Annual audit highlights

A list of reports and letters to boards and chief executives highlighting the results of our annual audits in local government, central government, and for particular sectors or types of public organisations.
Observations from our central government work in 2022/23

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.

Results of the 2022 school audits

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.

Results of the 2021 school audits

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.

Observations from our central government audits: 2021/22

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.

Update on 2021 school audits

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.

Tertiary education institutions: What we saw in 2021

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.

Tertiary education institutions: Main findings from our 2020 audits

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.

Observations from our central government audits: 2020/21

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.

Results of the 2020 school audits

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.

District health boards: Main findings from the 2019/20 audits

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.

Central government: Results of the 2019/20 audits

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.

Tertiary education institutions: 2019 audit results and what we saw in 2020

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.

Results of the 2019 school audits

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.

District health boards: Main findings from the 2018/19 audits

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.

Central government: Results of the 2018/19 audits

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.

Results of the 2018 school audits

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.

Our 2018 work about local government

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.

Central government: Results of the 2017/18 audits

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.

Results of the 2017 school audits

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.

Health sector: Results of the 2016/17 audits

June 2018: The performance of organisations providing health services, including the district health boards (DHBs), is important for New Zealand's economic and social well-being. In 2016/17, $16.22 billion was spent on health. However, continued financial pressure makes it difficult for DHBs to invest for the future. It also affects their resilience and their ability to make investments to deal with significant changes in demand.

Port companies: matters arising from our 2016/17 audits

June 2018: Brief summary of the main matters arising from the 2016/17 audits for the port sector. Our audits identified two main matters. We have also included our observations on the need for good oversight in investment property decisions and information on the audit reports we issued on port companies’ annual reports for 2016/17.