Thank you for contacting Hon. Penny Simmonds, Member of Parliament for
Invercargill, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Minister for
Tertiary Education and Associate Minister for Social Development &
Employment.
The Minister considers all correspondence important, however, as she
receives a large amount of correspondence, it is not always possible to
provide a personal response.
Please note the following guidelines:

* If you are an Invercargill constituent contacting the Minister about
an issue, then your email will be passed to her electorate office.
* Invitations and requests to meet with the Minister will be considered
and a staff member will be in touch with you in due course.
* Requests for official information will be managed in accordance with
provisions of the Official Information Act 1982, which may include a
transfer to a more relevant Minister or agency.
* If your email falls outside of the Minister's portfolio
responsibilities, expresses a personal view, or is copied to multiple
Members of Parliament, then your opinion will be noted and your
correspondence may be transferred to another office, or there may be
no further response to you.

Thank you once again for taking the time to write; it is very much
appreciated.
The Office of Hon. Penny Simmonds
(Please note that this acknowledgement is an automatically generated
email.)

Good afternoon John,

Thank you for your email in which you submitted an Official Information Act request as follows:

"May I ask how you called for public nomination and on what platform you have call for public nominations e.g. govt.jobs website. A copy of your ad as well and pay rate. Also, how many applications you have received for each of the role from the public and how many you have received from other nominating agencies such as TPK or Ministry of women etc for your role. How many you have shortlisted and how many you have interviewed.

Also, can I request to view the appointment letter if there is one sent to the Michelle Elizabeth Findlater. I am happy for you to remove any relevant personal information.

Besides meeting fees, do they receive any other benefits, such as expense reimbursement (If so, may I request to view your expense reimbursement policy in relation to your board member), a laptop, ID card, phone, or similar provisions?"

Minister Simmonds is considering your request in accordance with the Act, and you can expect a response by 11 June 2026.

Kind regards,

 
Office of Hon Penny Simmonds 
Minister for Tertiary Education | Science, Innovation & Technology
Associate Minister for Social Development & Employment

Parliament Buildings
Wellington

Authorised by Hon Penny Simmonds, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

show quoted sections

Kia ora John,

 

Thank you for your request for official information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Office of Hon Penny Simmonds. You
requested:

 

“I noted, Appointment to the Board of the Tertiary Education Commission

 

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://gaze...

 

May I ask how you called for public nomination and on what platform you
have call for public nominations e.g. govt.jobs website. A copy of your ad
as well and pay rate. Also, how many applications you have received for
each of the role from the public and how many you have received from other
nominating agencies such as TPK or Ministry of women etc for your role.
How many you have shortlisted and how many you have interviewed.

 

Also, can I request to view the appointment letter if there is one sent to
the Michelle Elizabeth Findlater. I am happy for you to remove any
relevant personal information.

 

Besides meeting fees, do they receive any other benefits, such as expense
reimbursement (If so, may I request to view your expense reimbursement
policy in relation to your board member), a laptop, ID card, phone, or
similar provisions?”

 

This information is more closely connected to the functions of the
Ministry of Education. Under section 14 of the Act, we have therefore
transferred your request to the Ministry of Education and you can expect
to hear further from them in due course.

 

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: [1][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602. 

 

Ngā mihi

 

Office of Hon Penny Simmonds

Minister for Tertiary Education

Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology

Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment
Email: [email address]

Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

 

 

show quoted sections

[UNCLASSIFIED]

Kia ora John

 

Thank you for the information request below, that was transferred to the
Ministry on 14 May 2026. The Ministry will consider and respond to your
request in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982 the Act).

 

Under section 15(1) of the Act, we are required to make and inform you of
our decision on your request as soon as reasonably practicable and in any
case not later than 20 working days after the day on which your request is
received. You can therefore expect to receive our decision on your request
on or before 12 June 2026. If more than 20 working days are needed due to
the potential workload and/or consultations involved in answering your
request, we will notify you accordingly.

 

The Ministry may publicly release on our website the response to your
request five days after you have received it. Any personal information
will be removed.

 

In the interim, if you have any questions about your request, please email
[1][email address]

 

Ngā mihi

 

Enquiries National Team | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of
Education | TW

[2]education.govt.nz

We shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent
outcomes
He mea tārai e mātou te mātauranga kia rangatira ai, kia mana taurite ai
ōna huanga

 

 

 

From: Penny Simmonds (MIN) <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, 14 May 2026 12:57 pm
To: [FOI #34692 email]
Cc: Ministerial Requests <[email address]>; Emma
Drysdale <[email address]>
Subject: FW: Official Information request - Appointment to the Board of
the Tertiary Education Commission

 

Kia ora John,

 

Thank you for your request for official information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Office of Hon Penny Simmonds. You
requested:

 

“I noted, Appointment to the Board of the Tertiary Education Commission

 

[3]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://gaze...

 

May I ask how you called for public nomination and on what platform you
have call for public nominations e.g. govt.jobs website. A copy of your ad
as well and pay rate. Also, how many applications you have received for
each of the role from the public and how many you have received from other
nominating agencies such as TPK or Ministry of women etc for your role.
How many you have shortlisted and how many you have interviewed.

 

Also, can I request to view the appointment letter if there is one sent to
the Michelle Elizabeth Findlater. I am happy for you to remove any
relevant personal information.

 

Besides meeting fees, do they receive any other benefits, such as expense
reimbursement (If so, may I request to view your expense reimbursement
policy in relation to your board member), a laptop, ID card, phone, or
similar provisions?”

 

This information is more closely connected to the functions of the
Ministry of Education. Under section 14 of the Act, we have therefore
transferred your request to the Ministry of Education and you can expect
to hear further from them in due course.

 

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: [4][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602. 

 

Ngā mihi

 

Office of Hon Penny Simmonds

Minister for Tertiary Education

Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology

Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment
Email: [5][email address]

Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

 

 

show quoted sections