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The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet provides impartial advice and support to the Prime Minister and Cabinet and, through the Clerk of the Executive Council and Government House, to the Governor-General. The department also helps coordinate the work of government departments and agencies, so that decision making takes account of all relevant viewpoints and advice is as coherent and complete as possible.
The Prime Minister is the political leader of the government and the country – and its main public “face”. The Prime Minister is also the chair of Cabinet, and is responsible for the effective operation of executive government. These roles combine political and executive responsibilities.
DPMC provides support to the Prime Minister in three broad categories.
This includes advice and support on constitutional issues relating to the conduct of executive government – including during elections and transitions between administrations – and issues associated with the operation of the Cabinet system.
As the political head of the government, the Prime Minister must have an overview of major issues and government activity, and access to information and advice as necessary. DPMC works with the two other central agencies and with key departments to achieve this, coordinating activity where necessary to ensure that sustainability and the government’s three priority themes (economic transformation; families – young and old; and national identity) are well supported. It also provides the secretariat support for decision making by Cabinet and its committees.
This includes preparation of replies to Parliamentary questions, and dealing with Official Information Act requests and other correspondence. A totally separate body, the Office of the Prime Minister, also advises the Prime Minister: it is the primary point of responsibility for managing political issues and relationships with other political parties and for providing administrative and media support.
The Clerk of the Executive Council and Government House staff support the Governor-General in carrying out his functions. New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy: The Queen is New Zealand’s Head of State but her powers and those of her representative, the Governor-General, are almost always exercised only on the advice of ministers. The Governor-General is therefore a significant figure in New Zealand’s constitutional framework.
His constitutional, ceremonial, and community roles together maintain national unity and foster national identity.
A great deal of DPMC’s activities focus on facilitating government decision making at a strategic and policy level.
To achieve this, the department relies on close relationships with other departments and agencies and – depending on the issue – with local government, business, and the wider community.
The department has 125 staff in 6 business units: Cabinet Office, which includes the Honours Secretariat; Policy Advisory Group (PAG); External Assessments Bureau (EAB); Corporate Services Unit; Domestic and External Security Group (DESG); and Government House. For further detail, see DPMC’s website (www.dpmc.govt.nz).