Mahuta Nanaia: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Mahuta Nanaia: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 06 November 2012. Volume:685;Page:6267. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
7. 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Labour—Hauraki-Waikato) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Education 
: Does he stand by all the statements of the Minister of Education and those of her ministry regarding Novopay? 
Hon CRAIG FOSS (Associate Minister of Education) 
: 
 Yes I stand by the Minister’s statements in the context that they were made. Payroll is an operational matter for the Ministry of Education but in general I do stand by their statements about Novopay issues. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: Does he agree with the Minister of Education’s answer to oral questions on 20 September that schools not the ministry should compensate teachers for any penalties they incur as a result of payroll glitches? 
Hon CRAIG FOSS 
: I cannot recall that exact answer but right now we are concentrating on making sure Novopay is implemented and operating correctly as intended and as contracted to do with Talent2. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: Will the ministry or Talent2 be compensating schools for the time and money they have spent on fixing payroll mistakes resulting from the Novopay system; if not why not? 
Hon CRAIG FOSS 
: No decisions have been made on that matter. Right now we are concentrating on making sure that as well as the 90000 who get paid correctly the balance of relievers and other non - full-time staff matters are administered correctly. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: Thank you Minister. What assurance has he sought from the ministry and Talent2 that the backlog of more than 4000 errors remaining from Novopay’s first— 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: How much? 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: —4000 errors remaining from Novopay’s first two pay days will be fixed and that the system will be fully operational prior to the Christmas pay period so teachers and support staff are not left out of pocket? 
Hon CRAIG FOSS 
: I thank the member for the question. Yes about 10 days ago there were 8000 errors; right now there are about 3200 remaining. I have a commitment from the Secretary for Education and Talent2 that they will be completed by the end of this week—I think 9 November this Friday is the intention. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: In 2008 when the Novopay project board was established did he confirm an implementation plan was in place to ensure the successful switch-over to Novopay at the go-live date this year? 
Hon CRAIG FOSS 
: I got my warrant in December 2008. I cannot recall anything of December 2008 but I am quite sure at the time that Novopay had been delayed for 2 years as further work was undertaken before the implementation but I freely admit that the implementation issues as far as particular reliever teachers are concerned have not been at all satisfactory and we will be investigating that once the system is up and running as we fully expect. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Regardless of when the Minister assumed his warrant he is still responsible and he should know whether or not there was an implementation plan. That answer was vague—and if that was an answer I am a ballerina. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! There you have it. I think in fairness the Minister if I heard his answer correctly said he did not know what went on at that actual switch-over point. But if the Minister can clarify that I would be very grateful. 
Hon CRAIG FOSS 
: I do need to clarify one thing Mr Speaker. I got my ministerial warrant in education in 2011 not 2008. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I think that although the member is correct in that the Minister remains responsible for events that took place prior to his time he cannot be expected necessarily to know all the details of that personally and that is why I think the answer was not unreasonable.