Dear Sarah

I acknowledge receipt of two requests for information.

The University will respond in due course.

Yours sincerely

Rebecca Ewert
General Counsel
The University of Auckland

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Dear Ms Allison

The University’s response to your requests for information are inserted under each request.

- Has the University of Auckland purchased any Koru club (or other similar airline lounge programme) memberships for any of the following University staff over the past three years: the Vice Chancellor, any of the Deputy Vice Chancellors, any of the Pro Vice Chancellors? If yes, what was the quantity and total expenditure broken down by year?

No.

- Has the University of Auckland commissioned any portraits or official photographs any of the following University staff over the past three years: the Vice Chancellor, any of the Deputy Vice Chancellors, any of the Pro Vice Chancellors? If yes, what was the quantity and total expenditure broken down by year?

No portraits or official photographs have been commissioned for the Vice Chancellor, any of the Deputy Vice Chancellors, or any of the Pro Vice Chancellors over the past three years. Photographs have been taken for use in various reports, websites, and marketing materials.

- Has the University of Auckland supplied on loan any works of art owned by the University of Auckland to the Vice Chancellor, any of the Deputy Vice Chancellors, any of the Pro Vice Chancellors? If yes, what is the name of the work of art and where was it located when on loan?

No.

- Has the University of Auckland purchased any Northern Club memberships for any of the following University staff at any time over the past three years: the Vice Chancellor, any of the Deputy Vice Chancellors, any of the Pro Vice Chancellors, any of the Deans? If yes, what was the quantity and total expenditure broken down by year?

Yes, the University purchased Northern Club memberships for the Vice Chancellor and the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Strategic Engagement) in 2015, 2016, and 2017 to be used for University business. The University’s total expenditure per year for these memberships was as follows: 2015 - $1,460.87; 2016 - $1,996.52; 2017 - $1,544.33.

- Does the University of Auckland pay a living wage, calculated at $20.55NZD per hour, for all of its staff and contractors (including cleaners)?

The University does not pay all of its staff $20.55/hour or higher. The University does not pay the wages of contractors’ employees.

Unfortunately it will not be possible to respond to the other parts of your request by today’s date, and we are accordingly extending the time limit until 4 June 2018. This extension is necessary because your request necessitates a search through a large quantity of information and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with our operations, and consultations necessary to make a decision on your request are such that a proper response cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit. You have the right to seek an investigation and review of this decision by way of a complaint to the Ombudsman.

Yours sincerely

Rebecca Ewert
General Counsel
The University of Auckland

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Dear Ms Allison

 

I refer to your request of 18 April 2018, which received a partial
response on 18 April 2018.

 

- Has the University of Auckland purchased any Northern Club memberships
for any of the following University staff at any time over the past three
years: the Vice Chancellor, any of the Deputy Vice Chancellors, any of the
Pro Vice Chancellors, any of the Deans? If yes, what was the quantity and
total expenditure broken down by year?

 

We did not completely respond to this request on 18 April. The following
is a complete response.

 

Yes, the University purchased Northern Club memberships for the following
staff over 2015-2017 for University business purposes: The Vice
Chancellor, The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Strategic Engagement), The Dean,
Faculty of Science, The Dean, Faculty of Law, The Dean, Faculty of
Engineering, and The Dean, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

 

The University’s expenditure for these memberships is difficult to break
down by year because the membership terms do not align with calendar years
and due to the timing of some membership payments. However the cost of
each membership was as follows: 1.10.14-1.10.15: $1120;  1.10.15-1.10.16:
$1120; 1.10.16-1.10.17: $1176; 1.10.17-1.10.18: $1200

 

- Has the University of Auckland funded motor vehicle transportation for
any of the following University staff over the past three years: the Vice
Chancellor, any of the Deputy Vice Chancellors, any of the Pro Vice
Chancellors? If yes, what was the quantity and total expenditure broken
down by year? Please note that motor vehicle transportation encompasses
taxis, private car hire, the supply of University vehicles, or the subsidy
or provision of vehicles for private use.

 

Yes, the University has funded car rentals for the Vice-Chancellor, the
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Engagement), the Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Academic), the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and the Pro
Vice-Chancellor (Maori) for University business over the 2015-2017 period:

 

  Number of car rentals Total car rental expenditure
2015 5 $2,495.14
2016 6 $639.62
2017 17 $2,459.98

 

None of the specified staff have been supplied University vehicles over
the 2015-2017 period. The University does not subsidise private use of
vehicles or provide vehicles for private use.

 

The information requested concerning expenditure on taxi fares would
require substantial collation or research to make available. This part of
your request is refused under s 18(f) of the OIA. Neither fixing a charge
nor extending the time limit would enable this part of your request to be
granted.

- Has the University of Auckland purchased any business class airfares for
any of the following University staff at any time over the past three
years: the Vice Chancellor, any of the Deputy Vice Chancellors, any of the
Pro Vice Chancellors or Deans?

Yes.

If yes, what was the quantity, travel destination and total expenditure
broken down by year?

The information below relates to all business class airfares purchased for
the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, and Pro Vice-Chancellors
over the 2015-2017 period.

