Gateway is an assurance method for high risk investments (based on completion and moderation of the Risk Profile Assessment). It is an independent peer-review process that examines investments at key points in their life cycle to assess their progress and to rate the likelihood of successful delivery of their outcomes.
Gateway is not an audit and does not stop a project or programme. The Gateway process:
- increases confidence in alignment of projects with Government strategic objectives
- increases confidence in investment decisions
- increases confidence in delivery of required project benefits to time and budget
- builds agency and wider system capability in the investment management system
The outcome of Gateway reviews is shared with Ministers and Cabinet as part of business case approvals to support their decision-making. Gateway reviews are also shared with the relevant system leader to support them in their role.
A Gateway review does not replace the need for Independent Quality Assurance activities.
Who Gateway applies to
Gateway reviews are required for all investments that have a moderated Risk Profile Assessment risk rating of high. Gateway reviews are optional for all other investments.
Review Costs
Gateway reviews cost $75,000 per review.
The Gateway process timing
The entire process takes a minimum of eight weeks to plan and deliver a Gateway review. The Gateway review itself takes one week including presenting the final report to the investment’s Senior Responsible Owner (SRO).
The first step in the process is for a project or programme to assess their schedule to determine when a Gateway review would be appropriate.
A Gateway review should be held some weeks before key decision points, so the review findings can inform decisions.
Below is a diagram illustrating how Gateway reviews align with programme and project lifecycles:
Please contact us 9-12 weeks before the review week is needed, to enable the review to run smoothly.
An assessment meeting between the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) and the Gateway Unit should be arranged at least eight weeks prior to the desired review week.
| Week 0 | Week 1 | Week 2 to 5 | Week 6 | Week 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Request Gateway review |
Assessment meeting (1 hour) |
Set up planning workshop and review logistics |
Planning workshop (half day) |
Review week |
|
The project team contacts the Gateway Unit and advises them that they need to schedule a review. |
The Gateway Unit, SRO, and project manager agree to timing, scope and cost. |
The Gateway Unit selects the review team. The project prepares to host the review. |
The Gateway Unit briefs the review team. Initial discussion between the review team, SRO and project manager. SRO and review team agree on key issues. |
Review team reviews the project, conducts interviews. The report is completed and provided to the SRO. |
Contact to request a Gateway review
To request a Gateway review or discuss when a review may be best timed, please email the Gateway Unit at: [email protected]
Requests for Gateway review reports
Gateway review reports are official information, and the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) applies as normal.
If an agency receives an OIA request for a Review Report: please apply the OIA as per all other requests for official information.
If the Treasury receives an OIA request for a Review Report: we will transfer the request to the agency sponsoring the investment (as the owner of the document). The agency would then apply the OIA as normal.
If the Treasury receives an OIA request for advice to the Minister of Finance that includes content from a Review Report: we will consult the relevant agency prior to making any decision to release or withhold information.