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    Works backwards from a desirable future to identify the actions needed to help shape your desired future/s. On this page: Why you should use it What it involves What you'll get out of it Ideal circumstances for use Limitations References, guides and …

The policy system is led by the Head of the Policy Profession, Ben King, Chief Executive of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He is supported by the Policy Profession Board, the Policy Project team, and the Tier 2 Policy Leaders’ Network.…

    Engaging individuals and groups from the community to participate in policy design and development through: providing information asking for feedback and reaction involving people collaboration empowering decision making and action. On this page: Why…

    Using structured deliberation by members of the public to progress policy. On this page: Why you should use it What it involves What you'll get out of it Ideal circumtances for use Limitations References, guides and key readings, Why you should use it…

Start Right is a way of initiating a policy project that sets it up for success. It's designed to be applied early in the life of every policy development project – by the manager commissioning the work and the policy practitioner doing the work. On this…

  Design thinking is also known as human-centred design, co-design and participatory design. On this page: Design thinking for policy Why you should use it What it involves What you will get out of it Ideal circumstances for use Limitations Tools or…

  Futures thinking is also known as foresight, strategic foresight and futures studies. On this page: About futures thinking Futures thinking and the policy process Why you should use it What it involves What you'll get out of it Ideal circumstances for…

    Experience or empathy interviews are an inexpensive way to learn from people about their experience of a service or system. On this page: Why you should use it What it involves What you'll get out of it Ideal circumstances for use Limitations…

    Personas are research-based characters that you create to understand the real experiences of people who will use your service or be affected by a policy. On this page: Why you should use it What it involves What you'll get out of it Ideal…

    Journey mapping helps you to understand a person’s experiences by creating a map of their interactions with the system. On this page: Why you should use it What it involves What you'll get out of it Ideal circumstances for use Limitations References,…

    Role play helps you understand and prepare for a situation by acting out a scenario with fictional personas. On this page: Why you should use it What it involves What you'll get out of it Ideal circumstances for use Limitations References, guides and …

Good policy advice depends on skilled policy practitioners – able to analyse and respond to policy challenges and come up with workable solutions that will add value to the lives of people in New Zealand.  The Policy Skills Framework (summarised in the…

The refreshed 2025 Policy Quality Framework sets out the standards for quality policy advice: context, analysis, advice, and action.    The Framework and tools below can be used by: individual policy advisors developing advice or providing peer review…

DPMC is involved in a wide range of work at the centre of government. Our vacancies, Our work includes, providing policy advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on a wide range of complex issues supporting the operation of Cabinet and Cabinet Committees…

  Badge of the Order of New Zealand Badge of the Order of New Zealand  , Overview, The Order of New Zealand is New Zealand’s most senior honour. The Order was instituted by Royal Warrant - dated 6 February (Waitangi Day) 1987 - "to recognise outstanding…

The National Security Policy and Coordination Directorate provides policy leadership and coordination on matters related to national security and intelligence, to work toward a more secure and resilient New Zealand. This includes long-term planning, …

The National Assessments Bureau provides independent and impartial assessments on events and developments relevant to New Zealand's national security and international relations. These assessments inform government decision making. A crucial part of any…

The National Assessments Bureau is mostly made up of analysts – who are responsible for producing assessments – along with a number of specialist roles. Analysts typically cover geographic issues, for example specific countries or regions, or topics such…

The National Security and Resilience Group provides leadership, advice and coordination of the Government’s national security and resilience priorities. The National Security and Resilience Group (NSRG) teams and their key functions: National Risk and…

Corporate creates the environment for DPMC's success, by providing critical enabling and assurance services across the department. The Enablement arm of Corporate is focused on providing strategic support that enables teams across DPMC to operate…

The National Risk and Resilience Directorate leads efforts to strengthen New Zealand’s resilience to the most significant hazards and national security threats we face.  Through the National Risk and Resilience Framework, the directorate drives informed,…

This page collects policy-related publications and resources from past events, including conversation trackers, slide packs, videos, and publications. These events include those hosted by the Policy Project and a range of other organisations. They are…

This page contains the relevant Cabinet papers and other documents relating to the process to consider changing the New Zealand Flag, undertaken from 2014–2016. The Responsible Minister was the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Bill English, and the lead…

Historical programmes that the department has housed or coordinated, including special units, task forces, reviews and programmes. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) (2014 – 2025) Cyclone Recovery Unit (2023 - 2025) All of Government COVID-19…

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is a departmental agency that was hosted within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) until September 2025, when it was transferred to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). NEMA is the…

People in New Zealand can request government information (official information) and can expect it to be made available unless there is a good reason to withhold it. The Official Information Act 1982 (or OIA) enables citizens, permanent residents, visitors…

From March 2023 through June 2025, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet hosted the functional Chief Executive, Cyclone Recovery. The Department established a Cyclone Recovery Unit to support the Chief Executive, Cyclone Recovery to lead and…

Since the late 1840s, the Royal Honours System in New Zealand has evolved along with changes in the country’s constitution, from Crown Colony to Dominion, and from Dominion to a fully independent monarchy or realm. Between 1848 and 1996, New Zealanders…

  Welcome to Policy Tools, a repository of policy development methods and guidance. Under the themes below, you can find a range of tools and resources for policy practitioners.  To provide feedback or suggest methods you’d like to see profiled, email us …

The department often houses or coordinates special units, task forces, reviews or programmes that provide advice on a particular issue or issues over a period of time. Units or programmes the department has housed or is housing include: Prime Minister's…

  Dr John Roche is a globally recognised expert in agricultural science and was appointed Chief Science Advisor to New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in May 2025. He also serves as Deputy Chair of the Prime Minister’s Science and Technology…

The Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor (PMCSA) plays a vital role in ensuring science, innovation, and technology are at the forefront of government decision-making. The PMCSA provides independent, evidence-based advice to the Prime Minister and…