28 May 2020
John Luke
[FYI request #12635 email]
Dear John
Thank you for your email of 16 April 2020 to the Ministry of Education requesting the following
information:
“…I would like to know how many Ministerial Advisory Groups you currently have, and
their current member's name and bio, how much fees they been paid and what is their
current term expired. How you previously call for nomination for these groups, e.g. has
that been advertised on jobs.govt.nz or any other platform, term of references of these
groups.”
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
Answers to your questions have been provided in the table attached as
Appendix One. The
Terms of Reference for the NCEA Review Professional Advisory Group referenced in the table
are attached as
Appendix Two.
Some information has been withheld under section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the Act to maintain the
constitutional conventions for the time being which protect the confidentiality of advice
tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials.
As required under section 9(1) of the Act, I have had regard to the public interest
considerations favouring the release of the information withheld. I do not consider the public
interest considerations favouring the release of this information are sufficient to outweigh the
need to withhold it as this time.
We have interpreted “Ministerial Advisory Group” (MAG) as a group appointed by the Minister
of Education or Associate Minister(s) of Education to provide them advice on defined issues.
You can find more information about this type of group on the State Service Commission’s
website:
https://ssc.govt.nz/assets/SSC-Site-Assets/MOG/MOG-Supp-guidance-note-ministerial-
advisory-committees.pdf
Any fees paid to members of the MAGs are set in accordance with the Cabinet Fees
Framework. One of the provisions in the Framework relates to the appointment of public sector
employees and the grounds for retention of fees or their ordinary salary. The Cabinet Fees
Framework is publically available on the State Services Commission Website:
https://ssc.govt.nz/our-work/fees/
OIA: 1226057
National Of ice, Mātauranga House, 33 Bowen Street, Wellington 6011
PO Box 1666, Wel ington 6140. Phone: +64 4 463 8000 Fax: +64 4 463 8001
education.govt.nz
Fees paid to individual members wil take account of their specific circumstances and eligibility,
as well as factors including: the number of meetings attended, hours provided and their public
sector employee status.
Please note, the Ministry now proactively publishes OIA responses on our website. As such,
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 this
decision. You can do this by writing t
o [email address] or Office of the
Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.
Yours sincerely
Emily Fabling
Deputy Secretary
Strategy, Planning and Governance
education.govt.nz
1226057: Appendix One – Answers to questions
Current Ministerial
Current member's names and
Fees paid (as at 16 April 2020)
What is their current term
Nomination for these groups, e.g. has Terms of Reference
Advisory Groups
bios
that been advertised on jobs.govt.nz
(ToR)
or any other platform
NCEA Review
The NCEA Review PAG members’ In line with the Cabinet Fees
The original term ran from 1
The Ministry sought nominations for the Refer to
Appendix Two
Professional Advisory information is publically available at: Framework the NCEA Review PAG is
September 2018 until 31
group from peak bodies including the
Group (PAG) –
classified as a Group 4, Level 2 body. August 2019.
New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’
Association (PPTA), the New Zealand
https:/ conversation.education.govt. The daily rate for the Chair is $680 and This was extended for a further Secondary Principals’ Council (SPC),
nz/conversations/ncea-
$480 for members.
year commencing on 01
the Secondary Principals’ Association of
review/background/advisory-
October 2019, finishing on 30
New Zealand (SPANZ), Te Runanga Nui
groups/pag/
The Chair was appointed 01
September 2020. The Terms of o Ngā kura kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa
September 2018 and as at 16 April
Reference (ToR) has been
(TRN) and Ngā Kura ā-Iwi o Aotearoa
2020 has been paid $27,050.
updated and is attached as
(NKAI).
Appendix Two.
Al other members met the public
sector employee conditions set out in
the Cabinet Fees Framework and
received their salary rather than the
membership fee. As such no fees have
been paid to the members.
