The leaks from within the ministry are being investigated, with Michael Heron KC looking into unauthorised disclosures. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The Education Ministry is spending about $20,000 on its hunt for the sources of multiple leaks to RNZ.
Acting chief executive Ellen MacGregor-Reid answered questions about the investigation when she appeared before the Education and Workforce Select committee on Thursday.
She told the committee the budget was "a couple of tens-of-thousands".
MacGregor-Reid said the ministry's workplace culture was not to blame for staff sharing confidential documents.
"I don't think staff members leaking formal advice and government documents relates to workplace happiness. I think that reflects on whether or not public servants understand their code of conduct, the duty of the public service to be politically neutral, and that is something that I am holding public servants in the Ministry of Education to account for," she said.
Macgregor-Reid said she took the leaks very seriously.
"It is a matter I take very seriously as you can imagine as a public servant and something that is very important around our democratic processes to get to the bottom of," she said.
The ministry last month told RNZ it had appointed Michael Heron KC to investigate unauthorised disclosures.
RNZ saw four separate Budget-related documents earlier this year, the last of which prompted a court injunction on the grounds that it contained commercially sensitive information that would damage the government's ability to engage in collective bargaining.
Last year, it saw internal ministry documents related to curriculum work and restructuring plans.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
