Over the past 20 years or so I have had the pleasure, mostly, of working for the government of the day amongst other engagements. Whether as a Crown Commissioner, a Ministerial appointment as Chair or Director of Crown entities, or operating as a member of an independent advisory Board in the infrastructure sector, I have come across many visionary & driven Ministers of the Crown, senior agency officials & professional, committed public servants.
By way of background there are Crown agents which must give effect to government policy when directed by the responsible Minister. There are autonomous Crown entities which must have regard to government policy when directed by the responsible Minister & there are independent Crown entities which are generally independent of government policy.
Many New Zealanders work across a lot of Crown entities, advisory Boards & other bodies designed to support government decision making & advancement for New Zealanders. There are about 2,700 Crown entities, approximately 650 directors of which are appointed by Ministers. In addition there are between 10-11,000 other people who perform other vital public services for New Zealand whether it be on other Boards, industry liaison groups, school Trustees or as independent advisors.
During the majority of those engagements, there has been a dignified, professional & considered environment that enabled people to offer free & frank advice without fear or favour to shareholding Ministers & senior officials. In my 20 years experience, that has been the normal way of things under various governments of all persuasions – majority, coalition or major parties.
However the ground has shifted & those who are asked by the government of the day have, in recent times, recognised & been exposed to a different modus operandi – one that is concerning & while on the face of it might not appear to have much impact, may well do.
In treating those who are doing something that was asked of them by the government of the day & who agreed to assist in the interests of ‘public service’, who are then personally vilified when there is a change in government, will result in a series of unfortunate consequences.
The closer you come to the centre of political decision making, the more susceptible you are to the vagaries of those who hold political power. We accept the invitations into that environment in the full knowledge that we behave in a manner that is consistent with time-honoured protocols where one does not criticise a Minister or government of the day & that in essence you are defenceless. That used to be a two way understanding.
Normally, & sensibly so, large nationally focussed activities have been premised on issue resolution & positive outcomes for the entire country. Now though we are seeing personality based political spin directed at those people who are working on behalf of New Zealand, driven by small minded, local, personal agendas that belie the national role of holding a Ministerial warrant. While it might result in headlines & soundbites for some politicians in the media, the Select Committee room or on various second rate social media platforms, it also results in what appears to be an outcome that some have yet to grasp.
Apart from anything else, this is a waste of time & effort and distracts from the core purpose & mission of the endeavour. In addition, fighting rear-guard, second-guess actions with officials is indicative of their unwillingness to change. In the some instances there is the act of malicious compliance & the setting of benign ambushes.
If governments & politicians & agency leaders continue with this modus operandi, when they next ask people to bring their commitment to a better New Zealand, their experience borne of time working in the private & public sectors, & their intellect & their drive to contribute to a better nation, the answer will simply be….. “No”.
New Zealand deserves better.
“Nikki Kaye & Tariana Turia shine amid the collapse of civility in politics” – Steven Joyce, NZ Herald, 11 January 2025
