Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche says the State of the Public Service briefing sets out where the Public Service is today, and the direction it needs to go, to keep serving New Zealanders well in a rapidly changing world.
In the Commissioner’s first State of the Public Service report since his appointment, he describes a Public Service that has served New Zealand to date. However, he notes the current operating model is coming under increasing pressure and must adapt now if it is to keep serving New Zealanders well in the future.
While the current model still delivers it has significant risks due to its:
- fragmented and siloed approach
- lack of a whole of system perspective
- slow uptake of enabling technologies such as artificial intelligence
- numerous sub-scale agencies, reducing resilience and constraining career pathways
- ongoing fiscal pressures; and
- insufficient talent development.
“Having been in my role as Commissioner for more than a year, I have seen first-hand, the dedication, drive and commitment public servants bring to their work. They deliver services every day that matter to every New Zealander,” Sir Brian said.
“This commitment needs to be supported by systems, tools, and processes that don’t get in the way of timely delivery. This is not always the case, and we need to fix this.”
The Commissioner said the report highlights the steps needed to modernise the way the Public Service works and ensure it organises itself around the needs of New Zealanders.
“The Public Service needs to get better at organising itself around the needs of citizens and businesses. Our system is too fragmented with too many departments of various sizes. This leads to complexity, and cost, that is too often felt by the public. I think we need to reduce this complexity,” Sir Brian said.
“We know that we need to increase our digital capability if we are to catch-up to other jurisdictions. Investments which better integrate data and analytics can contribute to significant, and measurable, improvements in outcomes. We need to better harness this.
“We also need to better recognise the role that Artificial Intelligence and data more generally will play. It can enable a smarter, more responsive Public Service, freeing people to focus on higher-value work. But we must manage its risks and ensure strong oversight,” Sir Brian said.
The report outlines a realistic path forward, one that recognises the importance of flexibility and agility in the face of societal, economic, and technological change.
“Globally, successful organisations embrace technology and innovation as tools to navigate complexity. Our Public Service is no different.
“We can't simply keep doing what we’ve always done. Nor can we create a single plan and expect it to never change. We need adaptive strategies but also a clear sense of direction. This report presents my view of what this looks like for the New Zealand Public Service,” said Sir Brian.
