21 November 2024: This report describes the results of our audit of the Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand (the Government’s financial statements). It also reports on the findings from our Controller work (where we monitor government spending to check whether it is in line with parliamentary authority).
Annual audit highlights
20 August 2024: Each year, we produce reports that summarise what we’ve observed in different parts of the public sector and set out the results of our audits in that sector for the latest audited year.
27 June 2024: This letter summarises the main findings from our 2022 audits of tertiary education institutions. It also provides information about the work being done to improve student success and about the financial sustainability challenges in the TEI sector.
18 December 2023: This article sets out information about the results of the 2021/22 audits of councils.
14 December 2023: This report sets out the operating environment for central government, our observations about performance reporting across central government, the results of our audit of the Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the year ended 30 June 2023, and our work carrying out the Controller function.
12 December 2023: This detailed information sets out the results of the school audits for 2022. We have provided this information, and a list of recommendations, to the Secretary for Education.
28 March 2023: This report summarises the main findings from our 2021 audits of tertiary education institutions and the progress of the vocational education and training reforms, including what they are designed to achieve, and the leadership and governance of the reform process.
27 March 2023: This detailed information sets out the results of the school audits for 2021. We have provided this information, and a list of recommendations, to the Secretary for Education.
13 December 2022: This report presents the results of our annual audits and other work in local government during 2021.
13 December 2022: This report sets out the operating environment for central government, the results of our audit of the Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the year ended 30 June 2022, our work carrying out the Controller function, and our observations about performance reporting across central government.
22 November 2022: A high-level overview of the 2021 school audits. We have provided this information, and a list of recommendations, to the Secretary for Education.
14 April 2022: This report expands on the main findings from our 2020 audits of tertiary education institutions and provides our observations on the tertiary education sector in 2021. It focuses on two key areas – the ongoing vocational education reform programme and the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tertiary education sector.
December 2021: We wrote to chairpersons and chief executives of Te Pūkenga and wānanga, and chancellors and vice-chancellors of universities, about the main findings of our 2020 audits of tertiary education institutions. We also set out our general observations of the impact of Covid-19 on the tertiary education sector and provide specific commentary about Te Pūkenga and its Crown entity subsidiaries.
December 2021: This report sets out the operating environment for central government, the results of our audit of the Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the year ended 30 June 2021, our work carrying out the Controller function, and our observations about performance reporting across central government.
December 2021: This detailed information sets out the results of the school audits for 2020. We have provided this information, and a list of recommendations, to the Secretary for Education.
July 2021: We summarise the main findings from our 2019/20 audits of district health boards and other relevant work we have done. We highlight matters that might need attention in the year ahead, including management and governance capacity for dealing with change, tracking performance, and risk management.
June 2021: This report presents the results of our annual audits and other work in local government during 2020.
December 2020: This report sets out the results of our audit of the Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the year ended 30 June 2020 and of carrying out the Controller function.
November 2020: This report summarises the main findings of our 2019 audits of the 27 public tertiary education institutions. We also comment on the tertiary education sector’s operating environment in 2020, including the effects of the reforms of vocational education and Covid-19, and what this might mean for the sector in 2021.
November 2020: This detailed information sets out the results of the school audits for 2019. We have provided this information, and a list of recommendations, to the Secretary for Education.
July 2020: Brief summary of the main matters arising from the 2018/19 audits of district health boards. These matters include Covid-19, financial sustainability, Holidays Act 2003 compliance, procurement and contract management, and proposed changes to the health system.
June 2020: This report presents the results of our annual audits and other work in local government during 2018/19.
December 2019: This report sets out the results of our audit of the Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the year ended 30 June 2019 (the Government's financial statements) and of carrying out the Controller function.
November 2019: This report sets out our observations from our audits of the 27 public tertiary education institutions, made up of eight universities, 16 institutes of technology and polytechnics, and three wānanga.
November 2019: This detailed information sets out the results of the school audits for 2018. We have provided this information, and a list of recommendations, to the Secretary for Education.
July 2019: Brief summary of the main matters arising from the 2017/18 audits of district health boards (DHBs). By identifying and sharing our observations of all DHBs, we hope to increase the value of our audits beyond the independent assurance that they provide.
May 2019: This report presents the main findings from our audits of councils' long-term plans (LTPs), the results of our annual audits, and other work in local government during 2017/18.
May 2019: Letter sent on 9 May 2019 to chief executives of government departments and Crown entities by John Ryan, Controller and Auditor-General setting out some reflections and insights from our central government audit work over the last year.
December 2018: This report sets out the results of our audit of the Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the year ended 30 June 2018 (the Government's financial statements) and of carrying out the Controller function.
December 2018: This detailed information sets out the results of the school audits for 2017. We have provided this information, and a list of recommendations, to the Secretary for Education.