Level 9, 44 The Terrace
OI/17/00059
PO Box 27048
Wellington, New Zealand 6141
P +64 4 462 5200
www.tec.govt.nz
17 February 2017
J. Whyte
[FYI request #5337 email]
Dear J Whyte
Thank you for your request to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), dated 7 February
2017 asking for the following information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
“Please could you provide me with any and all relevant documentation and information
relating respectively to each of the consultation, consideration and communication phases of
the process in respect of each and every Tertiary Council member appointed by the Minister
on your advice consequent to the commencement of the new regime established under the
Education Amendment Act 2015.
Including, but not limited to:
(1) Where the member in question had served two terms already, any documents (and any
related documents) received by the TEC which provide an assessment of the skills required
and/or which provide for nominations for a new member.
(2) Detailed lists of all of the nominees for each membership position.
(3) Full documents and information detailing the decision-making process behind, and the
rationale for, the Commission's choice of nominee for consideration by the Minister.
(Please include a list of the decision-makers involved in the process for each nominee and
their respective role/s within the TEC.)
(4) The submissions proper which have been presented to the Minister for consideration.
(5) If any, all correspondence between the Minister and the Commission in relation to the
Commission's proposed appointees.”
The TEC’s website contains information about the role and responsibilities of tertiary
education institution (TEI) councils, how they are appointed, and their composition at
http://www.tec.govt.nz/teo/working-with-teos/tei/governance/ .
The TEC’s skills framework, against which applicants for Ministerial appointments to TEI
councils are assessed, can also be found here at
http://www.tec.govt.nz/teo/working-with-
teos/tei/governance/become-a-council-member/ .
The TEC’s role in making Council appointments involves seeking nominations, short-listing
suitable candidates for council membership and managing the appointment process on
behalf of the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment. Decisions relating to
the short-listing of suitable candidates are made by the Chief Executive of the TEC,
Tim Fowler.
The remainder of your request is more closely connected with the functions of the Minister
for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment. Therefore, the TEC is transferring the
remainder of your request to the Minister for a response.
The Minister will respond to the remainder of your request under the Act.
Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to complain to the Ombudsman about my
decision.
Yours sincerely
Brendan Kelly
Acting Chief Executive
Tertiary Education Commission
