Our teams bring together extensive knowledge, experience and a diverse range of skills to deliver great work. Each team plays a critical role in the support, development and delivery of the Commission’s priorities and work programmes.
Te Mana Arataki | Executive Leadership Team
Members of Te Mana Arataki report directly to the Commissioner, and are responsible for the strategic direction of the Commission’s work programme, and overall governance and running of the organisation. They lead the groups that make up the Commission’s workforce.
Kaitiakitanga me Ngā Take Tūmatanui | Governance and Public Affairs
The Governance and Public Affairs group brings together the functions that support the Commissioner in their leadership role of the Public Service. They connect, communicate, and enable the business of the Commission, leading engagement with our stakeholders, as well as the governance and day-to-day running of the organisation. The group works closely with the office of the Minister for the Public Service to understand and support their priorities. Their work includes organising media events, summits, and awards events, as well as managing publications, official information, and communication channels, including the Commission’s website and digital channels so we can engage with New Zealanders in the way they expect.
Te Tohutohu Rautaki me te Kaupapa Here | Strategy and Policy
The Strategy and Policy group is tasked with designing and driving the Public Service of the future. This is achieved through maintaining a reputation for delivering first class advice to the Government of the day. Development of excellent public policy, strategy, research and data analytic skills, a rich understanding of the machinery of government and development of innovative, data and evidence driven approaches contribute to enhancing the future performance of public services.
Te Pono, te Matatika, me te Tautikanga | Integrity, Ethics and Standards
The Integrity, Ethics and Standards team leads the Public Service in promoting and protecting open government and trusted, high-integrity public services. To do this, they support Public Service values, promote open government, provide guidance and advice on integrity matters, and set standards of conduct and behaviour. Where necessary, they undertake inquiries into matters of integrity and conduct. Their work also includes recognising and promoting the Spirit of Service awards.
Te Aromātai Whakatutukitanga | System and Agency Performance
The System and Agency Performance Group brings together strategy and implementation to progress system change. The group has responsibility for some of the Commission's key levers for improving performance across the Public Service. Its work provides an information source to assess the progress of system change, identify the challenges ahead, and to throw a spotlight on what's working well.
Ngā Kaikōmihana Tautāwhi | Assistant Commissioners
Assistant Commissioners act as extensions of the Public Service Commissioner to support Public Service chief executives and their respective agencies. They provide insights and advice to the Commissioner, the Deputy Public Service Commissioners and the wider Commission on the performance of agencies and sectors. They’re the ‘key contact’ between a chief executive and the Commission. The Assistant Commissioners work closely with other Commission staff to support a number of key deliverables for the Commission.
Te Ohu Mahi | Workforce
The Workforce group leads the workforce strategy to ensure the Public Service is an exemplar employer of a highly skilled and capable workforce. To support modern, agile and equitable ways of working, the group guides how the Public Service attracts, recruits, mobilises and remunerates employees. It’s also responsible for strategic employment relations management across the system, delivering workforce policy advice to the government of the day and supporting the Public Service to close gender, Māori, Pacific and ethnic pay gaps.
Te Hautū, te Kanorau me te Whai Wāhitanga | Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion
The Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion Group support and lead the system’s priorities to strengthen leadership across the public service, improve workforce diversity, foster inclusive workplaces, and support the Crown in its relationship with Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi | the Treaty of Waitangi. The group focuses on Public Service leaders and their development, and supports the Papa Pounamu diversity and inclusion work programme.
Whakatutukitanga ā-Whakahaere | Organisational Capability and Performance
The Organisational Capability and Performance group enables the Commission to deliver and perform at its best. Organisational health, continuous improvement of the operating model and modelling best practice for the Public Service are important parts of the Commission being ahead of the game, fit for the future and enabled to lead and serve. This group provides a range of corporate and enabling services including people, finance, information and technology, planning and reporting, risk and assurance, workplace and administration.
Rōpū Taha Ture | Legal Services
The Legal Services Group provides legal advice on all aspects of the work of Te Kawa Mataaho. Its role includes identifying legal risk as well as supporting good statutory decision-making. The Group contributes to legal services for the wider public service as members of the Government Legal Network. The Chief Legal Officer is also the Commission’s Privacy Officer.
Te Whare Pasifika | Public Service Fale
The Public Service Fale works with Pacific Public Service Commissions to grow their capacity to deliver services for their citizens. The Fale serves 16 Pacific countries, providing advice, fostering relationship building and information exchange. The Fale’s main priorities are enhancing digital connectivity, investing in leadership development, and strengthening governance. Through enhancements to FaleOnline and a secure online portal for Pacific Public Service Commissioners, the Fale provides access to training, information, and opportunities for collaboration and engagement.
Te Whakahaumanu me te Urupare i te Kōwheori-19 | COVID-19 Response & Recovery
The COVID-19 Response and Recovery Team provides a single point of leadership for the Commission’s role which is to support Public Service secretaries and chief executives to lead their agencies and the system in the government’s response to COVID-19. The COVID-19 team co-ordinates support from across the Commission for the benefit of chief executives, including mobilising resources from across the system to greatest areas of need, providing workforce guidance to reflect the COVID-19 protection framework and other settings. The COVID-19 team also leads the Commission’s work in recognising the commitment and effort of public servants and the role they play in keeping NZ safe from COVID-19 and building trust and confidence in the system.
Te Tai Pari | Equal Pay
The Equal Pay centre provides thought leadership and is responsible for supporting organisations to address pay gaps and to deliver pay equity. It supports Public Service organisations to develop plans to address gender, Māori, Pacific, and ethnic pay gaps, and provides guidance on actions they can take. It also provides pay equity advice, support and tools for both government and non-government organisations, while also providing oversight across the system to ensure the work undertaken is in keeping with the Equal Pay Act.
