introduced a new set of incentives and sanctions for providers, based on EER results, to bring higher performance to the sector. In May 2014 NZQA introduced ‘Innovation at NZQA’ to its website detailing the organisation's strategic thinking and ‘Future State’ programme of work around responding to a global and digital environment and trialling new processes and technologies. Numbers In 2013 more than 143,000 candidates took part in the annual NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship examinations administered by NZQA and achievement results were analysed in the Annual Report on NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship Data & Statistics released each year by NZQA. In 2016 more than 146,000 candidates sat NCEA and Scholarship exams. Because of the Kaikoura earthquake, the Scholarship exams were postponed. Students in the Hurunui and Kaikoura districts were unable to attend their exams as their schools were closed, meaning they had to use their derived grades. Controversies In 2005 the Authority's Chairman and CEO resigned after an investigation by the State Services Commission into the 2004 New Zealand Scholarship exams. In the physics exams only 39 out of 1,012 students who sat the exam received a scholarship while in English the result was 228 out of 587. This, and the state of the Authority as a whole at that time, was described by media as a "debacle". Concerns over exams In 2016, mistakes were made in the 2016 maths exam at every level. In 2017, many students and teachers were left perplexed by NCEA Level 1 MCAT externals, stating that they were "too difficult" and "not in the correct standard". NZQA stated that they had full confidence in their papers, but the minister has asked for a review. See also Education in New Zealand References External links Official website Qualifications Authority Education in New Zealand