2026 and subsequently transferred to the Ministry of Education on 4 February 2026. The
information request is related to the
Eearly Childhood Education Funding Review Ministerial
Advisory Group:
1. Terms of reference for the Early Childhood Education Funding Review Ministerial
Advisory Group.
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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2. For each such group, please provide:
a) The total allocated budget (including any revisions) for the group’s operations for the
2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.
b) A breakdown and the totals of actual expenditures to date, including but not limited to:
payments or honoraria to members, catering and venue costs, administrative or
secretariat support, travel and accommodation, and any other operational expenses;
c) Copies of any Cabinet papers, funding approvals, or internal budgeting documents
authorizing the group’s financial resourcing.
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
The Ministry needs to extend the timeframe for responding to your request, pursuant to section
15A(1)(b) of the Act, as consultations necessary to make a decision on the request are such that a
proper response cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit. You can now expect to
receive a response to your request on or before 2 April 2026, which is an extension of 20 working
days.
You have the right to ask an Ombudsman to investigate our decision to extend the timeframe for
responding to this request, in accordance with section 28 of the Act. You can do this by writing to
[email address] or Office of the Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.
Nāku noa, nā
Angus Maxim
Senior Advisor Official and Parliamentary Information
Government, Executive and Ministerial Services
OIA: GEMS-46719
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