IPANZ E-Update - November 2019
Kia ora koutou
We are feeling a bit overwhelmed, but in a very positive way! We were so pleased to get a record number of applicants for our board positions, focussing this time on extending the diversity on our board. And we are delighted to be getting more positive comments on our communications on social media and our e-update. It is especially gratifying to hear from people in Auckland and Christchurch who do not get the ready access to the same number of events.
Our last journal for the year will be out in about two weeks. In the next e-update we will profile some of the articles, on agility in the public service, risk and reputation, wellbeing frameworks implemented locally and some opinion pieces, which we hope will encourage you to share your opinions too.
We are very keen to extend our reach to all staff in our member organisations. Please help by sending on this e-update to your colleagues, maybe to your communications people to put it on your intranet or to your manager for them to identify what would be most useful for your teams to share.
The need to change NZ's whistleblowing legislation
As stories about whistleblowing and its consequences dominate international headlines, work is underway to review New Zealand’s whistleblowing legislation.
We asked Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier to explain the nuts and bolts of the Protected Disclosures Act 2000, and why we need to lift our game.
Read what Peter has to say about the Act, why it isn’t working as well as it could and should, and the need for change in this article. The article also includes helpful links for guidance on how to make a protected disclosure, and on internal policies and procedures for organisations.
Tips for Effective Engagement with Māori
It’s important for all of us to be thinking about how we are engaging with Māori, and what meaningful and effective engagement looks like.
IPANZ is committed to helping public sector professionals to build their confidence and skills and our refreshed workshop on Engaging Effectively with Māori has been so popular that the October workshop sold out in record time.
For those who missed out this time, we've shared some key insights from our workshop facilitator Katy Te Amo in four short videos, which you can watch on our new YouTube page here. (While you’re there, you could start following our YouTube page!).
And there’s an excellent blog with links to some really helpful resources, available on our website here.
We intend to continue to offer these workshops so look out for more about that next year.
Top Marks for Public Management
This year’s IPANZ Public Administration Prize for top marks in a Public Management paper has been awarded to Miranda Smith.
Miranda is in her fifth year of a conjoint Bachelor of Commerce and LLB (Hons) majoring in Public Policy at Victoria University of Wellington.
She received top marks in the VUW School of Government’s Emerging Perspectives in Public Management paper.
Miranda, 23, says her first year commerce papers gave her a taste of public policy, and her interest was captured. “I liked how it was theoretical but also practical, because you could see how public policy impacts on people’s everyday lives.”
You can read more about Miranda and her plans for the future in this article.
Leading DPMC
This morning, the New Professionals group hosted the last Meet the Chiefs session for 2019 with DPMC Chief Executive Brook Barrington. This was a valuable session, with very candid insights into Brook’s career journey. He spoke a lot about how to bring out our best selves in our jobs - only then can a person grow in a job. He also urged people to learn and stretch - when you have the choice between an easy or a hard career option, choose the hard one. It is also important to think about what you want to see in a photo album when you are sitting in your deckchair at 70!
The Meet the Chiefs sessions will continue next year, so look out for events then.
Preparing Yourself For 2020 State Sector Legislation
An enduring focus for IPANZ has always been the principles and values of the New Zealand public sector.
The current state sector legislation does not include a consolidated statement of principles. Five principles of public service departments can be found in legislation, but these principles are currently scattered through the SSA (s1A, s32, s33, s60), and other Acts (Official Information Act 1982, Privacy Act 1993, and Public Records Act 2005). The new bill proposes a statement that can act as a point of identification and unity for the New Zealand Public Service.
In early 2020 you will have an opportunity to prepare submissions on the proposed Act. Later in 2020 we anticipate implementation of the new legislation. We all need to understand, debate, and enact these principles.
We have had a look through all the literature and believe that the September 2018 consultation document released by the State Services Commission, ‘New Zealand’s Public Service Belongs to You, The People of New Zealand’ gives a concise description of these principles.
