In this section:

Statement of Intent 2007 - 2010 - PART THREE: Annual Financial Performance Forecasts

PART THREE: Annual Financial Performance Forecasts

Statement of Responsibility
Introduction and Highlights
Forecast Statement of Accounting Policies for the Year Ended 30 June 2008

Statement of Responsibility

The information contained in this Statement of Intent for the Department of Conservation has been prepared in accordance with section 38 of the Public Finance Act 1989.

As Director-General of the Department of Conservation, I acknowledge, in signing this statement, my responsibility for the information contained in this statement of intent.

The performance forecast for each class of outputs in the statement of forecast service performance is as agreed with the Minister responsible for Vote: Conservation administered by the Department of Conservation.

The financial performance forecast for the Department of Conservation in the forecast financial statements and the statement of forecast service performance is as agreed by the Minister of Conservation, who is the Minister responsible for the financial performance of the Department of Conservation.

The information contained in this Statement of Intent is consistent with existing appropriations, and with the appropriations set out in the Appropriation (2007/08) Estimates Bill.

Alastair Morrison
Director-General
27 April 2007

Andrew Gavriel
Chief Financial Officer
27 April 2007

Introduction and Highlights

Prospective Information

The forecast information presented in the report is based on assumptions that the Department reasonably expects to occur. The very nature of the prospective information suggests that the actual results are likely to vary from the information presented and that the variations may be material.

This information is prepared pursuant to section 38 of the Public Finance Act 1989. It is not intended, and should not be used, for any other purpose. The Department will not present an update of this forecast information in similar format.

Significant Underlying Assumptions

These statements have been compiled on the basis of Government policies and the Estimates of Appropriation relating to Vote Conservation presented by the Government. They reflect decisions made by the Government during the 2007/08 budget process up to April 2007.

The primary underlying assumption upon which this financial information has been prepared is that there will be no changes in Government policy during the period forecast.

A significant percentage of the forecast outputs to be produced by the Department are subject to uncertainty given that they are largely driven by events of nature - for example, the number of whale/dolphin strandings or number of forest fires. The potential financial effect of this uncertainty may result in resources being reallocated.

These forecast financial statements contain the following statements:

  • a statement of responsibility from the Director-General of Conservation in respect of the statements contained in this report
  • a financial overview of the Department's budget
  • a forecast statement of accounting policies
  • forecast financial statements for the year ending 30 June 2008, including:
    - forecast statement of financial performance
    - forecast statement of movements in taxpayers' funds
    - forecast statement of financial position
    - forecast statement of cash flows
    - forecast reconciliation of operating surplus from net cash flows and operating activities
    - detail of fixed assets by category.

Financial Overview

The 2007/08 budget figures include the following Crown funding increases:

  • $2 million for intensive, integrated biodiversity management at new sites on conservation land
  • $1 million for meeting treaty settlement objectives while managing risks to conservation values
  • $0.297 million for maintaining Department of Conservation capability.
    The following table shows changes in the funding available to the Department since 1995/1996. Significant changes include changes in purchases through revenue Crown, funding for the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy (from 2000/2001) and funding for the previously unrecognised or undervalued recreational and other assets (from 2002/2003).

Financial Funding

Crown
$000
Other
(Excluding Interest)
$000
Total
$000
1995/1996

102,588

29,904

132,492

1996/1997

112,854

27,607

140,461

1997/1998

132,749

20,836

153,585

1998/1999

139,406

17,246

156,652

1999/2000

134,777

18,291

153,068

2000/2001

150,814

18,678

169,492

2001/2002

156,106

18,211

174,317

2002/2003

206,354

19,026

225,380

2003/2004

222,846

18,281

241,127

2004/2005

223,083

23,225

246,308

2005/2006

237,180

31,649

268,829

2006/2007 estimated actual

251,175

29,693

280,868

2007/2008 forecast

257,401

29,508

286,909

Forecast Statement of Accounting Policies for the Year Ended 30 June 2008

Reporting entity

The Department of Conservation is a Government department as defined by section 2 of the Public Finance Act 1989. These are the financial statements of the Department of Conservation prepared pursuant to section 38 of the Public Finance Act 1989.

Measurement Base

The statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, modified by the revaluation of certain fixed assets.

Acccounting policy

The following particular accounting policies, which materially affect the measurement of financial results and financial position, have been applied.

Forecast and budget figures

The forecast figures for 30 June 2008 are those presented by the Minister of Finance in the Budget night documents (Estimates of Appropriations for the Government of New Zealand). The budget figures are those presented in the Supplementary Estimates for 30 June 2007.

