NEW ZEALAND
The New Zealand Government has announced the most significant reform of the country’s Public Service in 30 years and has sought public consultation as part of the
Minister of State Services, Chris Hipkins (pictured) said the proposed changes involved a major shift in the way the Public Service operated
“The changes will drive two wider outcomes,” Mr Hipkins said.
“On a system-wide level, the changes will see the Public Service operate as one joined up system to tackle the big, complex challenges facing New Zealand.
“The Public Service will have more capability to wrap multiple services around the needs of citizens.”
He said that under the current model, individual Departments delivered services they had sole accountability for.
“This doesn’t work as well when Agencies need to be working collectively, where citizens often must deal with a number of different Agencies on a single issue,” Mr Hipkins said.
“The public rightly expects more seamless and easy to access services from Government, when too often the information and advice they get is siloed.”
He said the proposed changes would break down the barriers and put citizens at the centre of service delivery.
“Our aim is for New Zealand to have the world’s best Public Service,” Mr Hipkins said.
“We want a Public Service that is compassionate, unified and motivated by a spirit of service to the community.”
The proposed reforms are now open for public discussion.
Wellington, 5 September, 2018
