The Treasury's Operating Context
The context in which the Treasury now operates has changed and is challenging for the organisation...
While in the period post the first Formal review the Government's focus was on managing the immediate events and consequences of the global financial crisis and the Christchurch earthquakes, there is now an increased focus on what needs to be done to secure New Zealand's place amongst first-world economies that can afford first world healthcare, education and welfare.
Affordable first class healthcare, education and welfare are a small subset of what is needed and will be led by a focus on better public services and improved economic performance.
The Treasury plays a critical role in driving the desired performance step change. This will require more innovative and better-coordinated government policy as well as a different more effective and efficient modus operandi within the State sector - including across sector co-creation of solutions and shared responsibility for successful implementation.
The Government is committed to a coherent systemic programme of renewal for the public service with a commitment to cross-cutting services delivering results that will benefit all New Zealanders.
At the time of the review, the new Better Public Services (BPS) paradigm was in its early days of execution, including the establishment of a coordinated Corporate Centre (for the three central agencies) and an empowered platform/sector strategic approach for State services. The latter is including sector boards, sector funding and new functional lead positions. Openness, transparency and accountability are demanded of the State sector, supported by innovation and 'disruptive challenge'.
The Treasury must lead on both of these fronts - improved economic performance and better public services - within this new context. This will require the Treasury doing things differently than it has in the past. The Treasury is in the process of redefining how it plays its role in this new context. It needs to be very clear on its value-add proposition for the Crown within this new paradigm, and is currently developing how it will fully respond to this challenge.
