Report of the Audit and Risk Committee for the year ended 30 June 2022

Members (1 July 2021 to 31 December 2021)	Members (1 January 2022 to 30 June 2022)
Warren Allen FCA, FCIS, MinstD, Chair Susie Johnstone BComm, FCA, CFInstD, CPP Greg Schollum, BMS, FCA Deputy Controller and Auditor-General	Warren Allen FCA, FCIS, MinstD, Chair Linda Robertson BComm, Dp.Bank, GAICD, INFINZ, FGNZ, CFInstD, CS, CGP Howard Fancy MComm(Hons), BSc(Hons) Chemistry Greg Schollum, BMS, FCA Deputy Controller and Auditor-General

The Audit and Risk Committee is an independent committee established by, and reporting directly to, the Auditor-General. The purpose of the Committee is to oversee and provide advice to the Auditor-General on:

risk management and internal control (both the OAG and Audit New Zealand);
audit functions (both internal and external audit) for the Office;
financial and other external corporate reporting;
the governance framework and processes; and
compliance with legislation, policies, and procedures.

The Committee has no management functions. During the past year, the Committee:

met on five occasions to fulfil its duties and responsibilities;
received briefings on the Office’s key business activities, as a basis for ensuring that risks facing the Office are being appropriately addressed;
reviewed the Office’s strategic risks with the Auditor-General;
received regular updates on the Controller function;
discussed with the external auditors their audit plans and findings;
oversaw the internal audit programme;
monitored the implementation of recommendations made by both the external auditors and internal auditors;
reviewed the annual report and annual financial statements of the Office prior to their approval by the Auditor-General, having particular regard to the accounting policies adopted, major areas of judgement, and compliance with legislation and relevant standards;
reviewed major projects: Improving Parliamentary scrutiny; LTP audits; office systems strategy; ethics and integrity work programme; people strategy; future of audit; and Te Ao Māori strategy;
reviewed the various portfolio (team) updates;
considered the Auditor-General’s strategic priorities to the end of 2022, the Draft Annual Plan 2022/23, and investment (budget bid) update; and
hosted online sessions with OAG to explain the role and the work of the Committee, and introduce the new members.

The Committee has reported to the Auditor-General on the above, and on other relevant matters. There are no outstanding or unresolved matters that the Committee has brought to the attention of the Auditor-General.

Warren Allen
Chair, Audit and Risk Committee

16 September 2022