Place of travel Year
AKL/ PVG/ SHA/ PEK/ HKG/ AKL 2015
AKL/ HKG/ PEK/SHA/PVG/ AKL 2015
AKL/ HKG/ AKL 2015
AKL/HKG/ AKL 2015
AKL/ NRT/ ITM/ NRT/ AKL 2015
AKL/ LHR/ EWR/ JFK/ SFO/ AKL 2015
AKL/SCL/AKL 2015
AKL/ Chile / AKL 2015
AKL/ London/ SING/ AKL 2015
AKL/ HKG/ TPE/ HKG/ AKL 2015
HKG/ AKL/ PEK/ HKG 2015
AKL/ CAN/ AKL 2015
AKL/ PVG/- SHA/PEK/HKG/ AKL 2015
AKL/ LHR/JFK/ SFO/ AKL 2015
AKL/ HKG/ AKL 2015
AKL/ NRT/ ITM/ HND/ GMP/- ICN/ AKL 2015
AKL/ HKG/AKL 2015
AKL/ LHR/AKL 2016
AKL/ LHR/ LCY/ ORY 2016
CDG/ SIN/ AKL 2016
CDG/ DOH/ AUH 2016
AKL/ SIN/ PEK/ HKG/ AKL 2016
SIN/ BWN/ HKG 2016
AKL/HKG/ AKL 2016
AKL/IAH/DCA/IAH/ AKL 2016
AKL/SIN/ KL/SIN/ AKL 2016
AKL/LHR/-ZRH/LHR/AKL 2016
AKL/SIN/CEB/SIN/AKL 2016
AKL/HKG/KMG/HKG/ AKL 2016
AKL/SIN/AKL 2016
AKL/ HKG/ AKL 2016
AKL/ SIN/ KL/ SIN/ AKL 2016
AKL/SFO/JFK/BOS/LHR/AKL 2016
AKL/SIN/LHR/BRU/IAD/SFO/ AKL 2016
AKL/ DUB/LHR/ DUB/AKL 2017
Shanghai / SFO 2017
AKL/ Shanghai, SFO/ AKL 2017
AKL/ Shanghai, SFO/ AKL 2017
AKL/ PEK/ Nanjing/ HKG/ AKL 2017
AKL/DXB/DUB/LHR/ DXB/AKL 2017
AKL/ SIN/ KL/ SIN/ AKL 2017
Kaohsiung- HKG- Beijing 2017
Beijing/ Hangzhou 2017
Hangzhou/ Xining 2017
Chengdu/ Shanghai 2017
Shanghai 2017
London/Glasgow/ London 2017
SIN/ Mumbai 2017
Madras/ SiN 2017
SIN/ JKt/ SIN 2017
Xian/beijing 2017
AKL/London/Seoul/tokyo/AKLD 2017
AKL/ Shanghai/ Xian, Shanghai/ AKLD 2017
Edinburgh/ Istanbul/Beijing 2017
London/ Seoul 2017
AKL/ TX/ Monterrey/AKL 2017
AKL/HKG/ Kaohsiung/ BJG/ HKG/ AKL 2017
AKL/ SIN/JKT/ SIN/AKL 2017
AKL/SIN/Mumbai, Chennai/ SIN/AKL 2017
Mumbai/ Mangalore/ Bangalore 2017
Mumbai/ Mangalore/ Mumbai/ Delhi/ Chennai 2017
AKL/SYD/SIN/SYD/AKL 2017
AKL/Vancouver/ London/ Shanghai/ AKLD 2017
MX/ TX/ Heathrow 2017
AKL/Houston/ AKL 2017
AKL/Houston/ AKL 2017
PEK/ Hangzhou 2017
Shanghai/ HKG 2017
AKL/ SEOUL/ PEK 2017
AKL/SFO/JFK/SFO/AKL 2017
AKL/ SIN/JKT/ SIN/AKL 2017
AKL/Vancouver/ Seattle/LA/AKL 2017
AKL/LA/NY/London/SING/ AKLD 2017

 

The University total expenditure on business class airfares purchased for
the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, and Pro Vice-Chancellors, by
year (in NZD, excl. GST was: 2015 - $124,460.80, 2016 – $114,069.45,

2017 – $180,669.78

 

You should note that the above costs arise primarily because of the
University’s need to build international relationships that enhance our
rankings, grow our international student numbers, stay in touch with
alumni and raise philanthropic giving to the University. In this regard
the following information is noteworthy:

 

·        International student numbers at the University have grown by
31.1% since 2014 and the associated revenues have grown from under $100m
to an expected $142m in the 2018 year. This revenue growth, although it
also comes at a cost, allows the University to lessen the impact of
falling real government funding.

·        The number of alumni with which the University has engagement has
grown from 23,000 to 75,000 in the last decade.

·        The University has raised approximately $250 million in
philanthropic giving over the last five years.

 

Providing the information requested in relation to Deans would require
substantial collation or research. This part of your request is refused
under s 18(f) of the OIA. Neither fixing a charge nor extending the time
limit would enable this part of your request to be granted.

- Has the University of Auckland paid for any hotel or similar
accommodation which exceeded a rate of $300 New Zealand Dollars at any
time over the past three years for the Vice Chancellor, any of the Deputy
Vice Chancellors, any of the Pro Vice Chancellors or Deans? If yes, what
was the name and location of the hotel or similar accommodation in
question, and what was the total expenditure broken down by year?

- Has the University of Auckland paid for any restaurant bills, on a
University credit card or through reimbursement, above $100 at any time
over the past three years for the Vice Chancellor, any of the Deputy Vice
Chancellors, any of the Pro Vice Chancellors or Deans? If so, what was the
name of the restaurant for which the expenditure was incurred and what was
the total expenditure?

Providing the information requested for the two requests above would
require substantial collation or research. These parts of your request are
refused under s 18(f) of the OIA. Neither fixing a charge nor extending
the time limit would enable this part of your request to be granted.

 

You have the right to seek an investigation and review of this response by
way of a complaint to an Ombudsman.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Rebecca Ewert

General Counsel

The University of Auckland