2004/05

A list of our work produced between 1 July 2004 and 30 June 2005.
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise: Administration of grant programmes

December 2004: We looked at whether the grant programmes were being administered effectively and efficiently, and in keeping with the policy parameters set by Cabinet. NZTE has not yet established a framework to ensure that, for each grant programme, consideration has been given to important aspects of grant administration...

Pharmaceutical Management Agency: Changes to the frequency of medicine dispensing

May 2005: In October 2003, Pharmac changed the rules for dispensing medicines. It let doctors prescribe that a 90-day supply of certain medicines be dispensed all at once, rather than spread over 3 visits to the pharmacist. Pharmac projected that this could reduce district health boards’ spending on the dispensing fees paid to pharmacists by $132 million over 5 years. We decided to audit this because of the large savings projected, and the effects of the change on patients, doctors, and pharmacists...

Government and parliamentary publicity and advertising

June 2005: Publicity and advertising are important activities for governments and parliamentary parties, which can legitimately be paid for with public funds. But at the same time such activities are inherently sensitive, and open to the risk of abuse...

Effectiveness of controls over the taxi industry

June 2005: This audit looked at the Authority’s oversight of taxi organisations, passenger service licence holders, drivers, and course providers. Little progress has been made since our 1997 report. Inconsistent and inadequate monitoring and enforcing has led to widespread non-compliance...