The nine Government Targets focus the public sector on achieving improved results in health, education, law and order, work, housing and the environment.
Delivery of the Government Targets is the responsibility of a lead minister and lead public service agency chief executive, working in partnership with other ministers and their agencies as appropriate.
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet runs a regular reporting cycle for the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The nine Government Targets Quarterly Reports for December 2025 are:
Latest Government Targets Quarterly Report Summary
Shorter stays in emergency departments
95% of patients to be admitted, discharged, or transferred from an emergency department within six hours.
Shorter wait times for treatment
95% of people wait less than four months for elective treatment.
Reduced child and youth offending
15% reduction in the total number of children and young people with serious and persistent offending behaviour.
Reduced violent crime
20,000 fewer people who are victims of an assault, robbery, or sexual assault.
Fewer people on the Jobseeker Support Benefit
50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support Benefit.
Increased student attendance
80% of students are present for more than 90% of the term.
More students at expected curriculum levels
80% of Year 8 students at or above the expected curriculum level for their age in reading, writing and maths by December 2030.
Fewer people in emergency housing
75% reduction of households in emergency housing.
Reduced net greenhouse gas emissions
New Zealand is on track to meet its 2050 net zero climate change targets, with total net emissions of no more than 290 megatonnes from 2022 to 2025 and 305 megatonnes from 2026 to 2030.
What are the Government Targets?
The Government is delivering on its election promise to get New Zealand back on track, and launched nine ambitious public service targets to help improve the lives of New Zealanders.
How were the Targets chosen?
The Targets were developed from areas New Zealanders told the Government were most important to them - health, education, restoring law and order, work, housing and the environment - and were approved by Cabinet.
When will the Targets be delivered?
The Targets will be delivered by 2030.
How will the Targets be delivered?
Delivery of the Targets is the responsibility of a lead minister and lead public service agency chief executive, working in partnership with other ministers and their agencies as appropriate. Details of lead ministers and lead agencies are available in the individual Target reports above.
Lead agencies have each developed a delivery plan for their Target or Targets, including the contributions required from other agencies. The lead minister approves delivery plans, which are regularly reviewed and updated. Lead agencies prepare quarterly progress reports for their minister to approve, reporting on delivery performance and progress of key initiatives.
What changes will New Zealanders see?
New Zealanders will see improvements over time in:
- Shorter stays in emergency departments
- Shorter wait times for elective treatment
- Reduced child and youth offending
- Reduced violent crime
- Fewer people on the Jobseeker Support Benefit
- Increased student attendance
- More students at expected curriculum levels
- Fewer people in emergency housing
- Reduced net greenhouse gas emissions
How will Target results get reported?
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Delivery Unit runs a regular reporting cycle for the Prime Minister and Cabinet on progress against the Targets.
Quarterly Target report factsheets are proactively released and are available above.
Lead agencies and ministers provide information on Target progress on lead agency websites.
What is the difference between a Government Target and other targets that ministers or agencies have set?
Government Targets are six-year aspirations for achieving better results on public services and priorities that matter to New Zealanders.
Ministers and agency chief executives may also set targets beyond the nine Government Targets, to drive performance across a broader range of public services and improve the effective and efficient operation of agency performance.
Why set Government Targets?
Government Targets focus attention, resources and accountability on improving service outcomes. The Targets are intentionally ambitious to ensure New Zealanders get better results and the public services they deserve in health, education, law and order, work, housing and the environment.
Ministers and agency chief executives are accountable for delivery, and the Government expects the public service to dig deeply into root causes, to be innovative, and to be disciplined in directing resources to where they will have the greatest impact on outcomes.