Polity: The buck stops with Hekia

Written By: - Date published: 9:59 am, March 26th, 2014 - 29 comments
Categories: Hekia parata - Tags: ,

polity_square_for_lynnJust when you think that Hekia Parata couldn’t make more of a shambolic mess of the Kohanga Reo review, it turns out that she could and did. Rob Salmond at Polity (and Audrey Young of the Herald) has a look at it.

Audrey Young in your New Zealand Herald reports this morning on the shambolic way the Ernst & Young inquiry into Kohanga Reo spending was put together:

Two key players in the $90,000 Ernst & Young review of Te Kohanga Reo National Trust have contradictory views about what the terms of reference allowed the review to do.

The Ministry of Education says the terms of reference were worded with the explicit purpose of looking at the trust’s subsidiary company, Te Pataka Ohanga (TPO) and the money it got from the ministry-funded trust.

But the Ernst & Young partner who conducted the review, Grant Taylor, told the Herald he would have looked at TPO if the terms of reference had made that clear…

The terms of reference were agreed in October last year between Education Minister Hekia Parata, Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples and Te Kohanga Reo National Trust after claims of misspending were aired on Maori Television’s Native Affairs.

This is quite ridiculous.

If you can’t agree what a report was supposed to do, even after the report has / has not done it, then there has been a massive failure of communication.

The one person who was in the negotiations over the Terms of Reference and was also in possession of the Ministry of Education’s advice was Hekia Parata, the Minister of Education.

Parata also has a hard-won reputation for being terrible at communicating.

It seems pretty clear what happened here:

  1. The Ministry told Parata “make sure money that ultimately went to TPO is included in the review.”
  2. Parata told the Kohanga Reo Trust: “deliverable outcome best practice international benchmark “forensic monetary auTPOsy” consultative iterative discursive framework, OK?”
  3. The Trust said “we agree to excluding money that ended up with TPO.”

The buck for this communication failure stops at the top, with Hekia Parata.

(Cue Parata: “The buck stops [points in random direction] right over there.”)

29 comments on “Polity: The buck stops with Hekia ”

  1. Tracey 1

    Given it now appears that due to imprecise briefing it was partly a waste of time and money, perrhaps it could come out of Parata’s salary as a failure to meet her KPI and to be a p[ractical display of NACT’s mantra about “personal responsibility”?

    Has it turned out that Tata Parata is a name-sake and not a relative of Ms Parata? Tata Parata being a Director of the subsidiary company?

    • Papa Tuanuku 1.1

      Is John Key related to John Boscowan? Silly question. Learn your whakapapa

      • Tracey 1.1.1

        are you saying parata is the equivalent of a pakeha christian name not surname?

        why would i know hekia or tata’s whakapapa?

        • Papa Tuanuku 1.1.1.1

          U just made an accusation about her possibly being related to someone with the same surname, and the implication of nepotism, the highest insult to her and his whakapapa. Do some research before casting aspersions on her whakapapa

          • Tracey 1.1.1.1.1

            sorry but i wrote” Has it turned out that Tata Parata is a name-sake and not a relative of Ms Parata

            feel free to post the respective whakapapa.

            maori are not immune to fact checking. i could find the whakapapa of neither online.

  2. miravox 2

    “Parata also has a hard-won reputation for being terrible at communicating.”

    Hard won reputation? I think she nabbed that reputation pretty easily.

    • Richard Christie 2.1

      Heh.

      She’s a tireless and reliable performer for the opposition. Delivering the goods as needed and on cue in election year.
      Appreciation should be directed to Dishonest John who repeatedly endorsed her control of her portfolio.

      • Tracey 2.1.1

        and yet Ryall so far is unscathed by press microscope as are others including our PM… I don’t mind that Collins and Parata are in the gun, just intrigued at why their fuck ups and lies and obfuscations are so much more worth of the press microscope than Brownlee, Key, Ryall etc…

        • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.1

          They’re not as “important” as Key, Brownlee etc and thus can be sacrificed to cover for them.

  3. mickysavage 3

    There was one very interesting fact in the Audrey Young article. She said that a trustee had given a letter on March 17 to the Minister’s office outlining further allegations. This was after the draft report had been discussed with the trust but the day before the Parata meeting with the trust and her ill fated press conference and two days before the SFO were called in because of “new information”.

    Her own press release said:

    The Ernst and Young report released last night found the Trust’s financial controls are effective for an operation of its size and complexity but some improvements are needed around credit card returns and koha payments.

    It also found that the Trust was legitimately buying services for Kōhanga Reo from Te Pātaka Ohanga and there was no misuse of public monies in this regard.

    However, there are still concerns about Te Pataka Ohanga, including new allegations brought to the attention of Ministers. Despite assurances given by the Trust Board that it would respond to all concerns, it has not done so.

    http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/te-pataka-ohanga-referred-serious-fraud-office

    So did Parata say that the trust had been exonerated and try to shut down the story even though she knew there were new allegations made? And she is very close to misleading the public by suggesting that the new allegations occurred post report release.

