IPANZ works to support the development of a high performing Public Sector, respected and valued by New Zealanders.

News

08 December 2023

Public service cannot promise any government ‘no surprises’

“No surprises” is fundamentally about the constitutional relationship between ministers and public servants. National’s coalition agreements with Act and New Zealand First agree that the cabinet manual’s “no surprises” policy “needs clarification to better respect the privacy of individuals”. The Institute of Public Administration NZ (IPANZ) suggests a more fundamental overhaul of the entire “no surprises” approach is necessary.

News

09 August 2023

Ministers & Officials: How to get the relationship right – Insights from conversations at the political administrative interface

IPANZ recently collaborated with the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) on a series of events to explore the crucial relationship between ministers and officials. This series of conversations was designed to shed light on what both sides can do to ensure the relationship is working at its best. Topics covered were getting the relationship between ministers and officials right, understanding and developing political nous, and building the relationship with political nous.