We have shared an extract from that consultation document summarising those principles which you can read on our website here, and will update this when we know the final decisions.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tamaki Regeneration Company on Co-Design in Practice
AUCKLAND, Monday 18 November, 6.00 - 7.30pm
The Tamaki Regeneration Company is designing and establishing an intensive support service for whanau living in crisis. They have had to learn how to adapt and tailor the co-design process to make it safe, meaningful and empowering. They are still learning on this journey, and will be sharing some early experiences and insights from this work.
Find out more and register here.
You can be a Leader in Every Level in the System - with Dame Diana Crossan
WELLINGTON, Tuesday 19 November, 12.00 - 1.00pm
Dame Diana Crossan has shown outstanding leadership in many different parts of many sectors throughout her career. IPANZ is very keen equip public sector professionals with more confidence, more ideas and more skills to show leadership. So, Dame Diana will be drawing practical lessons for you all, relevant for junior, mid level or senior.
Find out more and register here.
Localism in Action - Implementing Wellbeing Frameworks
AUCKLAND, Tuesday 26 November, 12.30 - 1.30pm
The Wellbeing budget introduced by Grant Robertson is a new step for Central Government. However, at the Local Government level, thinking about wellbeing has been embedded for a long time.
As with many of these concepts, implementing them, making them real for New Zealanders, is always the challenge. At this event we will hear from LGNZ Principal Policy Advisor Mike Reid, about the challenges and opportunities for putting well-being frameworks into action at a local level, and some insights into how it has been done overseas.
Find out more and register here
Please note that our New Professionals event with The Policy Project on Monday 18 November is now booked out. We'll share some useful information and insights after the event on our new our new LinkedIn page, so be sure to be following us and look out for it there.
Farewell Sir Humphrey: Who's giving policy advice in Wellington, Whitehall, Canberra and Ottawa and why it matters?
WELLINGTON, Friday 29 November, 12.30 - 1.45pm
As everyone who works in government knows – the advice we give to decision makers really matters! This isn’t just about the Big-P policy which defines different governments, it’s about what we do every day: designing programs, delivering services, passing and abolishing regulations, making or fudging policy choices in big and small matters.
Unlike Sir Humphrey, contemporary public servants are just one player in a combustible and complex mix that includes political advisers, think tanks, consultants, lobbyists and the loud public voices on multiple platforms. Are we up to the task of giving advice in this environment and how do we compare with our fellow Westminster jurisdictions?
A/Professor Jonathan Craft has undertaken deep analysis of the four ‘policy advisory systems’ across NZ, Australia, Canada and the UK, including confidential interviews with many senior Kiwi players. Please join him for a fascinating exchange on where we’re at and what it means for the way we work every day.
For more information and to register click here
Digital Government: Managing Public Reform in the Digital Era - book launch and panel discussion
WELLINGTON, Wednesday 4 December, 7.30 - 9.00am
Digital Government: Managing Public Sector Reform in the Digital Era by Professor Miriam Lips presents a public management view on digital government and technology-enabled change in the public sector. It incorporates theory and practical insights to provide readers with a broader and deeper understanding of the complex and multidisciplinary nature of digital government initiatives, impacts and implications.
Join Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Victoria Business School Professor Ian Williamson and other invited guests for breakfast and a panel discussion with three local experts in the area of digital Government. The discussion will explore how managers shape digital government initiatives and their impacts.
Spaces are strictly limited so please register to attend by 29 November - you can register here
Please stay in touch with us
IPANZ is upping our presence on social media to give you more ways to find out about our events and receive helpful information from us. If you’re not already connected with us, please follow our new page on LinkedIn.
If you found this update useful, please share it with your friends and colleagues. We’re always looking to reach more people with our news, events and insights. And if you’ve received this update indirectly and would like to sign up to our mailing list, email us at admin@ipanz.org.nz