Interdepartmental executive boards, interdepartmental ventures, and departmental agencies are types of government organisation provided for in the Public Service Act 2020. This page provides a general introduction to these organisation types and information about their reporting requirements under the Public Finance Act 1989.
Introduction
The Public Service Act 2020 introduced two new types of public service organisation:
- Interdepartmental executive boards: These can be set up to align and co-ordinate strategic policy, planning, and budgeting activities for two or more departments with responsibilities in a subject matter area. This helps support those departments to deliver on relevant cross-departmental initiatives.
- Interdepartmental ventures: These can be set up to deliver services or carry out regulatory functions that relate to the responsibilities of two or more departments.
The Public Finance Act was amended to allow these new organisation types to administer appropriations and set out how they are expected to report on their strategic intentions, financial performance, and annual performance. The same provisions also apply to departmental agencies: These predate the Public Service Act 2020 and are operationally autonomous agencies hosted by a department (for example, Cancer Control Agency, Ministry for Disabled People).
The Public Finance Act defines interdepartmental boards, interdepartmental ventures, and departmental agencies collectively as specified agencies. Under the Public Finance Act a specified agency may report on their strategic intentions, financial performance, and annual performance independently, or through another department.
Reporting under the Public Finance Act
Departmental agencies
Departmental agencies are listed in Schedule 2 Part 2 of the Public Service Act. The schedule sets out the reporting requirements for those agencies.
All departmental agencies must produce an annual report.
Except where the Cabinet agrees to different arrangements, information on strategic intentions must be presented to the House and published as part of the host’s strategic intentions.
Except where the Cabinet agrees to different arrangements, annual financial statements for departmental agencies must be presented to the House and published as part of the host’s financial statements.
Interdepartmental executive boards
Interdepartmental executive boards are listed in Schedule 2 Part 3 of the Public Service Act. Information about their reporting is published here:
- Border Executive Board
- Climate Change Chief Executives Board
- Digital Executive Board
- Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence
The Spatial Planning Board, previously the Spatial Planning Reform Board, was an interdepartmental executive board from April 2021 until it was disestablished in June 2024.
Interdepartmental ventures
Interdepartmental ventures are listed in Schedule 2 Part 4 of the Public Service Act. No interdepartmental ventures have been established.
Further information
The Public Service Commission publishes guidance related to the Public Service Act 2020, including about organisational form for establishing new agencies or making changes, and supplementary guidance notes about interdepartmental executive boards, interdepartmental ventures, and departmental agencies.
The Treasury has developed guidance to help anyone involved in establishing and administering a specified agency understand Public Finance Act requirements that apply to specified agencies. Refer: Public Finance Act: Guidance for Specified Agencies (interdepartmental executive boards, interdepartmental ventures, and departmental agencies). Feedback and questions about the guidance can be addressed to: [email protected].