State Services Minister Chris Hipkins has revealed plans to reform the public services, paving the way government agencies to work together on common issues.
The Public Service Act will be repealed and replaced with a new Public Service Act.
“This will underpin a modernising of the Public Service for the good of New Zealanders and make it easier to tackle the biggest challenges facing the Government,” said Chris Hipkins.
“When it comes to the really big and complex challenges it doesn’t work anymore to put a single agency on the job. These reforms will make groups of chief executives jointly accountable for delivering on complex government priorities.”
Chris Roberts, chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa said the Government has listened to TIA’s plea for a more co-ordinated approach to tourism, as tourism affects and involves many agencies across the public service.
Agencies that TIA regularly engages with include the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, Department of Conservation, Tourism New Zealand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Development, Treasury, Ministry of Transport, New Zealand Transport Agency, New Zealand Customs Service, Biosecurity New Zealand, Department of Internal Affairs, Stats New Zealand, Immigration New Zealand, WorkSafe, Maritime New Zealand, and the Civil Aviation Authority.
“As our submission on the State Sector Act says, any moves to overcome the existing fragmented approach to tourism will be welcomed. It is important that the Government does not take a narrow or ad hoc approach to tourism management and investment. Its agencies must not work in silos,” said Chris Roberts, chief executive, TIA.
“The proposed changes to the public service announced by Minister Hipkins should help create a deeper understanding and recognition within the public service of the depth and breadth of the tourism industry and its relevance to the New Zealand economy. It should also bring improved decision-making that recognises the full impact of policy decisions on tourism operators, communities and visitors.”
