Our vision is for a leading edge, unified, trusted Public Service that serves New Zealand and its people. To deliver on this vision, we will lead the Public Service to:
- Improve public services and achieve better outcomes for New Zealanders: a Public Service that is committed to bringing real tangible improvements in the lives of individuals, whānau, and communities – and public services organised around New Zealanders’ needs.
- Protect and strengthen the foundations of public trust and legitimacy: a Public Service that acts constitutionally and ethically, maintaining its democratic and constitutional heritage, legitimacy and the public’s trust, grounded in a spirit of service to the community.
We will strengthen Public Service capability and coordinate change to ensure that the Public Service continues to be unified around its principles and values and works as a single system in the service of New Zealand and the public.
Our strategic context
The Public Service has strong foundations with high levels of integrity and trust, and a commitment to serving New Zealand and its people. It consistently ranks highly in international indices for integrity, trust, and governance and public administration.[1] In June 2026, 80% of New Zealanders trusted the government service they most recently used (similar to the result for satisfaction with the service they most recently used), and 60% of New Zealanders trusted the Public Service (compared to 46% for the private sector).[2]
However, there remain opportunities to improve the operation of the Public Service for the future, reducing fragmentation and better integrating services around New Zealanders. Performance is constrained by slow adoption of digital technology and artificial intelligence, fiscal pressures, uneven capability and limited talent development. Duplication and inconsistent approaches to technology investment, leadership and workforce practices, limit efficiency and the benefits of interoperability and scale. This makes it harder to adapt to changing needs and deliver services that are easy for people and businesses to navigate.
Transforming the Public Service
The Public Service needs to move from fragmented ways of working to a more coordinated, coherent, outcome-focused and centrally led model. The goal is a high-performing Public Service that is more effective, capable, sustainable and productive while strengthening public trust and legitimacy. Achieving this will require changes to structures, processes and ways of working.
Agencies, functions and services need to be organised around outcomes and user needs with more strategic management of resources, leadership, capability and digital investment. Digital, data and emerging technologies need to become core enablers of performance and decision-making.
We will work with other central agencies to coordinate change. Success will rely on sustained commitment from Ministers, chief executives and agencies and stronger alignment of investment, capability and organisational decisions with system priorities. This will improve long-term performance and help position the Public Service for the future.
To deliver on this, the Commission will focus on three connected priorities:
Aligning and consolidating the Public Service
The Commission will strengthen its stewardship role by advising on organisational arrangements that better align the Public Service with Government priorities. This includes improving coordination, reducing duplication, focusing resources on areas of greatest impact, and designing services around outcomes and user needs.
We will draw on performance information, agency reviews and system evidence, consider the costs, benefits and risks of change, and support agencies to maintain service continuity during transitions.
The goal is a more effective, efficient and adaptable Public Service that is easier to navigate, delivers Government priorities, and maintains public trust.
Using digital to improve Public Service performance
Digital technology, data and artificial intelligence (AI) can improve service delivery, decision-making and productivity across the Public Service. The focus is on improving performance and outcomes, not technology for its own sake.
The Commission will strengthen leadership through the Government Digital Delivery Agency, and promote more coordinated approaches to digital investment, capability and delivery. Greater use of common platforms, standards and capabilities will improve value for money while strengthening key digital foundations such as digital identity.
The goal is a more productive, efficient and responsive Public Service, which has a digitally confident and capable workforce using digital, data and AI safely and responsibly.
Improving Public Service leadership and capability
The Public Service relies on capable, ethical and future-focused leaders, supported by a skilled workforce committed to serving New Zealanders. The Commission will take a more strategic approach to improving leadership and capability, with support for, and more coordinated investment in, leadership development, succession planning and workforce mobility.
Talent will be actively identified and developed across all career stages, to develop a pipeline of future leaders, and an adaptable workforce that can be moved to the areas of greatest need and impact.
The goal is a more capable and adaptable Public Service, that attracts, develops and retains talented people, to deliver Government priorities and sustain long-term performance.
[1] Blavatnik Index of Public Administration: https://index.bsg.ox.ac.uk/; OECD Survey on Drivers of Trust in Public Institutions: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-survey-on-drivers-of-trust-in-public-institutions-2026-results_9eb63fec-en.html
[2] Kiwis Count: Public Service Commission - Kiwis Count