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Annual Report 2006/07: Part 3 - Residential Tenancies Trust Account

Audit report

To the readers of Residential Tenancies Trust Account's Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2007

The Auditor-General is the auditor of Residential Tenancies Trust Account (RTTA). The Auditor-General has appointed me, John O'Connell, using the staff and resources of Audit New Zealand, to carry out the audit of the financial statements of the RTTA, on his behalf, for the year ended 30 June 2007.

Unqualified opinion

In our opinion:

The financial statements of the Residential Tenancy Trust Account comprising the Statement of Accounting Policies, Statement of Financial Performance, Statement of Movements in Bondholders’ Funds, Statement of Financial Position, Statement of Cash Flows, Statement of Commitments, Statement of Contingent Liabilities and Notes to the Financial Statements:

  • comply with generally accepted accounting practice in New Zealand; and fairly reflect:
    • the RTTA's financial position as at 30 June 2007;
    • the results of its operations and cash flows for the year ended on that date.

The audit was completed on 28 September 2007, and is the date at which our opinion is expressed.

The basis of our opinion is explained below. In addition, we outline the responsibilities of the Chief Executive and the Auditor, and explain our independence.

Basis of opinion

We carried out the audit in accordance with the Auditor-General's Auditing Standards, which incorporate the New Zealand Auditing Standards.

We planned and performed the audit to obtain all the information and explanations we considered necessary in order to obtain reasonable assurance that the financial statements did not have material misstatements, whether caused by fraud or error.

Material misstatements are differences or omissions of amounts and disclosures that would affect a reader's overall understanding of the financial statements. If we had found material misstatements that were not corrected, we would have referred to them in our opinion.

The audit involved performing procedures to test the information presented in the financial statements. We assessed the results of those procedures in forming our opinion.

Audit procedures generally include:

  • determining whether significant financial and management controls are working and can be relied on to produce complete and accurate data;
  • verifying samples of transactions and account balances;
  • performing analyses to identify anomalies in the reported data;
  • reviewing significant estimates and judgements made by the Chief Executive;
  • confirming year-end balances;
  • determining whether accounting policies are appropriate and consistently applied; and
  • determining whether all financial statement disclosures are adequate.

We did not examine every transaction, nor do we guarantee complete accuracy of the financial statements or statement of service performance.

We evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the financial statements. We obtained all the information and explanations we required to support our opinion above.

Responsibilities of the Chief Executive and the Auditor

The Chief Executive of the Department of Building and Housing is responsible for preparing financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice in New Zealand. The financial statements must fairly reflect the financial position of the RTTA as at 30 June 2007 and the results of its operations and cash flows for the year ended on that date. The Chief Executive's responsibilities arise from section 126 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.

We are responsible for expressing an independent opinion on the financial statements and reporting that opinion to you. This responsibility arises from section 15 of the Public Audit Act 2001.

Independence

When carrying out the audit we followed the independence requirements of the Auditor-General, which incorporate the independence requirements of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand.

Other than the audit, we have no relationship with or interests in the RTTA.

 John O'Connell
Audit New Zealand
On behalf of the Auditor-General
Wellington, New Zealand

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Matters relating to the electronic presentation of the audited financial statements

This audit report relates to the financial statements of the Residential Tenancies Trust Account for the year ended 30 June 2007 included on the Department of Building and Housing's website. The Department of Building and Housing's Chief Executive is responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Department of Building and Housing's website. We have not been engaged to report on the integrity of the Department of Building and Housing's website. We accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred to the financial statements since they were initially presented on the website.

The audit report refers only to the financial statements named above. It does not provide an opinion on any other information which may have been hyperlinked to or from the financial statements. If readers of this report are concerned with the inherent risks arising from electronic data communication they should refer to the published hard copy of the audited financial statements and related audit report dated 28 September 2007 to confirm the information included in the audited financial statements presented on this website.

Legislation in New Zealand governing the preparation and dissemination of financial information may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

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Financial Statements

Statement of Accounting Policies

for the year ended 30 June 2007

Reporting entity

The Department of Building and Housing manages the Residential Tenancies Trust Account pursuant to the Public Finance Act 1989 and the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. The Department took over direct management of the Residential Tenancies Trust Account on 18 August 1992.

All interest arising from any investment in the Residential Tenancies Trust Account belongs to the Crown and is treated as other revenue to the Department of Building and Housing.

Investments are held in approved securities under the Public Finance Act 1989. The Department of Building and Housing pays costs associated with the management of the Residential Tenancies Trust Account as departmental expenses.

Measurement system

These financial statements have been prepared on the basis of modified historical cost except for certain items with specific accounting policies outlined below.

Accounting policies

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

Revenue

The Trust derives revenue from interest on investments. Interest on investments is accrued on a monthly basis.

Cash

Cash is defined as coins, notes and demand deposits in the Trust Account bank account and other deposits held on call.

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable are stated at estimated realisable value.

Investments

Investments are not generally traded but held to maturity. Investments in government stock and bonds are valued at cost with premiums and discounts on investments accounted for on a yield-to-maturity basis. Investments in bank deposits are valued at cost.

Financial instruments

The Residential Tenancies Trust Account is party to financial instruments as part of its normal operations. These financial instruments include accounts payable and receivable, cash, deposits and investments. Revenue and expenditure in relation to all financial instruments are recognised in the Statement of Financial Performance. Except for those items covered by a separate accounting policy, all financial instruments are shown at estimated fair value.

Taxation

The Residential Tenancies Trust Account is exempt from income tax in terms of the Income Tax Act 2004. Accordingly, no charge for income tax has been provided for.

