Principal Defends $18.5K Trip Amid Auditor-General’s Report on Spending

The principal of Haeata Community Campus in Christchurch, Peggy Burrows, has defended the use of $18,500 in public funds for a professional development trip to Queenstown, following scrutiny from the Auditor-General. This response comes as the Auditor-General’s annual report highlighted a significant increase in schools requiring financial oversight from the Ministry of Education. The report, released on March 20, 2024, revealed that 27 schools sought ministry guarantees, marking a fourfold rise from the previous year.

The Auditor-General’s findings raised concerns about “sensitive expenditure” among schools, with 21 institutions highlighted for their use of a $6,000 annual fund available to principals for professional development. Haeata Community Campus was one of the schools referenced, particularly for the trip that included six senior staff members.

In a statement issued to the media, Burrows emphasized that “no public money was used for a holiday in Queenstown.” She asserted that the trip was “appropriate, transparent, board-approved, and fully aligned with national guidelines for principal professional development.” Burrows explained that the timing of the trip coincided with her participation in the 2024 SPANZ Conference.

During the trip, Burrows and her senior leadership team engaged in a “board-sanctioned programme of professional learning, leadership development, and team strengthening.” She utilized funds from both the current and previous year’s sensitive expenditure allowance to facilitate the trip, claiming this approach adhered to the fund’s guidelines. A spokesperson for the school noted that the board formally approved this expenditure during its meeting on May 20, 2024.

Airfares were booked in advance to secure lower rates, and accommodation arrangements were negotiated at rates comparable to those offered to principals attending the conference. The leadership team also visited Wakatipu High School during their stay, allowing them to gain insights beneficial to the operations at Haeata Community Campus.

Other schools identified in the Auditor-General’s report include Glenview School, which spent $29,458 on trips to Canada, Vietnam, and Samoa, and Fairfield College, which incurred $17,155 for a principal’s travels to Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, and New York.

Overall, the Auditor-General flagged issues in 64 reports, with 15 schools classified as being in “serious financial difficulty.” The report highlighted concerns regarding spending that appeared personal in nature, stating, “We drew attention to some spending on personal travel for the principal and, in some instances, companions because there was no clear business purpose for it.”

The findings also pointed to a lack of supporting documentation for some travel expenses. It was noted that while many trips had a valid business rationale, additional travel and expenses related to leisure activities were flagged as potentially personal. The report concluded, “Any personal travel incorporated into business travel should be at no additional cost to the school.”

Haeata Community Campus recently faced further scrutiny after an incident involving the delivery of expired lunch meals, which were part of the Government’s school lunch programme. Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour challenged the school’s claims regarding the incident, suggesting that the school might bear some responsibility. An investigation by the Ministry for Primary Industries revealed that the mouldy lunches were likely due to “human error,” with evidence indicating that staff mistakenly distributed the meals.

These developments come at a time when the financial accountability of educational institutions is under heightened scrutiny in New Zealand, raising questions about the management of public funds and the importance of transparency in school spending.