    • Tracey 3.1

      It seems odd that an experienced chap like Grant Taylor would misinterpret
      “establish what, if any, public funding provided to Kohanga Reo National Trust may have been provided to Te Pataka Ohanga”?

      Did the TOR change after they left MOE and before they arrived at Mr Taylor’s OR was there a covering letter from the Minister or her Associate?

      I am no rocket scientists but if I read that I would be looking at money that went from a public source went to KRNT and then on to TPO.


      Grant Taylor
      Assurance

      Grant is a senior Assurance partner in our Wellington office and the Wellington Managing Partner. He specialises in providing pragmatic financial management and assurance related advice to clients in a variety of sectors including Private Equity, Financial Services, listed corporate and public sector entities.
      Previous experience

      Grant has been providing assurance advice for over 20 years. He specialises in working with businesses in New Zealand across a number of sectors including energy, aged care and public sector. He leads a number of our most complex audit engagements and has extensive experience providing quality assurance services to Audit Committees and senior management teams.
      Credentials

      Grant is a Member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. Grant holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration (Victoria University).
      Interests

      Grant enjoys sports including cycling.” from EY website

      “12 April 2006

      Ernst & Young Appoints Head of Government Business

      Grant Taylor


      Ernst & Young New Zealand is pleased to announce the appointment of Wellington based partner Grant Taylor as Head of Government Business.

      Grant has over 14 years experience providing assurance-related services to the public sector. Prior to joining Ernst & Young in 1994 Grant worked in the Audit Office.

      Ernst & Young Chief Executive John Judge says this appointment affirms Ernst & Young’s commitment to the public sector.

      “Grant will help to ensure that as a firm we understand issues in government in more depth and make a positive contribution to debate on those issues,” says Mr Judge.

      Ernst & Young currently provides a range of services to help government manage growth, improve financial performance and mitigate risk.

      Mr Taylor’s experience includes leading and managing the delivery of external audit and other services to major organisations including considerable transaction support work, both in New Zealand and internationally” SCOOP

  4. northshoredoc 4

    On the contrary I always have complete confidence in the minister making an even larger cock up of the situation than expected

  5. Tracey 5

    Whoda thought anyone could make Tolley look competent and warm.

  6. dv 6

    The first that the ministry knew that Ernst & Young had not looked at TPO was on January 28, when it received the draft report.

    HUH
    “Draft report

    Hey guys what about TPO expenditure that we asked for?
    Where is that?

    Bizarre

    Thank heaven we only paid $4.5k per page!!!!

    • Tracey 6.1

      but also note that the practice of delivering a draft is also to enable the “client” to make any additions or deletions before the report is final.

  7. Craig Glen Eden 7

    Hek yeah Hekia……………… She’s a star.

  8. ropata 8

    All part of national’s plan to introduce darwinian competition to public schools so that the strong survive and the weak are culled. When the teachers union is broken they can chop their pay and privatise schools a lot easier.
    http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2014/03/the-destruction-of-new-zealands-public.html

  9. captain hook 9

    She thought when she entered Parliament that she had a job in the public service (?).
    She really hasn’t got a clue about what she is doing at all.
    all hair and teeth and no brains.

    • Tracey 9.1

      of course she had a career in the public sector before arriving as an mp. one of those career bureaucrat th right usually claim to despise as useless and not of the real world.

      • Sacha 9.1.1

        makes her lack of any political nous even more inexcusable. How do you survive as a senior civil servant without understanding the system let alone service?

  10. Papa Tuanuku 10

    I’m loving how the debate has now turned to the crux of PPPs and Charter Schools, i.e. handing over public monies to private groups and beyond scrutiny.

    Btw, why no concern over the $2 million spent by the National Trust on Chen Palmer lawyers, which was announced on Native Affairs Monday. Were Pākeha media not watching?

    • adam 10.1

      Because our MSM is racist, but are scared shitless on being called out being racist. So what better tactic than, pop head in ground, and ignore.

  11. logie97 11

    Report just delivered to Mr Key.
    Hekia and National’s Standards.

    Where she is at in relation to the Standards.
    Wee Hekia is below the expected level for her age and position. She has learnt to smile nicely.

    What are her next steps?
    Hekia will be learning how to give precise instructions to her ministry and manage more than just a few people in the back-office.

    How you can help at home.
    Find a comfortable leather padded back-bench for her to spend some time to learn to focus.

    • Tracey 11.1

      you obviously havent seen a recent report under ns… yours is far too brief.

      • logie97 11.1.1

        … I’m assuming you saw the apostrophe – well there appears to be only one “National standard” you get judged by.
        If you can stay on the right side of Jokyhen, then you have met the standard. Do something that enhances your portfolio in the public view and you have exceeded the standard.

        As for the other National Standards – they appear to be causing talented professionals to change their career paths – edication ain’t wot it used t’be.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T02:07:52+00:00