Changes in accounting policies

There have been no changes in accounting policies. All policies have been applied on a basis consistent with the previous year.

Statement of Financial Performance

for the year ended 30 June 2007

2006
Actual
$000
  2007
Actual
$000
  Revenue  
263 Interest earned from government stock 97
13,691 Interest earned from bank deposits 16,880
13,954 Total revenue 16,977
  Expenditure  
13,954 Interest to Department of Building and Housing 16,977
- Operating surplus -

Note: Audit fees are paid by the Department of Building and Housing.

Reconciliation of Movements in Bondholders' Funds

for the year ended 30 June 2007

2006
Actual
$000
 

2007
Actual
$000

187,065 Bondholders' funds at 1 July 207,519
- Total recognised revenues and expenses for the year -
117,837 Bonds lodged 130,895
(97,383) Bonds refunded (107,438)
207,519 Bondholders' funds at 30 June 230,976

These financial statements are to be read in conjunction with the accompanying accounting policies and notes to the financial statements.

Statement of Financial Position

as at 30 June 2007

2006
Actual
$000
  Note 2007
Actual
$000
  Current assets    
5,624 Bank 1 7,773
148,786 Investments 1 163,451
6,098 Accounts receivable   11,425
160,508 Total current assets   182,649
  Non-current assets    
60,305 Investments 1 66,700
60,305 Total non-current assets   66,700
220,813 Total assets   249,349
  Current liabilities    
13,261 Payable to Department of Building and Housing   18,338
33 Other   35
13,294 Total current liabilities   18,373
207,519 Net assets   230,976
  Bondholders' funds    
187,065 Opening balance   207,519
20,454 Net increase   23,457
207,519 Closing balance of bondholders' funds   230,976

Statement of Cash Flows

for the year ended 30 June 2007

2006
Actual
$000
  2007
Actual
$000
  Cash flows from operating activities  
  Cash was provided from:  
11,865 Interest received 11,650
  Cash was disbursed to:  
(8,480) Interest payments to Department of Building and Housing (11,900)
3,385 Net cash flows from operating activities (250)
  Cash flows from investing activities  
  Cash was provided from:  
153,321 Proceeds from maturity of investments 166,986
  Cash was disbursed to:  
(179,653) Purchase of investments (188,046)
(1) Disposal of goods 2
(26,333) Net cash flows from investing activities (21,058)
  Cash flows from financing activities  
  Cash was provided from:  
117,837 Lodgement of bonds 130,895
  Cash was disbursed to:  
(97,383) Refund of bonds (107,438)
20,454 Net cash flows from financing activities 23,457
(2,494) Net increase/(decrease) in cash held 2,149
8,118 Opening cash 5,624
5,624 Closing cash 7,773

These financial statements are to be read in conjunction with the accompanying accounting policies and notes to the financial statements.

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Notes to the Financial Statements

for the year ended 30 June 2007

Note 1: Investments by Counterparty

Investments are undertaken in line with the Department's investment strategy. Investments were held with the following counterparties as at 30 June (investment values at book value).

2006
Actual
$000
  2007
Actual
$000
  Current  
34,200 Westpac 31,200
8,000 National Bank 6,500
39,925 ANZ 39,950
30,006 BNZ 33,001
32,633 ASB 52,800
4,022 Government stock -
148,786 Total current 163,451
  Non-current  
10,000 Westpac 24,000
- National Bank 3,000
7,500 ANZ 11,200
18,005 BNZ 23,500
24,800 ASB 5,000
60,305 Total non-current 66,700
209,091 Total investments by counterparty 230,151
  Weighted average interest rates  
7.02% Short-term deposits 7.68%
7.42% Term deposits 8.58%
6.48% Government stock 7.98%

Note 2: Book value of Investments

2006
Actual
$000
  2007
Actual
$000
197,425 Bank deposits 228,150
7,644 Bank bonds 2,001
4,022 Government stock -
209,091 Total book value of investments 230,151

Note 3: Financial Instruments

Financial instruments that are potentially subject to credit risk principally consist of cash on hand, bank balances, accounts receivable, short-term deposits and investments.

Credit risk
The maximum exposures to credit risk at balance date are:

2006
Actual
$000
  2007
Actual
$000
5,624 Cash held 7,773
6,098 Accounts receivable 11,425
209,091 Investments 230,151
220,813 Total 249,349

There are no major concentrations of credit risk for accounts receivable.

Currency risk

The Residential Tenancies Trust Account has no currency risk, as any financial instruments it deals with are in New Zealand dollars.

Interest rate risk

The Residential Tenancies Trust Account has no interest rate risk, as all investments are held to maturity. Deposits are held with authorised New Zealand banks.

Fair value

The fair value of all financial instruments is equivalent to the carrying amount disclosed in the Statement of Financial Position, apart from the bank bonds, the fair value of which is $2,039,000 (2006: $4,025,600), and the investment in government stock, the fair value of which is nil at 30 June 2007 (2006: $4,045,200).

Note 4: Reconciliation of Operating Surplus to Net Cash Flows from Operating Activities

2006
Actual
$000
  2007
Actual
$000
- Operating surplus -
  Add/(less) movements in working capital  
(2,089) (Increase)/decrease in interest receivable (5,327)
5,474 Increase/(decrease) in interest payable 5,077
3,385 Net cash flows from operating activities (250)

Note 5: Commitments and Contingencies

The Residential Tenancies Trust Account has no commitments or contingent liabilities at balance date (2006: Nil).

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