“Release it,” says the Minister, pushing the report back across his desk. “All of it.” The Chief Executive stares at the thick document – six months of analysis on prison reform. “Minister, our advice is clear. The proposed changes carry significant risks.” “Yes,” the Minister says, leaning back. “Your advice is clear, thorough, and I…

From my position by the door, I watch four Ministers from three parties circle the Cabinet committee room like wary cats. Housing from Labour, Finance from Labour, Infrastructure from NZ First, and Local Government from the Greens – each armed with different advice about the urban development legislation and housing. “My officials are clear,” the…

Let me explore the shift in central agency leadership and its implications for public sector governance. The whakataukī “He niho tō te paraoa” offers a profound insight into public service leadership—it’s not just about having authority but about having the institutional experience and capacity to exercise it effectively. This metaphor perfectly captures the current moment…

From my usual seat at the far end of the table in the Minister’s office, I watch another tense briefing unfold about Māori unemployment statistics. Being a Private Secretary means I see these moments play out daily, but this one feels different. “Show me what’s really happening,” the Minister demands, drumming fingers on the latest…

“This is censorship,” the Principal Advisor declares, waving his draft journal article. “I have two PhDs and twenty years of expertise. The public needs to hear my critique of the government’s trade policy. What happened to free speech in this country?” The Chief Executive suppresses a sigh. The Principal Advisor works for me. This is…

I sit at the far end of the table in the Minister’s office, watching this particular piece of political theatre play out. The morning meeting has all the familiar props – the polished conference table, the cabinet paper, the untouched coffees growing cold. The Minister drums her fingers on the paper. “I understand the statistical…

My fingers tremble on the doorknob as I force myself to open it gently, though every instinct screams to burst in. The sound still cracks through the office like a gunshot. The Minister’s shoulders stiffen before he turns, and I catch the flash of irritation in his eyes, the muscle working in his jaw. “Minister,”…

In the crowded waiting room outside the main Cabinet room, I shift my appointment paper on my lap, watching senior officials trade whispers. I’m item fourteen on the agenda. It’s a theoretically straightforward paper until you factor in the Treasury official’s frown at me when I walked into the room and that pointed cough from…

Looking at Te Tiriti through a political science lens offers us something valuable beyond the usual historical and legal interpretations. Let me be direct about what this means for our public management system. Te Tiriti isn’t just a historical document or legal framework – it’s a living diplomatic relationship between two sovereign nations. This isn’t…

I wrote an opinion piece for the Public Sector Journal. It tracks the contributions of the Institute of Public Administration of New Zealand to the discourse on free and frank advice. There is more heat than light about free and frank advice. I wanted to acknowledge one of the few institutions in Aotearoa-New Zealand that…

Ahakoa haere tatou ki hea. Ka haere tahi tatou katoa. Recently, I received messages from friends, family, and clients responding to an article I wrote for e-Tangata. The messages came from a diverse range of people: those on the hauora and regulatory frontlines, current and former public servants, my Australian and Pacific clients, representatives from…

As some of you know I am getting close to finishing my PhD on free and frank advice: what it is, why it matters and which institutions enable it and which institutions are a barrier. By “close” I mean closer than I was yesterday. Here are some thoughts on free and frank advice for those…

I deleted my Bluesky account today. I posted a few thoughts this morning. The first thought was dialling down the performative outrage and getting to work. The focus was on personal healing and supporting the most vulnerable in our communities. The second set of thoughts were around why ACT’s anti-Māori and anti-Tiriti policies might produce…

The Ombudsmen asked us to assist him with his systemic investigation into Ara Poutama Aotearoa | Department of Corrections. He found four key issues affecting Ara Poutama’s ability to make the changes that oversight agencies have been calling for: the way the institution managed reports and recommendations from oversight agencies; insufficient attention to obligations under…

My Phd puts the convention of free and frank advice under the microscope. Through an agonistic theoretical framework, the thesis examines the nature, importance, and future of free and frank advice in Aotearoa-New Zealand. It investigates how officials and ministers navigate their advisory relationships within an increasingly complex governance environment. It addresses the fundamental question:…

I have ditched Twitter for good (again). The left criticises me for not having blind allegiance or for not engaging in their performative activism, and well, the right demands free peach while resorting to cyberbullying, misogyny, pushing racism, and running weak ideological arguments from the 80s that most of the literature has disproven. Both sides…

The practice of courage is an important trait for public servants worldwide and a quality and attribute necessary for ethical behaviour in most institutional settings. In the literature, courage is described as a virtue, with managerial courage being depicted as a leadership attribute that encourages others to take the morally right course of action, given…

Silence is associated with many virtues: modesty, restraint and politeness. And, thanks to profoundly ingrained settler rules of institutional etiquette, people choose silence rather than confrontation or acknowledging difference. I am doing a Phd in free and frank advice because I have seen far too many officials and officers in public and private sectors fall…

I do a mix of paid and unpaid work these days. Last night I facilitated a not-for-profit board through a workshop I run on creating positive relationships between the board room and management. In my experience, those boards that understand the importance of whakarangatiratangatia do much better than those who do not. My motivation to…

If kōrero is the kai of rangatira then those who advise rangatira are always looking for ways to use their hands to create unforgettable culinary experiences.  This post offers guidance on what makes a good board paper. Firstly, it is important to remember a Board’s role is to always question and validate, so before you…

Suppose you are working in public policy right now. In that case, you will know that the most precious commodity is not information – information is abundant. Nor is it knowledge – there is an oversupply of competent advisers – many of whom have a strong opinion or a long-held view and are confident in…

Today, you have 104 days or 2,496 hours before the pre-election period starts. And while it is critically important for the public service to remain politically neutral, it is crucial to start thinking about how to best support a new Government*. It is an exciting time and an extraordinary privilege to help a new Government…

Okay, as 2017 ends, I am finally able to my doctorate from Victoria University of Wellington to the University of Canterbury. One advisor said to me, “the only PhD is a completed one”. I will blog another time about what it was like studying at Victoria University of Wellington. In the meantime, this post summarises…

The ‘public policy cycle’ is a well-established concept. It is typically conceived as a rational decision-making model supported by tools and evidence. While terminology and practice vary, the sequence follows a typical pattern: However, after twenty-odd years of practice and coaching, I now see the model for what it is – an idealised and positivist…

I am interested in the tension between professional judgement and managerial practice. One of the key planks of managerial practice is an evidential approach to public policy. My concerns about evidential approaches are fourfold. First, I worry about the confidence officials have in their information systems. Time and time again, the Government has been told…

Last week, a graduate analyst I mentor asked me why I am so against evidence-based policy. I was a little surprised. I’m not against evidence. Instead, I am someone who works hard to ensure my advice does not naively wish away the emotion, uncertainty, complexity, contest, power imbalances and plurality that pervades public policy. For…