Basis of opinion We carried out our audit in accordance with the Auditor-General’s Auditing Standards, which incorporate the International Standards on Auditing (New Zealand). Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and carry out our audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and non-financial performance information are free from material misstatement. Material misstatements are differences or omissions of amounts and disclosures that, in our judgement, are likely to influence readers’ overall understanding of the financial statements and non-financial performance information. If we had found material misstatements that were not corrected, we would have referred to them in our opinion. An audit involves carrying out procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and non-financial performance information. The procedures selected depend on our judgement, including our assessment of risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and non-financial performance information, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, we consider internal control relevant to the preparation of the Commission’s financial statements and non-financial performance information that fairly reflect the matters to which they relate. We consider internal control in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Commission’s internal control. An audit also involves evaluating: • the appropriateness of accounting policies used and whether they have been consistently applied; • the reasonableness of the significant accounting estimates and judgements made by the Commission; • the appropriateness of the reported non-financial performance information within the Commission’s framework for reporting performance; • the adequacy of all disclosures in the financial statements and non-financial performance information; and • the overall presentation of the financial statements and non-financial performance information. We did not examine every transaction, nor do we guarantee complete accuracy of the financial statements and non-financial performance information. Also we did not evaluate the security and controls over the electronic publication of the financial statements and non-financial performance information. We have obtained all the information and explanations we have required and we believe we have obtained sufficient and appropriate audit evidence to provide a basis for our audit opinion. Responsibilities of the Commissioners The Commissioners are responsible for preparing financial statements and non-financial performance information that: • comply with generally accepted accounting practice in New Zealand; • fairly reflect the Commission’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows; and • fairly reflect its service performance and outcomes. 95