Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2003
Part 2: Statement of responsibility and audit report (continued)
Report of the Auditor-General
To the readers of the Financial Statements of the Ministry of Defence for the year ended 30 June 2003
We have audited the financial statements on pages 30 to 82 (part 3 to part 5). The financial statements provide information about the past financial and service performance of the Ministry of Defence and its financial position as at 30 June 2003. This information is stated in accordance with the accounting policies set out on pages 54 to 57 (Statement of Accounting Policies).
Responsibilities of the Secretary of Defence
The Public Finance Act 1989 requires the Secretary of Defence to prepare financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice in New Zealand that fairly reflect the financial position of the Ministry of Defence as at 30 June 2003, the results of its operations and cash flows and the service performance achievements for the year ended on that date.
Auditor's responsibilities
Section 15 of the Public Audit Act 2001 and section 38(1) of the Public Finance Act 1989 require the Auditor-General to audit the financial statements presented by the Secretary of Defence. It is the responsibility of the Auditor-General to express an independent opinion on the financial statements and report that opinion to you.
The Auditor-General has appointed Chris Fabling, of Audit New Zealand, to undertake the audit.
Basis of opinion
An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. It also includes assessing:
- the significant estimates and judgements made by the Secretary of Defence in the preparation of the financial statements; and
- whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Ministry of Defence's circumstances, consistently applied and adequately disclosed.
We conducted our audit in accordance with Auditing Standards published by the Auditor-General, which incorporate the Auditing Standards issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand. We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatements, whether caused by fraud or error. In forming our opinion, we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the financial statements.
A staff member from the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General was seconded to the Ministry of Defence as Acting Deputy Secretary of Defence (Evaluation) from 18 February 2002 to 2 September 2002, following which the staff member was appointed to the permanent position of Deputy Secretary of Defence (Evaluation). We also provided a resource to assist the Ministry of Defence Evaluation Division in an assignment looking at the New Zealand Defence Force minor capital programme. Other than this and in our capacity as auditor acting on behalf of the Auditor-General, we have no relationship with or interests in the Ministry of Defence.
Unqualified opinion
We have obtained all the information and explanations we have required:
In our opinion the financial statements of the Ministry of Defence on pages 30 to 82:
- comply with generally accepted accounting practice in New Zealand; and
- fairly reflect:
- the Ministry of Defence's financial position as at 30 June 2003;
- the results of its operations and cash flows for the year ended on that date; and
- its service performance achievements in relation to the performance targets and other measures set out in the forecast financial statements for the year ended on that date.
Our audit was completed on 25 September 2003 and our unqualified opinion is expressed as at that date.
Chris Fabling
Audit New Zealand
On behalf of the Auditor-General
Wellington, New Zealand