Te Taumata Aronui
Te Taumata Aronui members’
In line with the Cabinet Fees
For those members who have
A direct call for nominations was made
Te Taumata Aronui’s ToR
information is publically available at: Framework Te Taumata Aronui is
been appointed on the basis of by the Ministry of Education to key iwi
are being finalised and
classified as a Group 4, Level 2 body. their experience in Māori
and Māori social and economic
have yet to be provided to
https:/ www.beehive.govt.nz/release
community and iwi
development organisations. Information the Minister for approval. I
/maori-voice-help-shape-tertiary-
The daily rate for the Chair is $885 and development experience, their about this process is publically available am therefore withholding
education
$560 for members. Fees are placed at terms wil expire at the end of
at:
the ToR in full under
the higher end of the range set out in
2022. For those members who
section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the
the Framework to reflect the complexity have been appointed on the
https:/ www.beehive.govt.nz/release/m% Act, to maintain the
and breadth of scope of this group.
basis of their experience in
C4%81ori-community-and-employer-
constitutional conventions
industry, their terms wil expire
perspectives-tertiary-education-
for the time being which
As at 16 April 2020 no invoices for fees at the end of 2021
.
%E2%80%93-call-nominations
protect the confidentiality
had been processed and no payments
of advice tendered by
have been made.
Ministers of the Crown
and officials.
Once the ToR has been
approved it wil be
publically available on the
Ministry’s website.
OIA: 1226057
National Of ice, Mātauranga House, 33 Bowen Street, Wellington 6011
PO Box 1666, Wel ington 6140. Phone: +64 4 463 8000 Fax: +64 4 463 8001
education.govt.nz
Current Ministerial
Current member's names and
Fees paid (as at 16 April 2020)
What is their current term
Nomination for these groups, e.g. has Terms of Reference
Advisory Groups
bios
that been advertised on jobs.govt.nz
(ToR)
or any other platform
Ministerial Youth
The YAG members’ information is
In line with the Cabinet Fees
Terms expire at the end of
A public call for registrations of interest
The YAG Terms of
Advisory Group (YAG) publically available at:
Framework the YAG is classified as a
each calendar year.
are posted on the Ministry of Education
Reference are available
Group 4, Level 5 body.
and the Minster of Education’s social
at:
http:/ education.govt.nz/school/stud
The current term is 1 year.
media account, and through the
ent-support/youth-advisory-group/
The current daily rate is $200,
However, a member’s term can Ministry’s School Bulletin.
http:/ education.govt.nz/sc
meetings are held over two days, four
be extended at the discretion
hool/student-
times a year. As at 16 April 2020
of the Minister.
support/youth-advisory-
current members have been paid a
group/terms-of-reference/
total of $12,000. Note the current
members were appointed to the group
at different times and so their time in
role will vary.
education.govt.nz
Appendix Two
Terms of Reference for the Professional Advisory Group
Review of NCEA Professional Advisory Group - Terms of Reference
The Role and Purpose of the Professional Advisory Group
The Minister of Education is reappointing the NCEA Review Professional Advisory Group (PAG) to
advise the Ministry and Minister of Education in relation to the NCEA review, especially around
implementing the changes. They are a group of current and former secondary principals and teachers,
providing sector expertise to the NCEA Review. Members are serving in their capacity as individuals
with sector knowledge and expertise, not as representatives or any group or body.
The PAG’s role in the review is subject to the NCEA Review Terms of Reference which sets the scope
of the review and the timeline and milestones.
The PAG wil provide advice and guidance to the Ministry of Education on the implementation of the
NCEA review. The PAG will fulfil two functions:
• A source of advice for the Minister of Education;
• A critical friend and advisor to the Ministry of Education.
Functions of the PAG
Advisors to the Minister of Education
A function of the PAG is to advise the Ministry and Minister of Education on the NCEA review
implementation.
The PAG wil provide independent advice to the Minister relating to the review of NCEA, at the
Minister’s request. This may include:
• Advice on the implementation of the NCEA change package
the Official Information Act 1982
• Comments on advice provided to the Minister by the Ministry of Education or other agencies
on NCEA in regards to implementing the changes.
Advice of the actual NCEA change package is not included in the scope of this work, as this was
completed in early 2019.
The Minister of Education may engage directly with the PAG and the Chair may also engage directly
with the Minister; but typically, the PAG’s advice wil be provided through the Ministry of Education as
intermediary at the Minister of Education’s request.
Advisors to the Ministry of Education
Released under
As part of their role advising the Minister of Education, the Minister has asked that the PAG to provide
support and advice to the Ministry of Education to deliver the implementation of NCEA review.
The Ministry of Education, through the Deputy Secretary, Early Learning and Student Achievement,
may ask the PAG to provide support and advice by:
• Reviewing the Ministry’s Implementation Plan for NCEA, and provide advice on whether it wil
meet the needs of our schooling sector;
• Test the Ministry’s thinking around design and implementation;
• Act as a critical friend to the Ministry.
