Perspectives
From the classroom to the public sector: The difference civics education can make
Writer Claire Finlayson explores the current state of affairs with civics education in Aotearoa New Zealand and asks how students, public servants, and all citizens can benefit from strengthening their knowledge on this subject.
- 08 Apr 2024
- 2024
- Best Practice
- Education
- Public Service
Te Rau Hihiri: Nurturing Māori in the Public Sector
Te Rau Hihiri is a charitable trust aiming to empower and advocate for Māori working in and with the public sector. This article highlights key events in its history and its future focus.
- 22 Mar 2024
- 2024
- Best Practice
- Māori public servants
President's message: The pathway to leadership is service
IPANZ President Liz MacPherson's message in the Public Sector Journal Autumn 2024 issue.
- 22 Mar 2024
- 2024
- Best Practice
- Leadership
Free and Frank Advice and the Official Information Act: balancing competing principles of good government
Article by Andrew Kibblewhite and Peter Boshier in Policy Quarterly, Vol 14, Issue 2.
- 15 Mar 2024
- 2018
- Best Practice
- Free and Frank advice
Free, frank and other f‐words: learning the policy road code
Speech notes from Andrew Kibblewhite for his presentation to the IPANZ seminar held 12 August 2015.
- 15 Mar 2024
- 2015
- Best Practice
- Free and Frank advice
A media perspective on free and frank policy advice
Presentation by David Farrar to the IPANZ seminar held 12 August 2015.
- 15 Mar 2024
- 2015
- Best Practice
- Free and Frank advice
Free and Frank Policy Advice Seminar
Presentation by Dr Karen Poutasi to the IPANZ seminar held 12 August 2015.
- 15 Mar 2024
- 2015
- Best Practice
- Free and Frank advice
Free and Frank Policy Advice: Some initial observations
Presentation by Dr Chris Eichbaum to the IPANZ seminar held 12 August 2015.
- 15 Mar 2024
- 2015
- Best Practice
- Free and Frank advice
What Future for Free and Frank Advice?
Address to IPANZ by Richard Mulgan as part of centennial commemorations of the Public Service Act of 1912. Held 30 May 2012.
- 15 Mar 2024
- 2012
- Best Practice
- Free and Frank advice
Going, Growing, Gone: The public sector in a 'new' New Zealand
Distinguished Professor Emeritus Paul Spoonley outlines the main changes in Aotearoa New Zealand’s projected demography and the impact of these changes on our public services.
- 15 Mar 2024
- 2024
- Best Practice
- Data
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. Now, at the beginning of the new parliamentary term, is the time to do it.
- 15 Dec 2023
- 2023
- Best Practice
- No surprises
Did you know? New Zealand Customs
Uncover some fascinating facts and intriguing insights into one of the oldest government departments in Aotearoa New Zealand: Customs. Its Māori name – Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa – translates as ‘the authority that screens and protects New Zealand’.
- 08 Dec 2023
- 2023
- Best Practice
- Did you know? PSJ series
AI and the Public Sector: Understanding the current landscape
In the first of a series of articles for Public Sector journal, Stephen Clarke, Data and Information Management Consultant and former Chief Archivist, provides an overview of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies within the public sector, the impacts of AI on our work, and asks what issues AI raises for public servants.
- 08 Dec 2023
- 2023
- Best Practice
- Technology
Public Service Awards 2023: Perfect Storm
The 2023 Young Leader of the Year award at the Spirit of Service Awards went to Suanoa (Noa) Samasoni. Kathy Ombler chats with her about what guides her in her work and how her background has informed her work as a public servant.
- 27 Nov 2023
- Best Practice
- Leadership
- Public Servant
Agile, Tragile, Fragile: Busting the myths around agile approaches in the public sector
Shane Hastie, Global Delivery Lead at SoftEd, part of Skills Consulting Group, uncovers the myths around the concept of Agile and how this mindset or philosophy of work relates to the public sector.
- 17 Nov 2023
- Best Practice
- Productivity
Bullying and Rudeness in the Public Service
Geoff Plimmer, Alina Haider, and Ao Zhou (Ollie) from the School of Management, Te Kura Whakahaere, Victoria University Wellington Te Herenga Waka ask some insightful questions about bullying and rudeness in the public service and seek to offer some solutions.
- 17 Nov 2023
- Best Practice
- Wellbeing
With change comes opportunity – preparing to serve the government of the day
This post-election government formation period is not an easy time for public servants. The pre-election period has dwelt on criticism of the public service. This is not easy to hear, especially without the ability to respond. Then there are the threats of cuts to the state sector particularly the lack of value put upon ‘back office’ jobs. And there are a plethora of new ideas and policies to be implemented which will require considerable work, potentially with diminishing resources.
When we take stock at this time, what is it that we know?
- 31 Oct 2023
- Best Practice
- Public Service
Pioneering Change: What can Aotearoa New Zealand learn from Wales
What can the public sector of Aotearoa New Zealand learn from the achievements of the first Future Generations Commissioner for Wales?
- 09 Oct 2023
- 2023
- Best Practice
- Futures Planning
- Sustainability
Political Neutrality: A discussion
Chris Eichbaum, Adjunct Professor at Te Kura Kāwanatanga School of Government, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, shares his thoughts on the topic of political neutrality.
- 06 Oct 2023
- 2023
- Best Practice
- Political Neutrality
In the Service of Our Future - The IPANZ story
Liz MacPherson, IPANZ President, recognises the need to look backwards in order to determine the future direction of IPANZ. Here she outlines the vision and strategy for the organisation.
- 29 Sep 2023
- 2023
- Best Practice
- Futures Planning
IPANZ President’s message: Public service by the people, for the people
IPANZ President, Liz MacPherson's message on public service by the people, for the people in the 2023 Spring issue of the Public Sector Journal.
- 15 Sep 2023
- 2023
- Best Practice
- Public Service
Election season in the Public Sector: Navigating the pre- and post-election periods
Laura Sahng and Georgina Lomax-Sawyers from Russell McVeagh summarise the main points from a recent election season event, run by the IPANZ New Professionals Leadership Team.
- 11 Sep 2023
- 2023
- Best Practice
- Public Servant
- Wellington
Index Shows more Kiwi workplaces need to prioritise psychological safety
Jane Kennelly, Director People and Stakeholder Management at Skills Consulting Group, brings together some insights about workplace wellbeing from their 2023 Skills Group Work Wellbeing Index.
- 16 Aug 2023
- 2023
- Best Practice
- Wellbeing
IPANZ AGM with Guest Speaker Dr Chris Eichbaum, Adjunct Professor, School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka
IPANZ invited Dr Chris Eichbaum, Adjunct Professor, School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka, to speak at our 2023 Annual General Meeting. Chrischallenged the audience – should we just give up on political neutrality?
- 09 Aug 2023
- 2023
- Best Practice
- Political Neutrality
- Public Servant
- Public Service
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. The attached report documents insights that emerged from these conversations.
- 09 Aug 2023
- 2023
- Best Practice
- Political Nous