A High-Performing State Sector that Supports New Zealand's International Competitiveness
Page updated 29 Nov 2011
A High-Performing State Sector that Supports New Zealand's International Competitiveness is one of the Treasury's three outcomes. Through our work in this area we aim to ensure that the state sector represents value for money in achieving the Government's aims and objectives.
The Treasury's other outcomes are Improved Economic Performance and A Stable and Sustainable Macroeconomic Environment.
The quality of expenditure, regulation and other interventions by state sector agencies has a significant impact on the incomes, opportunities and general wellbeing of individuals. It impacts on New Zealand’s economic performance, which is a critical dimension of New Zealanders' living standards, and Government interventions also have distributional implications. Governments have an important role to play in protecting the most vulnerable in our society in ways that enhance economic performance.
The ultimate measure of a high-performing state sector is its success in delivering on the economic, social and environmental objectives of the Government in a way that is effective, efficient and affordable.
Our Role
The Treasury's role is to ensure that state institutions drive and support an ongoing focus on effectiveness and efficiency in public services, regulations and the management of the Crown's balance sheet. This includes building the capability and incentives of state institutions to provide quality advice to meet the needs of Ministers and the public through the co-ordination of policy, regulation and service delivery. It is also about providing system-wide and second-opinion advice to the Government on the allocation of resources to maximise impact and on scope for efficiencies and innovation in service delivery.
The Treasury's interest in improving state sector performance arises from its combined roles as an economic and financial advisor to the Government, as well as one of three central agencies (along with the State Services Commission and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet). The shared central agency approach to state sector performance allows greater collective leverage on performance issues.
To find out more about the Treasury's objectives and priorities concerning improved state sector performance, please refer to our latest Statement of Intent.
How Are We Doing?
For an overview of recent work done by the Treasury relating to state sector performance, see the relevant outcome performance section of our latest Annual Report.
Research and Policy Publications
Treasury Working Papers and Policy Perspectives Papers are commissioned as part of our core function in developing and providing advice to the Minister of Finance. Papers relating to the state sector can be found through the Public Sector subject link in the Publications Index.
Speeches
Treasury's senior management, including the Chief Executive, regularly attend speaking engagements where they present on topics related to the Treasury's work programme, including improved state sector performance. Notes from these engagements can be found at Speeches in the Publications section of this website.
Recent speeches include:
- Role of Public Sector Performance in Economic Growth (1 April 2011) - Speech by Andrew Kibblewhite, Deputy Chief Executive of the Treasury
- Public Sector Performance: the New Zealand Experience (10 March 2011) - Speech by Fergus Welsh, Chief Financial Officer of the Treasury
- Public Sector Management: a Treasury Perspective on Contracting for Outcomes and Managing Risks (24 November 2010) - Speech by Gabriel Makhlouf, Deputy Chief Executive (now Chief Executive) of the Treasury