Revenue

The Department derives revenue through the provision of outputs to the Crown, for services to third parties and donations. This revenue is recognised when earned and is reported in the financial period to which it relates.

Cost allocation

The Department has determined the cost of outputs using a cost allocation system which is outlined below.

Direct costs are those costs directly attributed to an output. Indirect costs are those costs that cannot be identified, in an economically feasible manner, with a specific output.

Direct costs assigned to outputs

Direct costs are charged directly to outputs. Depreciation and capital charges are charged on the basis of asset utilisation. Personnel costs are charged on the basis of actual time incurred.

Indirect and corporate costs assigned to outputs

Indirect costs are assigned to business units based on the proportion of direct staff hours for each output.

Receivables

Receivables are recorded at estimated realisable value, after providing for doubtful debts.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realisable value on a first-in-first-out basis. Standard costs that include production overheads are used for valuing nursery stocks.

Leases

The Department leases vehicles, office premises and office equipment. As all the risks and benefits of ownership are retained by the lessor, these leases are classified as operating leases and are expensed in the period in which the costs are incurred.

Depreciation

Depreciation of fixed assets, other than freehold land and work in progress, is provided on a straight line basis so as to allocate the cost (or valuation) of assets to their estimated residual value over their useful lives.

The useful lives of assets have been estimated as follows:

Asset category Estimated useful life

Visitor assets

  • Amenity areas
  • Signs
  • Structures
  • Roads (surface only)
  • Tracks
  • Huts and toilets
  • Other buildings

10-25 years
5-10 years
25-50 years
10-22 years and 6 months
6-25 years
20-50 years
35-50 years

Buildings

20-40 years

Infrastructure

  • Industrial fire equipment
  • Landscape
  • Roads
  • Sewerage
  • Solid waste
  • Stream control
  • Water supply

45 years
44 years
10-100 years
64 years
38 years
98 years
60 years

Vessels

  • Electronics
  • Engines
  • Hulls

4 years and 2 months
10 years
15 years

Furniture, computers and
other office equipment

5 years

Motor vehicles

6 years and 8 months with a salvage value of 30%

Plant and field equipment

10 years

Radio equipment

5-10 years

Fixed assets

  1. Visitor assets are stated at fair value using optimised depreciated replacement cost as valued by an independent registered valuer on
    an annual basis. When a visitor asset is under construction the actual cost is accumulated in a work-in-progress account. On completion of the project, assets are recorded at fair value and any difference between the actual cost and the fair value is transferred to the revaluation reserve.
  2. Freehold land and administrative buildings are stated at fair value
    as determined by an independent registered valuer. Fair value
    is determined using market-based evidence where available, or depreciated replacement cost. Land and buildings are revalued at least every five years.
  3. The cost of developing, purchasing and upgrading software is capitalised. Where the software is an integral part of the hardware (i.e. computer cannot operate without that specific software) it is treated as part of the equipment.
  4. Infrastructure assets are valued by independent valuers at least every five years and are stated at fair value.
  5. Vessels are recognised at fair value. Fair value is determined using market-based evidence where available, or depreciated replacement cost. Vessels are revalued at least every five years.
  6. Cultural assets are shown at estimated replacement cost.
  7. Heritage Assets: The Department is the custodian of 12,000 historic places situated on public conservation land throughout New Zealand. These assets are held for the duration of their physical lives because of their unique cultural, historical, geographical, scientific, or environmental attributes. In accordance with Reporting Standards the Department elected not to re-value these assets in the Statement of Financial Position.

All other fixed assets, or groups of assets forming part of a network which are material in aggregate, costing more than $5,000 are capitalised and recorded at historical cost. Any write-down of an item to its recoverable amount is recognised in the Forecast Statement of Financial Performance.

Any increase in value of a class of revalued assets is recognised directly in the revaluation reserve unless it offsets a previous decrease in value recognised in the Forecast Statement of Financial Performance, in which case it is recognised in the Forecast Statement of Financial Performance. A decrease in value relating to a class of revalued assets is recognised in the Forecast Statement of Performance where it exceeds the increase previously recognised in the revaluation reserve. When an asset is revalued, the accumulated depreciation of that asset is restated using the latest valuation figures.

Community assets

The nation's land and historic buildings managed by the Department are the nation's natural and historic heritage. Typically this land includes national and forest parks as well as Crown Reserve land. As these community assets belong to the Crown, their valuation is not reflected in these financial statements.

Statement of cash flows

Cash means cash balances on hand, held in bank accounts and in short term deposits.

Operating activities include cash received from all income sources of the Department and cash payments made for the supply of goods and services.

