Our Roles and Responsibilities

The State Services Commissioner's roles and responsibilities are articulated in section 6 of the State Sector Act 1988. They include:

• appointing, reappointing and reviewing the performance of Public Service chief executives
• promoting and developing senior leadership and management capability for the Public Service
• providing advice on the training and career development of staff in the Public Service
• reviewing the performance of each department
• providing advice on the allocation of functions to and between departments and other agencies
• providing guidance on management systems, structures, and organisations in the Public Service and Crown entities
• promoting, developing and monitoring equal employment opportunities policies and programmes
• any other functions with respect to the administration and management of the Public Service, as directed by the Prime Minister.

In 2005, the State Services Commissioner's roles and responsibilities were significantly broadened. The State Sector Amendment Act (No 2) 2004 extended the State Services Commissioner's mandate to include responsibility for setting standards of integrity and conduct within the State Services generally¹.

At the same time, the Crown Entities Act 2004 was introduced to provide coherent and comprehensive arrangements for the governance and accountability of Crown entities.

Crown entities are a very important part of the State Services. They manage approximately half of the Crown's physical assets and more than half of the Crown's total appropriations are spent on their operating costs. The size and scale of their operations means that Government's focus on performance and results includes a strong focus on Crown entity performance and results.

Public Service chief executives act as their Responsible Minister's agent in monitoring individual Crown entity capability and performance. In turn, the State Services Commissioner, who appoints and employs Public Service chief executives, reviews their performance on behalf of their Responsible Minister.

As more emphasis is placed on the performance of the State Services and on ensuring its agencies become more responsive and more attuned to the needs of New Zealanders, the arrangements that have been put in place in the Crown Entities Act will help drive the changes that are needed. Provisions in the Act:

• support clarity of roles and better alignment of Crown entities with other sectors of the State Services
• provide clarity about strategic interactions between Responsible Ministers and Crown entity boards, so as to help establish performance expectations
• set out expectations of statements of intent and annual reports, so as to ensure performance is clearly reported.

In addition, the State Services Commissioner will continue to promote good practice in support of those making appointments to key positions in the State Services (including appointments to boards), setting strategic direction for entities and sectors, and in monitoring performance.

¹ The State Sector Act defines the State Services as "all instruments of the Crown in respect of the Government of New Zealand, whether Departments, corporations, agencies, or other instruments; and includes a Crown entity; and includes a Crown Research Institute; and includes the Education service ... but does not include the Governor-General; or any member of the Executive Council; or any Minister of the Crown; or any member of Parliament; or any corporation listed in Schedule

1 to the State-Owned Enterprises Act 1986; or any tertiary education institution".