Public Service Legislation and Public Service Reform

Abstract

Legislation is one important component of the public service reform agenda. Legislative change contributes to both of the objectives of change: strengthening the role of the public service as part of executive government, and ensuring the organisational flexibility and system leadership needed to help meet the challenges New Zealand faces. To this end the Public Service Bill will be designed to reinforce the spirit of service and help build public trust by articulating common purpose, principles and values for the public service. It will formalise the role of the public service in supporting the Mäori–Crown relationship. The legislation will also address building the capacity of the public service to work as a single system by enabling new organisational forms, leadership arrangements, and a modernised framework for public service employment.