E kore e mau i a koe, he wae kai pakiaka

01/03/2023

The past week has been a reminder of the practical skill and experience required of public servants during an election year. https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/01-03-2023/the-dangers-of-clout-chasing-company-directors-radicalised-on-linkedin

As the whakataukī above reminds us, there is nothing like the experience of those on the ground.

I’ve been lucky enough to work in ministerial offices in election years and the central agencies.

The context and priority of an election year are supporting Ministers to implement their policies while ensuring the public service stays apolitical and impartial.

Here is my best practical advice:

Ensure senior officials have sufficient time in their diaries to manage the purple and grey zone.
Ensure the political advisor understands the new context and the guardrails.
Good political advisors get this – less experienced political advisors, not so much. Political advisors are a mixed bunch, and few would admit this. But the good ones are very, very good.
Let your chief executive know if you have a less experienced political advisor. They will work with DPMC to ensure the various political chiefs of staff can support the less experienced political staffers.
During an election year, different Ministers will have significantly different views about the appropriate language and messages in written and oral briefings and how they wish to work with different stakeholders during an election year. Senior officials need to lead these conversations with Ministers. It’s time for the symbolic big girls and boys to wear their big pants.
Make time in your diary to scrutinise papers signed at lower levels. Make sure the agency senior team has endorsed the paper.
Few first-time Ministers understand how the Executive branch operates in general and their role in an election year. Make sure they are appropriately supported by the political and censorial machine.
During an election year, ensure that departmental staff supporting the Minister in their office are of appropriate seniority.
Remember to test with Ministers any decisions made in the recent past– don’t assume Ministers hold the same view in an election year.
Check Cabinet report-backs – some of these may no longer be realistic.

Don’t forget Te Kawa Maatoho’s advice.

Linked here : https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/guidance/guide-he-aratohu/guidance/general-election-guidance/

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