The public sector consists of a number of different organisational forms. These forms vary in the extent to which they are at an arm's-length from Ministers, how they are governed, and the expectations that apply. Public Service departments are close to Ministers (part of the legal Crown), while Crown entities are stand-alone corporate bodies and operate at arm's-length. Most Crown entities are part of the State services, but Tertiary Education Institutions are part of the wider State sector. (See public sector map below.)
The Public sector map lists organisations by legal titles. For a searchable list of other names that organisations are commonly known by, or have previously been known by, see the Government A-Z https://www.govt.nz/organisations/
Public sector map
Find out more:
View the Crown Entities Act (CEA)
Glossary of terms used in public sector map (PDF, 60.5kb)
List of New Zealand's State sector organisations
What functions should Crown Entities undertake?
Find out about arm’s-length bodies in OECD countries (OECD)
Not a Crown entity (Guidance for other agencies)
Want to know more about the CEA?
Historical background from a legal perspective:
R. Buchanan, et al. (eds.). Historical background from a legal perspective: Crown Entities Act 2004. Wellington: New Zealand Law Society.
Historical background from a policy perspective:
Gill, D. (2004). Reform of the Arm’s-Length Government Through the Crown Entities Act: the Drunk and the Lamp-post? Working Paper 09/12. Wellington: Institute of Policy Studies.
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