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Written questions

Search written questions to Ministers and the replies they have received.

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Minister Penny Simmonds · Member for Invercargill · National Party · Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment / Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology / Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education / Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Vocational Education / Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for the Environment
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Dates refer to when the question was published, and are inclusive.

Showing 401 to 450 of 909 written question sets.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Shanan Halbert

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to the Minister’s answer to Written Parliamentary Question 14043 (2026), what is the EFTS value of this provision above 105%, estimated or actual, listed by university?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I am advised by the Tertiary Education Commission that the estimated number of EFTS above 105% of allocated funding for the universities listed in WPQ 14043 (2026) would be: University Fund EFTS above 105% Auckland University of Technology…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Shanan Halbert

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to the Minister’s answer to Written Parliamentary Question 14043 (2026), what additional cost, if any, will each university incur from this, estimated or actual, listed by university?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I am advised the Tertiary Education Commission does not hold information on the additional cost, if any, incurred by each university for the delivery of approved provision above 105% of their allocation.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Shanan Halbert

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to the Minister’s answer to Written Parliamentary Question 14043 (2026), what is the dollar value of this provision, estimated or actual, listed by university?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I am advised by the Tertiary Education Commission that the dollar value of provision above 105% of allocated funding for the universities listed in WPQ 14043 (2026) are: University Fund Value above 105% Auckland University of Technology…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Shanan Halbert

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to the Minister’s answer to Written Parliamentary Question 14044 (2026), what was the dollar value of the delivered provision above 105% for each of the listed universities?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I am advised by the Tertiary Education Commission that the dollar value of provision delivered above 105% of allocated funding for the universities listed in WPQ 14044 (2026) are: University Fund Value above 105% Massey University DQ3-7…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many students received the tertiary fees-free scheme in 2025, if any, broken down by type of education provider (university, polytech or PTE)?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I refer the Member to the attached table for how many students received the tertiary fees-free scheme in 2025, broken down by type of education provider.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many students received the tertiary fees-free scheme in 2023, if any, broken down by type of education provider (university, polytech or PTE)?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I refer the member to the list below for how many students received the tertiary fees-free scheme in 2023, broken down by type of education provider. TEO subsector Number of learners using first-year Fees Free in 2023 calendar year…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many students received the tertiary fees-free scheme in 2024, if any, broken down by type of education provider (university, polytech or PTE)?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I refer the member to the list below for how many students received the tertiary fees-free scheme in 2024, broken down by type of education provider. TEO subsector Number of learners using first-year Fees Free in 2024 calendar year…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many students received the tertiary fees-free scheme in 2020, if any, broken down by type of education provider (university, polytech or PTE)?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I refer the member to the list below for how many students received the tertiary fees-free scheme in 2020, broken down by type of education provider. TEO subsector Number of learners using first-year Fees Free in 2021 calendar year…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many students received the tertiary fees-free scheme in 2021, if any, broken down by type of education provider (university, polytech or PTE)?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I refer the member to the list below for how many students received the tertiary fees-free scheme in 2021, broken down by type of education provider. TEO subsector Number of learners using first-year Fees Free in 2021 calendar year…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many students received the tertiary fees-free scheme in 2019, if any, broken down by type of education provider (university, polytech or PTE)?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I refer the member to the list below for how many students received the tertiary fees-free scheme in 2019, broken down by type of education provider. TEO subsector Number of learners using first-year Fees Free in 2019 calendar year…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many students received the tertiary fees-free scheme in 2022, if any, broken down by type of education provider (university, polytech or PTE)?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I refer the member to the list below for how many students received the tertiary fees-free scheme in 2022, broken down by type of education provider. TEO subsector Number of learners using first-year Fees Free in 2022 calendar year…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What cost pressures within relevant portfolio Votes, if any, has the Minister been informed of since 1 January 2026?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

Budget 2026 will be delivered on 28 May and Budget information remains confidential before that date. I direct the member to the upcoming examination of the Estimates by select committee which includes questions on cost pressures.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What cost pressures within relevant portfolio Votes, if any, has the Minister been informed of since 1 January 2026?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology

Answer

Budget 2026 will be delivered on 28 May and Budget information remains confidential before that date. I direct the member to the upcoming examination of the Estimates by select committee which includes questions on cost pressures.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What cost pressures within relevant portfolio Votes, if any, has the Minister been informed of since 1 January 2026?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

Budget 2026 will be delivered on 28 May and Budget information remains confidential before that date. I direct the member to the upcoming examination of the Estimates by select committee which includes questions on cost pressures.

Questions published
See individual question dates
Reply lodged

Questions

  • Asked by

    Francisco Hernandez

    List MP · Green Party

    17918 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 27 April 2026, by title and date?

  • Asked by

    Shanan Halbert

    List MP · Labour Party

    18354 (matches this search)

    Question published

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 27 April 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I took the one paper to Cabinet during the week beginning 27 April 2026: Tertiary Education Commission Board Appointment

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Shanan Halbert

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 27 April 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I refer the Member to my response to written parliamentary question 17919 (2026).

