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During the year in review a quiet adjustment continued in how the public sector
– and more particularly the public service – carries out its work. The core
public service is increasingly focusing on the outcomes of government intervention,
rather than purely on the efficient delivery of services efficient delivery
and value for taxpayer expenditure remain important, but there is now more
emphasis on taking a whole-of-government approach to complex issues and developing
wider partnerships. This is to ensure that the most effective approaches and
interventions are implemented as part of government policy.
All government ministries and departments are required to publish statements
of intent in which they state their outcomes and set performance measures
against which to assess progress on achieving these outcomes. DPMC issued
its first statement of intent in the 2002/03 year and will be reporting on
its performance measures in next year’s annual report.
DPMC’s overall outcome is: “Good government, with effective public service support”. To help achieve this outcome, the department has identified four specific contributing outcomes:
DPMC’s role is to support the decision-making processes of the Prime Minister
and Cabinet. The changing public-service environment makes the DPMC’s coordination
activities more important than ever. There is an increasing need for it to
work jointly with its fellow central agencies, the Treasury and the State
Services Commission, on strategies for raising the performance of the overall
public sector.
The DPMC and Policy Advisory Group has been at the forefront of these developments as part of its continuing role to coordinate activities across government on a wide range of issues.
A shift that is influencing both DPMC’s work and that of the wider public sector is the government’s commitment to a sustainable development framework for New Zealand. The government cannot do this alone: strong relationships and partnerships will be required between central government, local government, and various other sector groups.
The coordination role of the Policy Advisory Group’s will be tested when the sustainable-development programme of action is implemented. DPMC’s aim is to help the government sector speak with one voice on this issue and to search for solutions that are more than simply trade-offs. Policy development needs to find approaches that improve New Zealand’s economic performance and also enhance our environmental and social wellbeing.
DPMC has already made an important contribution during the year in review
through its lead role in managing the government’s Climate Change Programme
– including Cabinet approval of the policy package and the ratification by
the government of the Kyoto Protocol in December 2002. Responsibility for
the Climate Change Programme has since been transferred to the Ministry for
the Environment.
The 2002 general election involved the Cabinet Office in a range of tasks leading up to and following the election. The Office advised the Prime Minister and the Governor-General on the constitutional and administrative steps associated with the election and the resulting formation of the government.
The Cabinet Office administered the “caretaker government” convention in
respect of Cabinet decision-making procedures while the new government was
being formed. Advice was given to the Prime Minister on coalition consultation
and decision-making procedures and on the formation and operation of Cabinet
committees. The Office also arranged the swearing-in ceremony for the new
Labour-Progressive Coalition government and briefing sessions for new Ministers
and their staff.
Just how much the world has changed since 11 September 2001 is becoming increasingly apparent. There are substantial and rapid re-adjustments taking place in relations between major states, and risks are being posed increasingly by non-state entities such as terrorists and other transnational criminal groups. New Zealanders overseas who are serving with the New Zealand Defence Force or other government agencies or international organisations, or who are travelling privately on business or as tourists, face a greater range of challenges and security threats than they did before.
New Zealand so far has been free of any terrorist attack but the bombings overseas during the last 12 months but the New Zealanders who have been victims of this make clear the nature and range of this threat. The work of the department’s External Assessments Bureau (EAB) and Domestic and External Security Secretariat (DESS) is changing as New Zealand deals with a state of sustained international uncertainty. Work continued on developing a whole-of-government approach to a range of issues that may pose a threat to New Zealand’s security – whether these originate through terrorism, disease outbreaks, or bio-security risks.,
There is a much greater awareness of the need for government agencies to
work together in such circumstances. The SARS outbreak is a case in point:
a whole-of-government approach was adopted and 30 working group meetings were
held as part of the Officials Committee on Domestic and External Security
Coordination. No SARS cases were reported in New Zealand, and the overall
planning and implementation required in dealing with this potentially serious
threat provided a useful opportunity to establish effective processes.
One of DPMC’s contributing outcomes is to support the Governor-General, who undertook another extensive programme of activities both in New Zealand and overseas. Dame Sylvia Cartwright’s 226 official engagements within New Zealand included visits to Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands. Some of the highlights of the year were officiating at the State Opening of Parliament, investing Sir Hugh Kawharu ONZ, and Mrs Dorothy Mihinui DCNZM on their respective marae, and attending Outward Bound’s 40-year celebrations in Anakiwa. Many official guests have been hosted at Government House, including the President of East Timor and their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Princess of Japan.
Nearly 300 functions were held at the Government Houses in Wellington and Auckland, many of them for charities and cultural organisations of which the Governor-General is patron. Eight investitures were held for recipients from the 2002 Queen’s Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours List, and also for the 2003 New Year Honours List. Other major ceremonies were: the swearing-in of the new government and the confirmation of the Parliamentary Speaker; and credentials ceremonies, where 24 ambassadors and high commissioners presented their Letters of Credence.
Overseas engagements saw the Governor-General visit Nauru in March to represent New Zealand at the funeral for President Dowiyogo. In April the Governor-General made a state visit to Turkey, where she attended ANZAC Day Services at Gallipoli.
The tradition of open days at the Government Houses in Wellington and Auckland
continued. Some 31,000 people visited the houses and gardens either attending
functions, open days or the Labour weekend “Flora Flora” Floral Arts Exhibition
and the inaugural concert by the Wellington Sinfonia at Government House in
Wellington, or the annual matinee concert by the Auckland Sinfonia at Government
House in Auckland. Open days and other events allow a large cross section
of New Zealanders to see and enjoy these historic houses and grounds.
A significant change will occur at the Cabinet Office during the 2003/04
year, following the appointment of Marie Shroff as Privacy Commissioner from
the end of September 2003. As Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive
Council since 1987, Marie has been responsible for the operation of Cabinet
and the Executive Council during a period of major changes to New Zealand’s
electoral system and government-formation process. She had the responsibility
of guiding the Cabinet Office and Government House through the transition
to proportional representation and coalition government in New Zealand. During
her time at the Cabinet Office, Marie Shroff worked with four Governors-General,
six Prime Ministers, and governments composed of various parliamentary parties.
As usual, DPMC’s staff members have responded willingly and admirably to
the demands made on them by a busy year that has produced challenges across
all the department’s work areas.
Mark Prebble
Chief Executive