Putting It Together: An Explanatory Guide to New Zealand's State Sector Financial Management System
Published 15 Sep 2011
Page updated 25 May 2012
This publication provides an overview of New Zealand's State sector financial management. The system includes the role and information needs of Parliament in approving and scrutinising government expenditure, the tools available to Ministers to focus public resources on the government's priorities and to set expectations of departments and other government agencies, and the role of departments in ensuring taxpayer's money is used appropriately (whether by the department in providing services itself or by the Crown entities and other organisations funded through departments).
This document summarises how the system is intended to operate and updates the original version, which was published in 1996. The updated Putting It Together may be a useful reference for:
- staff in Parliament, departments, Crown entities, and state-owned enterprises
- professionals and students
- interested members of the public
- people from overseas who are interested in New Zealand's state sector financial management system and how it works.
Note: Certain aspects of the Public Finance Act 1989 (PFA), State Sector Act 1988 and Crown Entities Act 2004 are currently under review to ensure that the system is flexible and responsive enough to meet the needs of the Government, Ministers, agencies, and the public. At this point the review of the PFA is focusing mainly on Parts 1, 2 and 4 (and the associated provisions in Part 4 of the Crown Entities Act 2004). Once the outcomes of the review are known, Putting It Together will be updated accordingly.
