Panel: Operating in a political system without operating politically: navigating he pōneketanga

15/03/2023

Public Sector, June 2023, by Kate Butler

I spoke in “Ministers and officials: Getting the relationship right”, a seminar series co-hosted by IPANZ and the Australia and New Zealand School of Government. The other speakers were Steven Sutton, Paul James, Tory Whanau and Mike Munro. I reminded the group that public institutions are made up of formal structures and human beings, that it is the human element where things can get messy, and that public policy in particular can be full of politics, uncertainty, intrigue and conflict.

Asked what good looks like, I said the best public servants read the unwritten signs, know who has power and influence, and appreciate those who have the respect of the community and the front line. They know which messages will work and which will not, and they understand the complexity of the political authorising environment without ever becoming an actor in it. They use that understanding to move the Government’s priorities forward.

Asked what less good looks like, I listed competing with peers, being too quick to curry favour, sharing the wrong information, poor impulse control, strident advocacy, impatience with due process, and an inability to work with others.

I closed with the idea that political nous in the pōneketanga is about having the courage to walk through water without getting wet, while being smart enough to know that is impossible.

Read the article: https://issuu.com/ipanz/docs/ipanz_june_2023_v5/s/26286315

Reference
Butler, K. (2023). Operating in a political system without operating politically: Navigating pōneketanga. Public Sector, 46(2).