The PAG wil work to support the Ministry to understand the perspectives of members of the teaching
profession, and wil test the Ministry’s implementation advice. This wil not compromise the PAG’s
right to provide the Minister with independent advice on NCEA and / or the Ministry’s
recommendations.
Membership
The members of the PAG wil be appointed by the Minister of Education. The initial term of
appointment was for one year from 1 September 2018 until 31 August 2019. The PAG will be
reappointed and their new term wil commence on 01 October 2019 for one year. The Group wil
comprise up to ten paid members who are current and past secondary teachers and principals – one
of whom wil chair the PAG.
Chair
The Chair wil lead meetings of the PAG, unless otherwise directed by the Office of the Minister of
Education, or otherwise agreed.
The Chair may also engage directly with the Minister of Education on behalf of the PAG.
Confirmation
Members of the PAG (including the Chair) are approved by the Appointment and Honours Commit ee.
Members of the PAG affirm that they have provided all relevant and / or requested information relevant
to the approval process, and that all information disclosed is true and accurate to the best of the
the Official Information Act 1982
knowledge of the PAG members.
Fees
Fees for members of the Group have been assessed in accordance with the Cabinet Fees
Framework, according to Cabinet Office Circular (19)1. The Group has been classified as a Group 4,
Level 2 body.
Based on this, the chair of the PAG wil receive a per diem of
$680. Members of the PAG wil receive
a per diem of
$480.
In addition, members wil be reimbursed for actual and reasonable travel, meal and accommodation
costs.
Released under
In line with the Fees Framework, members of the PAG who are currently employed by a Board of
Trustees, or by any government agency, organisation, or body, or any local authority as defined under
section 5(1) of the Local Government Act 2005, must not receive both their ordinary pay and their
fees for acting on the PAG if they discharge PAG duties during usual working hours. Where this
applies, in the case of current teachers, the member wil receive their ordinary salary only, and in
addition, funding for teacher release wil be paid to their school. In the case of current principals, the
member wil receive their ordinary salary only.
Secretariat
Secretariat services for the PAG wil be provided by the Ministry of Education.
Media
The PAG, and PAG members acting in that capacity, wil not make media statements without the prior
agreement of the Chair or the Minister of Education.
If the PAG are asked to provide comment on any issue relating to education by a third party (i.e.,
other than the Minister of Education or Ministry of Education), that PAG member wil forward the
question or request to the Chair, the Office of the Minister of Education, and to the Ministry of
Education through the NCEA review mailbox
([email address]).
Meetings
Meetings of the PAG wil ordinarily be held in Wellington. The PAG wil meet up to two further times
in 2019, with further discussion about meetings in 2020 following the provision of the implementation
advice to the Minister. PAG members are expected to attend PAG meetings wherever reasonably
possible. The PAG wil meet when requested by the Minister of Education, in consultation between
the Chair and the Ministry of Education, or at the discretion of the Chair.
The PAG wil aim to achieve a consensus on the issues it considers, but is not required to do so.
The Ministry of Education wil support the Chair to prepare meeting agendas where appropriate. The
agenda and papers for meetings of the PAG wil be circulated to PAG members six working days in
advance of each meeting, and draft minutes wil be circulated to PAG members no later than five
working days after each meeting.
The Ministry has a budget to operate the PAG, including travel costs. The PAG and its members wil
the Official Information Act 1982
not have an independent budget.
Contestability of advice
The PAG and the Ministry of Education wil provide advice to the Minister of Education on the NCEA
review in good faith and with regards to the interests of the other. Where appropriate, the PAG and
Ministry of Education wil provide the other with copies of relevant advice provided to the Minister.
Conflicts of interest
As part of the Appointment and Honours Committee appointment process, the members of the PAG
have disclosed conflicts of interest relating to the PAG and the NCEA review.
Released under
Members of the PAG who have a specific, real conflict of interest in relation to an issue or item wil
recuse themselves from consideration of those issues or items.
If members of the PAG develop new, relevant conflicts of interest, whether real, potential or perceived,
in the course of the NCEA review, they wil inform the Ministry of Education as soon as is reasonably
practicable.
Confidentiality
The work of the PAG is confidential, unless otherwise agreed by either the Minister of Education or
Ministry of Education as appropriate. Members of the PAG wil maintain this confidence, and wil not
disclose information about the operations of the PAG to any person without the above agreement.
the Official Information Act 1982
Released under
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