Investing activities are those activities relating to the acquisition and disposal of non-current assets.

Financing activities comprise capital injections by, or repayment of capital to, the Crown.

Goods and services tax (GST)

The Forecast Statement of Financial Position is GST exclusive except for payables and receivables. All other statements are GST exclusive.

The net amount of GST payable to the Inland Revenue Department at balance date, being the difference between output GST, and input GST is shown as a current asset or current liability as appropriate in the Forecast Statement of Financial Position.

Taxation

Government departments are exempt from the payment of income tax in terms of the Income Tax Act 1994. Accordingly, no charge for income tax has been provided for.

Donation receipts

The Department receives unsolicited donations, gifts and grants from individuals, groups and companies. The treatment of these depends on their nature:

  1. Donations which are received without a specific purpose are recognised as revenue in the period of receipt.
  2. Donations received for specific purposes where a written agreement specifies the purpose for which the funds must be used are matched against related expenditure when it has been incurred. Where the expenditure has not been incurred the unspent balance is treated as revenue in advance.
  3. Donations received for specified purposes under section 33 of the Conservation Act 1987, section 18 of the New Zealand Walkways Act 1990 or section 78(3) of the Reserves Act 1977 are held in trust accounts established by section 67 of the Public Finance Act 1989. If the Department incurs expenditure in relation to achieving these specific purposes, the funds are transferred to the Department as revenue when the expenditure is incurred.

Employee entitlements

Provision is made in respect of the Department's liability for annual, long service, retirement leave, time off in lieu and sick leave. Annual leave and time off in lieu are recognised as they accrue to the employee. Retirement, long service leave and sick leave provisions have been calculated on an actuarial basis based on the present value of expected future entitlements.

Financial instruments

The Department is party to financial instruments as part of its normal operations. These financial instruments include bank accounts, accounts payable, and receivable.

All revenues and expenses in relation to financial instruments are recognised in the Forecast Statement of Financial Performance.

All financial instruments are recognised in the Forecast Statement of Financial Position at their estimated fair value.

Taxpayers' funds

This is the Crown's net investment in the Department.

Implementation of New Zealand International Financial Reporting Standards

The forecast financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2008 have been prepared under NZ IFRS. The financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2007 have been prepared under Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP).

Changes in accounting policies

There have been no changes in accounting policies, including cost allocation accounting policies, since the date of the last audited financial statements. All policies have been applied on a basis consistent with the previous year.

Forecast Statement of Financial Performance for the year ended 30 June 2008

30/06/08
Forecast
$000

30/06/07
Estimated Actual
$000

30/06/07
Budget
$000

Revenue

  • Crown
  • Other

257,401
29,508

251,175
29,693

251,175
29,693

Total revenue

286,909

280,868

280,868

Expenses

  • Personnel
  • Operating
  • Depreciation
  • Capital charge

114,846
117,834
23,950
30,979

124,792
109,465
20,930
29,459

124,792
109,465
20,930
29,459

Total expenses

287,609

284,646

284,646

Net surplus/(deficit)

(700)

(3,778)

(3,778)

Statement of Movements in Taxpayers' Funds for the year ended 30 June 2008

30/06/08
Forecast
$000

30/06/07
Estimated Actual
$000

30/06/07
Budget
$000

Total taxpayers' funds at
the beginning of the year

392,547

387,412

387,412

  • Net surplus/(deficit)

(700)

(3,778)

(3,778)

  • Revaluation of assets

(1)

2

2

  • Assets transfers from other government departments

2,000

2,000

2,000

  • Capital contributions

17,593

7,274

7,274

Total taxpayers' funds
at the end of the year

411,439

392,910

392,910

Note: Forecast opening 'Total Taxpayers' funds' recognises employee sick leave liabilities
of $363,000 as required by New Zealand International Financial Reporting Standards (NZ IAS 19).

Forecast Statement of Financial Position as at 30 June 2008

30/06/08
Forecast
$000

30/06/07
Estimated Actual
$000

30/06/07
Budget
$000

Current assets

  • Cash and bank balances
  • Receivables & prepayments
  • Inventories
  • Debtor Crown

19,821
4,782
1,342
48,772

19,823
7,873
1,342
52,765

19,823
7,873
1,342
52,765

Total current assets

74,717

81,803

81,803

Non-current assets

  • Fixed assets

380,442

357,096

357,096

Total non-current assets

380,442

357,096

357,096

Total assets

455,159

438,899

438,899

Current liabilities

  • Creditors and payables
  • Provision for employee entitlements
  • Revenue in advance

