Statutory declarations as a fit and proper person and of conflicts of interest

Find out what a fit and proper person and conflict of interest means for a PTE

About the statutory declarations for PTEs

There are two types of statutory declarations that governing members of private training establishments (PTEs) must submit to NZQA:

  • conflicts of interest and
  • fit and proper person statutory declaration.

All governing members of PTEs must submit a conflicts of interest statutory declaration and a fit and proper person statutory declaration.

These statutory declarations must be submitted to NZQA as part of the application for PTE registration and when an existing PTE has a new governing member.

How to submit the declarations

PTE's should download and complete our form and send this information to NZQA:

Statutory declaration as a fit and proper person and of conflicts of interests form [DOCX, 75 KB]

Changes to governing members

Changes to governing members and what a governing member is 

Conflicts of interest statutory declaration

Under section 348(1)(c) of the Education and Training Act 2020 it is a condition of ongoing PTE registration that:

  • any new governing member submits a Conflict of Interest Statutory Declaration before commencing as a governing member of the establishment
  • existing governing members keep their Conflict of Interest Statutory Declaration up to date.

Section 348(1)(c) of the Education and Training Act 2020 (external link)

What you must declare

The conflicts of interest statutory declaration must:

  • disclose any material conflicts of interest arising from the person’s role as a governing member of the establishment
  • disclose any interests in organisations in the education or immigration sector that provide goods or services to tertiary students
  • include any arrangements to manage or mitigate the potential conflicts identified
  • be updated if circumstances change.

What is a conflict of interest?

Proposed and current governing members should disclose where they, or a close relative, have an interest in a transaction that is not aligned with the PTE’s interest (i.e you or a relative have an involvement in a transaction that might disadvantage the PTE that you also have an interest in, or benefit you or your close relative).

This is likely to be a situation where a material conflict exists between the governing member’s own interests and that of the PTE.

Proposed and current governing members must disclose any interest they have in organisations in the education or immigration sector that provide goods or services to tertiary students.

The reason for this lower disclosure threshold is the likelihood of a conflict of interest in this situation between the governing member/PTE and the interests of students.

Examples of situations where interests must be disclosed include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • The governing member has loaned money to the PTE
  • A close relative of the governing member has entered into a significant contract with the PTE
  • A company owned by the governing member is the PTE’s landlord
  • The governing member is a shareholder or director in an immigration consultancy that offers immigration services to prospective students of the PTE.

NZQA will evaluate each declaration on a case-by-case basis. If they are uncertain whether their position could be considered a conflict of interest, governing members are advised to take a conservative approach and make a disclosure.

Fit and proper person statutory declaration

The Education Amendment Act 2011 introduced the requirement that all governing members of PTEs are fit and proper persons for the role.

PTEs must submit a fit and proper person statutory declaration and satisfy NZQA that each governing member is a fit and proper person.

How to submit the declaration

Download and complete our form and send this information to NZQA:

Statutory declaration as a fit and proper person and of conflicts of interests form [DOCX, 75 KB]

What is a fit and proper person?

NZQA needs to be satisfied that a governing member of a PTE is appropriately qualified and has no history that would make them unsuitable for the role.

Factors that may make a governing member unsuitable are:

  • previous bankruptcy under the Insolvency Act 1967 or the Insolvency Act 2006
  • involvement with a registered PTE that was closed down or taken over
  • criminal convictions for fraud, dishonesty or violence, or being a current defendant in criminal proceedings
  • being prohibited from being a director or promoter of, or taking part in the management of, a company (under sections 382, 383, 385, and 386A of the Companies Act 1993).

Section 382 of the Companies Act 1993 (external link)

Section 383 of the Companies Act 1993 (external link)

Section 385 of the Companies Act 1993 (external link)

Section 386A of the Companies Act 1993 (external link)

NZQA will evaluate each declaration on a case-by-case basis.

Proposed governing members need to supply all relevant information so NZQA can make an informed decision about who is a fit and proper person to be a governing member of a registered PTE.

NZQA verifying information

By signing the declaration form, the governing member has authorised NZQA to verify the information provided in the declaration with third parties. These third parties may include but are not limited to, for example, Immigration New Zealand, Employment New Zealand (the Labour Inspectorate), NZ Police, NZ Customs, and Inland Revenue.

NZQA may request this information directly, or through another party or agency.

Where the declaration is part of an application for PTE registration or Change or Ownership, if it is found that any information provided in it is intentionally false or misleading, NZQA will stop the evaluation of the application for PTE registration or Change or Ownership and investigate the inconsistencies.

Recording intentionally false or misleading information in this form or supporting documents may cause NZQA to decline an application for PTE registration or Change or Ownership.

Statutory declaration witness

The declaration can be made in front of anyone authorised to take a statutory declaration (see section 9 of the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957).

These include:

  • barristers and solicitors of the High Court of New Zealand
  • Justices of the Peace
  • notary publics
  • Registrars and Deputy Registrars of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and District Courts.

All signatories should note that it is an offence under section 111 of the Crimes Act 1961 to make a false declaration where that declaration would amount to perjury if made on oath in a judicial proceeding.

Section 9 of the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957 (external link) - legislation.govt.nz

Section 111 of the Crimes Act 1961 (external link) - legislation.govt.nz

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