How many confidential settlement agreements, non-disclosure agreements or confidentiality clauses, if any, have been entered into with employees, former employees, contractors, or office holders by any agency, department, Crown entity, company, or other organisation for which the Minister is responsible since 27 November 2023, broken down by organisation, total cost, and year, as at 5 June 2026?

Answer

MBIE does not generally enter into specific non-disclosure agreements with staff and contractors. Employment agreements and contracts for services usually contain confidentiality provisions, in accordance with standard employment and commercial practice. The Ministry may also enter into a confidential Records of Settlement made in accordance with the Employment Relations Act 2000, to formalise agreements reached in resolution of an employment process. MBIE and its employees and contractors also occasionally enter into non-disclosure agreements with third parties in relation to sensitive matters, particularly during procurement to protect commercially sensitive information shared by or with MBIE. I am advised that compiling the total number of settlement agreements or confidentiality clauses entered into with employees, former employees, contractors, or office holders held by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) would involve the review of individual files, which would require significant staff time and as such cost to the taxpayer. I therefore do not believe answering this part of the Member's question to be in the public interest. With regard to New Zealand Growth Capital Partners (NZGCP), I am advised that there have been five settlements, all between 2024 and 2026. Out of the five, three were redundancy payments documented as settlement agreements. The total for all five was $171,267. Due to the size of NZGCP and to protect individual privacy I am unable to report these numbers yearly.