OIA GEMS 46719 Response.pdf

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24/03/2026

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 the Cabinet (DPMC) requesting the following information:
I am writing under the Official Information Act 1982 to request 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

Wel ington – National Office, PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140
Phone: +64 4 463 8000
education.govt.nz

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As you are aware parts of your request as they relate to the Early Childhood Education
Funding Review Ministerial Advisory Group were partially transferred to Minister
Seymour’s office on 2 February 2026 and subsequently transferred to the Ministry of
Education on 4 February 2026.
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
I am refusing part one of your request, as the ECE Funding Review MAG Terms of
Reference are publicly available at
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2025-
06/ECE%20Funding%20Review%27s%20Terms%20of%20Reference.pdf. As such, I
am refusing this part under section 18(d) of the Act.
The MAG did not begin their work until July 2025 and as such there was no budget
allocated for the MAG in Financal Years (FY) 2023/24 and 2024/25. In response to part 2a
of your request, please find the budget allocated for FY 2025/26, including formal revisions
through the IPET process, at the below table.

FY 2024/25
FY 2025/26
Budget
$442,000
$761,000
Revisions
($442,000 -
$442,000 - transferred from
transferred to the
2024/25 financial year
2025/26 financial
year)
Total
$0
$1,203,000

In response to part 2b of your request, please see the below table for a breakdown of
MAG costs in FY 2025/26 to the date of your request (4 Feb 2026).

Costs
FY 2024/25   FY 2025-26 YTD Actuals
Secretariat personnel (including overheads)
-
74,514
MAG member fees and incidentals
-
191,899.74
Facilitation costs
-
20,513
Travel and accommodation
-
33,004.26
Venue hire
-
11,315
Catering
-
5,152
Public consultation and engagement
-
51,340
Market research
-
35,350
Quality Assurance
-
18,370
Total
$0
$441,458

We have identified two documents in scope of part 2c of your request, noting the daily
fees and remuneration of the MAG Chair and members. Those consist of the:
education.govt.nz
OIA: GEMS-46719
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•  Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee ECE Funding Review Ministerial
Advisory Group appointments, and
•  Cabinet Business Committee Appointment to the Early Childhood Education (ECE)
funding review Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG).
I am refusing this aspect of your request under section 18(d) of the Act, as above, because
both documents are publicly available at the following links:
•  https://web-assets.education.govt.nz/s3fs-public/2026-03/Cab%20Pack%20-
%20Appointment%20to%20the%20ECE%20MAG.pdf?VersionId=LKk31ASrC4
77BxfxzbEhOU.795cjRGE6
•  https://web-assets.education.govt.nz/s3fs-public/2026-03/Cab%20Pack%20-
%20ECE%20Funding%20Review%20MAG.pdf?VersionId=pldhCziBI7raVpOz2t
jdjspZdQqfsWg6
Please note, we may publish this response on our website after five working days. Your
name and contact details will 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

John Brooker
General Manager, System, Connections and Early Learning Policy
Te Pou Kaupapahere | Policy
education.govt.nz
OIA: GEMS-46719
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