23,934

7,647
2,049

26,566

7,284
2,049

26,566

7,284
2,049

Total current liabilities

33,630

35,899

35,899

Non-current liabilities

  • Provision for employee entitlements


10,090


10,090


10,090

Total non-current liabilities

10,090

10,090

10,090

Total liabilities

43,720

45,989

45,989

Taxpayers' funds

  • General funds
  • Revaluation reserve

325,694
85,745

307,165
85,745

307,165
85,745

Total taxpayers' funds

411,439

392,910

392,910

Total liabilities and
taxpayers' funds

455,159

438,899

438,899

Forecast Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended 30 June 2008

30/06/08
Forecast
$000

30/06/07
Estimated Actual
$000

30/06/07
Budget
$000

Cash flows - operating activities
Cash provided from:

  • Supply of outputs to Crown
  • Supply of outputs to customers

Cash disbursed to:
Produce outputs

  • Personnel
  • Operating
  • Capital charge


261,394

28,966


114,846
116,833
30,979


253,322

29,087


124,792
106,881
29,459


253,322

29,087


124,792
106,881
29,459

Net cash inflow from
operating activities

27,702

21,277

21,277

Cash flows - investing activities
Cash disbursed to:

  • Purchase of fixed assets


45,297


30,728


30,728

Net cash outflow
from investing activities

(45,297)

(30,728)

(30,728)

Cash flows - financing activities
Cash provided from:

  • Capital contributions

17,593

7,274

7,274

Net cash inflow/(outflow)
from financing activities

17,593

7,274

7,274

Net increase in cash held

(2)

(2,177)

(2,177)

Add opening cash balance

19,823

22,000

22,000

Closing cash and bank balances

19,821

19,823

19,823

Forecast Reconciliation of Net Surplus / (Deficit) and Net Cash Flows from Operating Activities for the year ended 30 June 2008

30/06/08
Forecast
$000

30/06/07
Estimated Actual
$000

30/06/07
Budget
$000

Net surplus/(deficit)

(700)

(3,778)

(3,778)

  • Depreciation

23,950

20,930

20,930

Total non-cash items

23,950

20,930

20,930

Working Capital Movement

4,452

2,125

2,125

Net Loss on Sale of Fixed Assets

-

2,000

2,000

Net cash inflow/(outflow)
from operating activities

27,702

21,277

21,277

Detail of Fixed Assets by Category as at June 2008

30/06/08
Forecast
$000

30/06/07
Estimated Actual
$000

30/06/07
Budget
$000

Visitor assets and Buildings

At valuation

691,436

658,018

658,018

Accumulated depreciation

(371,119)

(352,434)

(352,434)

Visitor assets - net carrying value

320,317

305,584

305,584

Freehold land

At valuation

16,852

14,852

14,852

Land - net carrying value

16,852

14,852

14,852

Infrastructural Assets

At valuation

27,799

27,070

27,070

Accumulated depreciation

(15,906)

(15,460)

(15,460)

Infrastructural assets -
net carrying value

11,893

11,610

11,610

Vessels

At cost

8,859

8,818

8,818

Accumulated depreciation

(5,009)

(4,565)

(4,565)

Vessels - net carrying value

3,850

4,253

4,253

Furniture, computers, other office equipment and software
At cost

3,943

3,767

3,767

Accumulated depreciation

(3,012)

(2,833)

(2,833)

Furniture, computers, other office equipment and software -
net carrying value

931

934

934

Motor vehicles

At cost

21,149

20,067

20,067

Accumulated depreciation

(10,938)

(9,865)

(9,865)

Vehicles - net carrying value

10,211

10,202

10,202

Plant, field and radio equipment

At cost

32,253

22,403

22,403

Accumulated depreciation

(15,865)

(12,742)

(12,742)

Plant, field and radio equipment - net carrying value

16,388

9,661

9,661

Total fixed assets

At cost and valuation

802,291

754,995

754,995

Accumulated depreciation

(421,849)

(397,899)

(397,899)

Total carrying value fixed assets

380,442

357,096

357,096

Departmental Capital Expenditure (to be incurred in accordance with section 24 of the Public Finance Act 1989)

Departmental Capital Expenditure $000
Actual 2002/03

14,240

Actual 2003/04

20,256

Actual 2004/05

17,679

Actual 2005/06

20,321

Budget 2006/07

30,728

Estimated Actual 2006/07

30,728

Forecast 2007/08

45,297

The forecast capital expenditure for the 2007/08 financial year is primarily in line with the replacement and upgrade of the Department's existing asset categories, which predominantly relate to visitor assets. The capital expenditure supports the Department's production of outputs set out in this Statement of Intent.

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