About the Crown Entity Monitoring Team (CRENs)

The Crown Entity Monitoring team has responsibility for the government ownership monitoring of four central Crown education agencies (New Zealand Qualifications Authority, the Tertiary Education Commission, the New Zealand Teachers Council, and Career Services).

The team has developed a monitoring framework and plan outlining our approach to monitoring New Zealand Qualifications Authority, the Tertiary Education Commission, Career Services and the New Zealand Teachers Council. 

More about the Monitoring Plan and framework can be found here.

Tasks carried out by the team include:

• an initial briefing on each entity on becoming Responsible Minister that, among other things, gives the Minister a ‘heads up' about how to work with the entity, and provisions in the entity's empowering legislation or other legislation that materially modify core governance provisions in the Act;
• briefings to support Ministers' engagement with entities on strategic matters;
• drafting of letters of expectations;
• critical review of the entity's draft Statement of Intent (SOI);
• negotiation of an annual output agreement and any protocols (e.g. relationship protocols) as required by the Minister;
• monitoring of each entity, primarily through analysis of quarterly and annual reports;
• ongoing briefings on each entity that identify emerging governance or performance issues that require the Minister's attention;
• management of all processes relating to board membership, including appointments, re-appointments, setting members' fees, helping induct and train new members1, and ensuring compliance with Cabinet expectations and processes in respect of these matters;
• transmittal of information to each entity about relevant decisions and/or changes in policy by the Government, relevant government processes, especially the Budget, and the Government's expectations of the entity; and
• where appropriate, leadership and/or coordination of departments and entities working within the sector, or working in pursuit of interdependent results.

Crown Entity Monitoring team contacts

We can be contacted by email (crown.entities@minedu.govt.nz), or contact one of the following:
Roger Smyth
Manager, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis & Reporting
DDI: 04-04-463 8633
Fax: 04-463 8526
Mobile: 021 120 7757
roger.smyth@minedu.govt.nz

Riaz Azam
Senior Business Analyst
Crown Entity Monitoring Team
Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis and Reporting
DDI: 04-463 8562
Fax: 04-463 8526
Mobile: 027 600 9283
riaz.azam@minedu.govt.nz

Zoltan Apáthy
Senior Business Analyst
Crown Entity Monitoring Team
Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis and Reporting
DDI: 04-463 8174
Fax: 04-463 8526
Mobile: 027 2893850
zoltan.apathy@minedu.govt.nz

1 Boards arrange appropriate induction and training of members.