Co-ordination of the all-of-government response to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020
13 December 2022: We took an independent look at what happened in 2020, to understand how resources and efforts were co-ordinated as the pandemic unfolded.
Response to letter about Rapid Antigen Tests
16 June 2022: We have replied to Chris Bishop MP about his request to investigate the Government’s purchasing and administration of Rapid Antigen Tests as part of the Covid-19 health response.
Enhancing public reporting on Covid-19 related funding and expenditure
4 May 2022: We have written to the Treasury about its continuing engagement with the Office on the Treasury’s data releases concerning the Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund.
Inquiry into the Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme
31 March 2022: Concerns were raised in the media and our Office about how the Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme (STAPP) was managed. Because of these concerns, and the amount of public money involved, we carried out an inquiry into the STAPP eligibility criteria for funding and the process for assessing funding applications.
Controller update: July to December 2021
17 March 2022: Almost all government spending for the first six months of 2021/22 has been properly authorised and was within the law. There were three instances in which the Government incurred expenditure without having the correct authority in place.
Implementation of recommendations – Preparations for the nationwide roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine
10 March 2022: This letter describes the actions that the Ministry of Health has taken to respond to the recommendations we made in our report Preparations for the nationwide roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine, and our observations on progress towards achieving equity of access to vaccinations.
Implementation of recommendations – Management of the Wage Subsidy Scheme
December 2021: This letter describes work we carried out in November 2021, following up on the implementation of the recommendations from our report, Management of the Wage Subsidy Scheme, and sets out our view of the progress that has been made.
Response to concerns about the Ministry of Health's procurement for Covid-19 saliva testing services
11 November 2021: We received concerns about the Ministry of Health's procurement for Covid-19 saliva testing services. The Rt Hon Winston Peters also wrote to our Office with similar concerns. We have replied to Rt Hon Winston Peters and written to the Ministry of Health.
Responding to Covid-19: Holding on to integrity in uncertain times
July’s Leaders Integrity Forum was held at the Government’s Auckland Policy Office for the first time. Senior Policy Advisor Kirstin Semmens lets us know what was discussed.
Preparations for the nationwide roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine
May 2021: The Covid-19 Immunisation Programme is critical to New Zealand’s response to Covid-19. This report provides an independent view on how ready the Ministry of Health and district health boards are to roll out the vaccine to the general population.
Management of the Wage Subsidy Scheme
May 2021: The Wage Subsidy Scheme is the Government's largest single area of spending in response to Covid-19. We carried out a performance audit to review how well the Government has managed the Wage Subsidy Scheme. This report is intended to provide an independent perspective to Parliament and the public and help the public sector prepare for and operate any similar schemes in the future.
Assistant Auditor-General Gareth Ellis looks at what some organisations have done to manage uncertainty a year on from Aotearoa's first lockdown. Are we looking beyond the immediate and planning for the medium and longer-terms?
Controller update: July to December 2020
30 March 2021: Most government spending for the first six months of 2020/21 has been properly authorised and was within the law. However, one of the Covid-19 initiatives has led to unappropriated spending in 2019/20 and 2020/21.
The first Leaders’ Integrity Forum for 2021 – like most of 2020 – remained focused on Covid-19. Assistant Auditor-General Melanie Webb recaps what was discussed.
Update on the Government’s Covid-19 expenditure
10 February 2021: We are continuing to pay special attention to spending on the Government's Covid-19 response.
E tuhituhi ana au ēnei kupu i roto i te wiki o te reo Māori. Kia kaha te reo! I te timata o te hui o te “Leaders Integrity Forum” mō Hepetema, ka tū, ka mihi i te reo Māori ngā tāngata katoa e huihui ana mō te korero o te rā. Tumeke.
Controller update on Government spending on Covid-19
17 September 2020: While carrying out our Controller work this year, we have been giving special attention to the Covid-19 spending. In this Update, we report on what has been approved, and what the Government has spent, on the Covid-19 response for the year ended 30 June 2020.
Our intentions: Looking at how the Wage Subsidy Scheme is managed
14 September 2020: The Government introduced a Wage Subsidy Scheme as one of its responses to Covid-19. To date, the Scheme has distributed about $13.7 billion.
Melanie Webb, our Assistant Auditor-General for the Legal, Policies, and Inquiries Group, recaps a very engaging first Leaders Integrity Forum since we were all sent home for two months...
Controller update on Government spending on Covid-19
27 July 2020: We have examined the Government’s financial records for spending approved and incurred for the 11 months ended 31 May 2020. From what we have seen, the Covid-19 spending has been correctly approved.
Auditor-General supports proposal to extend statutory reporting time frames
25 June 2020: The Auditor-General supports a proposal to amend legislation to extend the 30 June 2020 statutory reporting time frames by up to two months. This proposal depends on the legislation being passed before Parliament rises in early August.
Ministry of Health: Management of personal protective equipment in response to Covid-19
June 2020: In April 2020, we agreed with the Ministry of Health to independently review its management of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the early stages of the country’s response to Covid-19. In times of crisis, people need to have trust and confidence in the systems and arrangements set up to support them. We decided that it was important to take an independent look at how the Ministry has been managing both the national reserve of PPE and the supply of PPE during the pandemic.
Controller update on Government spending on Covid-19
11 June 2020: We have examined the Government’s financial records for spending approved and expenses incurred against these approvals for the 10 months ended 30 April 2020. From what we have seen, the Covid-19 spending approvals have been managed appropriately. We report on one area where spending has been incurred without the correct approvals.
Covid-19 might have consequences for the audit of public organisations' accountability statements, and for the messages included in their audit reports. Todd Beardsworth (Assistant Auditor-General, Audit Quality) sets out some questions for organisations to consider, and looks at how Covid-19 might affect this year's audit reports.
Controller update on Government spending on Covid-19
12 May 2020: We have examined the Government's financial records for expenditure approved and expenses incurred during March 2020. From what we have seen, the Covid-19 expenditure has been approved correctly. We have not identified any expenditure incurred during March without Parliament and Cabinet approvals.
Advice to the Epidemic Response Committee inquiry into the Government's response to Covid-19
23 April 2020: We wrote to the Epidemic Response Committee to outline the work we are planning in response to the risks and challenges posed by Covid-19.
Maintaining trust and confidence in a time of crisis
In these uncertain times, don’t forget your audit and risk committee. Sector Manager Kristin Aitken explains why...
Controller update on Government spending on Covid-19
9 April 2020: There will be an unprecedented amount of public money spent over the coming months as the Government responds to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. We will monitor the Covid-19 spending and will report to the public and Parliament about how the Government is accounting for it.
COVID-19: Important governance matters to consider
3 April 2020: The Auditor-General has written to the chief executives of a range of public agencies about important governance matters to consider during the response to the pandemic. The contents of this letter are useful matters for all chief executives and senior managers to consider.
Auditing in the context of COVID-19
25 March 2020: We’re aware that the current circumstances leave public entities unsure how they might meet their accountability obligations. The Auditor-General’s audit service providers are responding to the evolving COVID-19 situation with the best interests of our communities in mind.
