SROIA 161 response letter.pdf

Office of Hon Dr Shane Reti
Minister of Science,  Innovation and Technology
Minister for Universities
Minister of Statistics
Minister for Pacific Peoples
3 March 2026
Julian Jackson
fyi-request-33338-6d7 d54d6@req uests. fyi. org. nz
Ref: SROIA-161
Tena koe Julian
As you are aware, on 2 February 2026 the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
(DPMC) partially transferred the below sections of your 20 December 2025 Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act) to this Office:
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:
- The total allocated budget (including any revisions) for the group's operations for
the 2023124 and 2024/25 financial years;
- 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;
- Copies of any Cabinet papers,  funding approvals,  or internal budgeting documents
authorizing the group's financial resourcing.
In response to part 1 of your request and as outlined in the DPMC's response, the Ministerial
Advisory Groups Minister Reti is responsible for are the Prime Minister's Science, Innovation
and Technology Advisory Council (PMSITAC), the University Strategy Group, the Science
System Advisory Group, and the University Advisory Group.
Science System Advisory Group and Prime Minister's Science and Technology
Advisory Council
Information about the Science System Advisory Group (SSAG) Terms of Reference (ToRs)
can be accessed via https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/science-and
innovation/refocusing-the-science-innovation-and-technology-system/science-system
advisory-group/tor and members can be accessed via https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science
and-technology/science-and-innovation/refocusing-the-science-innovation-and-technology
system/science-system-advisory-group/advisory-group-members.
Information about the PMSITAC ToRs and members can be accessed via
https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/science-and-innovation/refocusing-the
science-innovation-and-technology-system/advisory-council.
I am therefore refusing this part of your request under section 18(d) of the Act, as the
information requested is publicly available.
In response to part 2 of your request, please see the requested information in the tables
below. Please note that all listed amounts are GST  inclusive.
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand  I  +64 4 817 6803  I  [email address]

Costs
incurred
across
2023/24
Payments/  Personnel
Communication
Flights and
TOTAL
and
Honoraria
(Secretariat)  and incidentals
accommodation
l2024/25
financial
years
SSAG
$191,628
$282,499
$36,125
$78,879
$478,879
Costs
incurred
Administrative
across
Payments/
Catering
Venue
Flight and
and
TOTAL
2024/25
Honoraria
Costs
Accommodation  Secretariat
financial
Support
year
PMSITAC  $0.00
$734.97
$0.00
$2,445.34
$0.00
$3,180.31
Please note that PMSITAC did not exist in 2023/24 financial year and the work of the SSAG
has now concluded.
In response to part 2 of your request for copies of any Cabinet papers, funding approvals,
or internal budgeting documents authorising the group's financial resourcing, please see
the attached Annex for MBIE SSAG procurement plans.
I refusing the part relating to PMSITAC budget under s 18( d) of the Act as the information is
publicly available. PMSITAC has a standalone appropriation and funding amounts are
therefore available in Estimates documents here:
https://budget.govt.nz/budget/pdfs/suppestimates/suppest25buscin.pdf
University Advisory Group
The Terms of Reference for the University Advisory Group are publicly available here:
https://web-assets.education.govt.nz/s3fs-public/2025-
07/University%20Advisory%20Group%20Terms%20of%20Reference.pdf?Versionld=kmlqPI
jlQ9pgevJbg7WXsI9OM7TTVhGE
As such, I am refusing this aspect of your request under section 1 B(d) of the Act, as the
information is publicly available.
Regarding part 2 a and c, I am releasing some internal budgeting documents containing two
email threads, a memo and a proposed approach for discussion dated 17 May 2024 in the
attached Annex. Please refer to the Document Table for my decision on release.
You can find the relevant Cabinet Paper published at
https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/28379-the-science-system-advisory-group-and-the
university-advisory-group-proactiverelease-pdf and as such I am refusing this aspect of your
request under section 18(d) of the Act, as above.
The breakdown of total expenditure you have requested in part 2 b is publicly available at
https://web-assets.education.govt. nz/s3fs-public/2025-11 /OIA %201351681 %20-
%20Response  Redacted.pdf?Versionld=kGy  rl 17Do3FTx78OdFh0ZOnpUQqEHKj
As such, I am refusing this aspect of your request under section 18( d) of the Act, as above.

University Strategy Group
Regarding part one of your request,  I am releasing the Terms of Reference for the
University Strategy Group in full in the attached Annex. There is nothing further in scope of
part two of your request because the group was established in October 2025.  I am therefore
refusing this aspect of your request under section 18( e) of the Act as the information
requested does not exist.
I have identified relevant documents as outlined in the Document table below along with my
decision on their release.
Document table for Annex
#
Date
Description/Title
Decision
Memo - Procurement Plan for the Science System
Released in full
1  7 March
Advisory Group - Secretariat function
2024
7 March
Attachment:  MBIE Procurement Plan - Science
Released in full
2  2024
System Advisory - Group - Secretariat Function
Released  in part.
Information has been
17 May
withheld under section
3  2024
Email exchange: Budget and secretariat discussion  9(2)(a) of the Act.
Some information is out-
of-scope
17 May
Released in full
4
MEMO: Arrangements for member fees
2024
17 May
Document:  UAG budget - proposed approach for
Released in full
5  2024
discussion 17 /5/24
Copies of these five documents are enclosed with this response.
I trust you will find this information useful.
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Senior Ministerial Advisor