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 27 April 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

In my capacity as Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment, I regularly request and receive advice on a range of topics. In the interest of transparency, a list of reports received by my office from the Ministry of Social…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Reuben Davidson

Member for Christchurch East · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 27 April 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology

Answer

The titles of advice, reports, briefings and/or aide memoires I received from MBIE during the week beginning 27 April 2026 will be released on the MBIE website in the coming weeks here:…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 27 April 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

None.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Reuben Davidson

Member for Christchurch East · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 27 April 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology

Answer

I did not take any papers to Cabinet in the week beginning 27 April 2026.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Have there been any changes since 1 November 2023 to eligibility criteria, or assessment and decision-making processes, in relation to the Apprenticeships Boost; if so, what were they and when did they come into effect?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

Budget 2024 provided ongoing funding for the Apprenticeship Boost Initiative and limited eligibility to first-year apprentices in the following targeted industries from 1 January 2025: • Building • Agriculture • Horticulture and…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Would the Minister consider a policy of requiring international student applicants to have their foreign qualifications formally assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, and if not, why not?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

The Ministry of Education has not provided me with any policy advice on formal assessment of foreign qualification, nor undertaken policy work on this, as this is not part of my current work programme,

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What recommendations for policy change, if any, has the Minister received from officials regarding assessment of international qualifications for higher education admission?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

None.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, if any, has the Minister received regarding a requirement for international applicants to have their foreign qualifications formally assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, listed by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

None.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, if any, has the Minister received regarding assessment processes for foreign qualifications when admitting international students into New Zealand educational institutes, listed by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

None.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What events or meetings, if any, did the Minister decline to attend during the week beginning 27 April 2026 , including location, event description, and attendees?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

My office receives a significant volume of invitations and meeting requests across all of my ministerial portfolios and responsibilities. To identify and collate every event or meeting declined during the specified period, including…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, reports, briefings, aide memoires, or any other documents has the Minister or any member of their Office received, if any, during the week beginning 27 April 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I refer the Member to the list below of the advice, reports, briefings, aide memoires, or any other documents, my office or I received during the week beginning 27 April 2026: Tertiary Education Commission 30 April 2026 - Ministers…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Shanan Halbert

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 20 April 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I refer the Member to the list below of the advice, reports, briefings, aide memoires, or any other documents, my office or I received during the week beginning 20 April 2026: Tertiary Education Commission 21 April 2026 - December 2025…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 20 April 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

In my capacity as Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment, I regularly request and receive advice on a range of topics. In the interest of transparency, a list of reports received by my office from the Ministry of Social…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Reuben Davidson

Member for Christchurch East · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 20 April 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology

Answer

The titles of advice, reports, briefings and/or aide memoires I received from MBIE during the week beginning 20 April 2026 will be released on the MBIE website in the coming weeks here:…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Shanan Halbert

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 20 April 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

None.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 20 April 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

None.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Reuben Davidson

Member for Christchurch East · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 20 April 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology

Answer

In my capacity as Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology I did not take any papers to Cabinet in the week beginning 20 April 2026.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Ginny Andersen

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to Written Parliamentary Question 12799 (2026): Who made the two requests for additional funding for teacher education programmes for the 2026 Investment Round; by name?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I have been informed by the Tertiary Education Commission that the two requests for additional funding for teacher education programmes in the 2026 Investment Round were from: • The Teachers Institute • Cavalli College.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What events or meetings, if any, did the Minister decline to attend during the week beginning Monday 20 April 2026 , including location, event description, and attendees?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

In my capacity as Minister for Tertiary Education, my office has not declined any events or meeting requests that were scheduled to take place for the week beginning 20 April 2026.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, reports, briefings, aide memoires, or any other documents has the Minister or any member of their Office received, if any, during the week beginning Monday 20 April 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I refer the Member to my response to written parliamentary question 17427 (2026).

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning Monday 20 April 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

None.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Steve Abel

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What, if any, amendments or changes does the Government intend to propose to the Gene Technology Bill?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology

Answer

The Gene Technology Bill is still under active consideration.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Steve Abel

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, has the Minister, taken to cabinet since 1 January 2025 related to gene technology, listed by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology

Answer

I am advised that neither I nor my predecessor have taken any papers to Cabinet since January 2025 related to gene technology.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Steve Abel

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, reports, briefings, aide memoires, correspondence or any other documents, if any, has the Minister, or any member of their Office received since 1 January 2025 related to gene technology, listed by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology

Answer

I am advised that the titles and dates of advice from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment related to gene technology are publicly available here:…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Steve Abel

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What, if any, is the status of the Gene Technology Bill?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology

Answer

The Health Select Committee presented their report to Parliament in October 2025 after considering public submissions on the Gene Technology Bill. The Bill is now awaiting its second reading in Parliament, with timing to be confirmed.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if any, did the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, spend on the Carbon Neutral Government Programme in the 2023/24 financial year?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology

Answer

As Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, I have no responsibility for any government departments. With regard to agencies, Crown entities and any other bodies under the Science, Innovation and Technology portfolio, I am advised…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if any, did the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, spend on the Carbon Neutral Government Programme in the 2023/24 financial year?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

None.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Shanan Halbert

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Will the April 2026 Single Data Return be published, and if so, will it be made publicly available and what is the expected date for publishing?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I am advised by the Tertiary Education Commission that they expect to publish the April 2026 SDR Enrolment Update in June 2026. The paper will be available on the following link: Advice seen by Minister(s) | Tertiary Education Commission.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Reuben Davidson

Member for Christchurch East · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 13 April 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology

Answer

I did not take any papers to Cabinet the week of 13 April 2026.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 13 April 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

None.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Shanan Halbert

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 13 April 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

None.

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Reuben Davidson

Member for Christchurch East · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 13 April 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology

Answer

The titles of advice, reports, briefings and/or aide memoires I received from MBIE during the week beginning 13 April 2026 will be released on the MBIE website in the coming weeks here:…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 13 April 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

In my capacity as Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment, I regularly request and receive advice on a range of topics. In the interest of transparency, a list of reports received by my office from the Ministry of Social…

Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Shanan Halbert

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 13 April 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Minister for Tertiary Education

Answer

I refer the Member to the list below of the advice, reports, briefings, aide memoires, or any other documents, my office or I received during the week beginning 13 April 2026: Tertiary Education Commission 15 April 2026 - University…