Auditor-General’s report: Inquiry into state schools requesting payments in connection with out-of-zone places

In 2016, the Auditor-General received a request from Mr Chris Hipkins MP to inquire into state schools requesting payments for out-of-zone enrolment ballots. After some initial investigation, we decided to inquire further under section 18 of the Public Audit Act 2001. Our full report has been published on our website.

Our inquiry focused on enrolment practices for the 2016 and 2017 school years and considered:

• what payments (including the type and amount of those payments), if any, state schools collected in connection with out-of-zone student places;
• how the schools represented those payments to prospective students, their families, and communities;
• how many parents/caregivers made these payments and how many did not make the payments;
• what effect, if any, the payments had on the selection process for out-of-zone student places;
• how schools calculated the amount of the payments requested from parents/caregivers; and
• the Ministry’s guidance and advice to schools about payments collected in connection with out-of-zone student places.