Let’s talk about the latest concern over Aotearoa New Zealand’s ministerial portfolios. Some commentators suggest we should reduce them because “other countries have fewer.” This is a bit like suggesting we reorganise our national parks based on how Denmark manages its forests. Now, don’t get me wrong, the critics are onto something real. They’ve noticed…

The collapse of the US administrative state is not just an American problem, it carries important lessons for Aotearoa New Zealand. As Washington grapples with political dysfunction and the erosion of public institutions, we should pay attention to how a weakened state apparatus invites economic instability, political turmoil, and diminished democratic control. For Aotearoa New…

Yesterday, two speeches caught my attention in response to the Prime Minister’s statement to the House about his priorities for 2025. Chris Hipkins and Chlöe Swarbrick, both leaders in the opposition, stepped forward to share their thoughts about the future. Their words painted a picture of what they believe should change in our country. Both…

When a government promises transformation, the smart money watches what they prioritise, not what they promise. Today’s Statement to Parliament is big on ambition – but separating the achievable from the aspirational will require a clear eye. Let’s cut to the chase. The infrastructure push has real teeth. Those 149 Fast Track projects aren’t just…

If you’ve ever worked in or around government, you’ve probably heard the debate: what really makes agencies perform well? Is it strong leadership? A solid strategy? More funding? Or something else entirely? A year ago I decided to dig into the data to find out. Using Spearman’s correlation (S test) and partial correlation (R test),…

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the regulatory standards bill.  As someone involved in regulatory systems and policy, I want to talk about their design and likely impact. Let me be direct: these proposals lack any supporting evidence that they would improve our regulatory environment. Instead, they demonstrate a troubling pattern of overreach….

Note: This analysis was initially prepared as a commissioned piece for a local private sector client in December 2024. With their permission, I am sharing these insights more broadly to contribute to the ongoing dialogue about public service reform. While the core analysis remains unchanged – at the time this post was published – from…

In the ever-evolving landscape of public governance, a new approach is catching attention across the seas in the United Kingdom. Called mission-led governance, it promises a fresh perspective on how institutions and organizations might better serve society. The core idea is compelling: what if our public institutions could genuinely prioritize social and environmental purposes alongside—or…

When we examine Aotearoa New Zealand, through the lens of its institutions, we see a remarkable pattern of action and response between the Crown and Māori that continues to shape our nation. This narrative begins in 1840, but its echoes resonate powerfully in today’s political landscape. In the initial Te Tiriti period (1840-1860), the Crown…

I’m not posting that much at the moment. I am writing. But this hypothesis above has my attention. Let me examine the crucial dynamic between political and administrative spheres in public sector reform. The Better Public Services program offers an instructive example of how the political-administrative interface should work. Its success wasn’t just about managerial…

Trust in public services is on the decline. This particular measure calls attention to a measure of ‘trust’ as the state is not doing harm. In addition, confidence in public services – due to an actual experience – is flatlining. A follower on blue-sky asked me why I didn’t comment on the private sector comparator….

The Royal Commission’s Report on Abuse in Care has landed on my desk, and its findings are devastating. As someone who has spent decades studying public policy and governance, I can tell you this: what we’re looking at isn’t just a collection of unfortunate incidents – it’s administrative evil in its purest form. Let me…

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’m excited to hear about the new standalone Social Investment Agency. One aspect I particularly like is its focus on emergent practice. This focus extends the original idea and clarifies whatever the Social Wellbeing Agency has been doing. Emergent practice is important for four reasons. First, I know that some of you think that the…

Performative governance is when governments focus more on appearing to take action instead of actually making real changes. It has become more noticeable in today’s media-driven politics, where the performance of governance can sometimes seem more important than the actual outcomes. The idea of performative governance builds on Edelman’s work on symbolic politics (1964), where…

This is an apolitical post. It is about the effectiveness of machinery of government changes. As far as I know, the disestablishment of the Te Kōmihana Whai Hua O Aotearoa | Productivity Commission and Te Aka Whai Ora | Māori Health Authority are respectively the 501 and 502 machinery of government changes in Aotearoa-New Zealand…

Over the past few weeks, several readers have contacted me and asked me to explain what I mean by the role of government. Their questions were prompted by the hypothesis I hold about institutional performance: in short, efficiency and effectiveness are only possible if the Cabinet brings three things to the table: first, clarity about…

As the whakataukī suggests, not much is achieved without a plan and people to do the mahi. I’d add that not much is achieved without good governance. Here are some thoughts on public sector governance. I am not arguing for the models because they are not yet adapted in a Te Tiriti-led way. However, I…

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…

I wrote in support of the Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies Bill.

Last week, the Public Services Association published a paper by me and my friend Dr Amohia Boulton. We were part of the PSA’s 2020 Progressive Thinking Seminars. In our paper, Amohia and I talk about how COVID-19 has reminded us of how underprepared the world is to detect and respond to emerging infectious diseases while…

Amohia Boulton and I wrote about how COVID-19 exposed how underprepared Aotearoa – and the world – was in detecting and responding to emerging infectious diseases while simultaneously revealing how well-placed and effective institutions in Te Ao Māori are in being able to react decisively and positively on behalf of Iwi, Hapū, Whānau and Māori.

IPANZ asked me to write an article for Public Sector asking whether the new public service legislation will truly allow the exercise of rangatiratanga. My answer: probably not.

In Aotearoa, public sector governance refers to the system by which over 4,000 public entities, including policy ministries, departments, Crown entities, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and sui generis organisations such as the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, are directed and controlled. The system includes all processes and behaviours that enable decision-makers to lead and guide public…