Publications produced during 2002

Certain Matters Arising from Allegations of Impropriety at Transend Worldwide Limited

December 2002: After its 2000-01 financial review of New Zealand Post, the Finance and Expenditure Committee recommended that we provide assurance that Transend has made improvements to its policies and procedures, following allegations about its operations...

New Zealand Defence Force: Deployment to East Timor — Performance of the Helicopter Detachment

December 2002: This report looks at the contribution of the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s helicopter detachment – looking mainly at planning for deployment during early to mid-1999, and operations from September 1999 to February 2000...

Department of Conservation: Administration of the Conservation Services Programme

December 2002: We conducted this inquiry as a result of a complaint from a body that represents the interests of its shareholding fishing companies and associations. The complaint was supported by specific case studies illustrating the body’s concerns about the way that the Department of Conservation manages the Conservation Services Programme...

Management of Biosecurity Risks: Case Studies

November 2002: This report contains seven case studies that highlight how departments have managed specific biosecurity risks. The case studies illustrate how departments have worked together, and how the policies and procedures of the Biosecurity Programme have been applied in relation to specific biosecurity risks...

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry: Management of Biosecurity Risks

November 2002: In this report we assessed how MAF manages terrestrial biosecurity risks. We also examined seven case studies as illustrations of MAF’s application of biosecurity risk policies and procedures, and identified areas where we think improvements can be made...

Local government: Results of the 2000-01 audits

September 2002.

Local Authority Involvement in Economic Development Initiatives

August 2002: We undertook this study prompted by concerns about potential liabilities and risks associated with local authorities’ endorsement of, and (often) tangible support for, a wide range of economic development initiatives...

Managing the Relationship Between a Local Authority's Elected Members and its Chief Executive

July 2002: In this report, the key aspect that we examined was how elected members and their chief executive manage their relationship in the grey area between governance and administration. Difficulties in managing that part of the relationship appear to be a common cause of problems between councils and their chief executive. We suggest ways in which this situation might be improved...

Central government and other issues 2001-02

June 2002.

Local Government - Looking Back and Looking Forward

May 2002: This report records the perspective of David Macdonald on the changes in local government administration during his term as Auditor-General, and offers his views on future challenges...

Severance Payments in the Public Sector

May 2002: "Golden handshake" payments have come regularly to our attention over the past few years. In this document we report, in general terms, on the lessons that can be drawn from some of these cases...

Annual plan 2002-03

April 2002, ISSN 1175–8258.

Taupo District Council – Funding of the Interim Establishment Board and the Lake Taupo Development Trust

April 2002: This report presents the results of an inquiry we undertook concerning the Taupo District Council’s funding of two entities – The Interim Establishment Board and the Lake Taupo Development Trust. These entities were created in connection with a proposal to establish a university and technology park in Taupo...

Bringing Down the Road Toll: the Speed Camera Programme

April 2002: Our examination considered whether speed cameras are being used effectively and efficiently, generating the maximum road safety benefits in contributing to bringing the road toll down...

Purchasing Primary Health Care Provided in General Practice

March 2002: Few of us know the complicated funding and purchasing arrangements that underpin primary health care consultations and how the arrangements have developed - particularly over the last 10 years. This report provides explanation and analysis of what the arrangements look like now...

Ministry of Health: Progress in Implementing the Recommendations of the Cervical Screening Inquiry

February 2002: The Ministerial Inquiry into the under-reporting of cervical smear abnormalities in the Gisborne Region raised some serious concerns about whether the National Cervical Screening Programme is as effective as it could be. The Committee of Inquiry’s report, released in April 2001, made recommendations for future action to improve the Programme. We examined the progress made and the work remaining to be done to implement the Committee of Inquiry’s recommendations...

Reporting Public Sector Performance

January 2002: We wrote this report to stimulate discussion about how public entities set direction, and measure and report performance. We wish to contribute to improvement in public entities’ accountability for their performance to Parliament, ratepayers and the public...