The nine Government Targets have been approved by Cabinet and will focus the public sector on achieving improved results in health, education, law and order, work, housing and the environment.
Delivery of the Government Targets is the responsibility of a lead minister and lead public service agency chief executive, working in partnership with other ministers and their agencies as appropriate.
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet will run a regular reporting cycle for the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The nine Government Targets Quarterly Reports for September 2024 are:
Shorter stays in emergency departments
95% of patients to be admitted, discharged, or transferred from an emergency department within six hours.
Shorter wait times for treatment
95% of people wait less than four months for elective treatment.
Reduced child and youth offending
15% reduction in the total number of children and young people with serious and persistent offending behaviour.
Reduced violent crime
20,000 fewer people who are victims of an assault, robbery, or sexual assault.
Fewer people on the Jobseeker Support Benefit
50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support Benefit.
Increased student attendance
80% of students are present for more than 90% of the term.
More students at expected curriculum levels
80% of Year 8 students at or above the expected curriculum level for their age in reading, writing and maths by December 2030.
Fewer people in emergency housing
75% reduction of households in emergency housing.
Reduced net greenhouse gas emissions
New Zealand is on track to meet its 2050 net zero climate change targets, with total net emissions of no more than 290 megatonnes from 2022 to 2025 and 305 megatonnes from 2026 to 2030.
Latest Government Targets Quarterly Report Summary:
What are the Government Targets?
The Government is delivering on its election promise to get New Zealand back on track, and launched nine ambitious targets to help improve the lives of New Zealanders.
The nine Government Targets will focus the public sector on achieving better results in health, education, law and order, work, housing and environment.
The Government Targets are:
- Shorter stays in emergency departments: 95% of patients to be admitted, discharged, or transferred from an emergency department within six hours.
- Shorter wait times for treatment: 95% of people wait less than four months for elective treatment.
- Reduced child and youth offending: 15% reduction in the total number of children and young people with serious and persistent offending behaviour.
- Reduced violent crime: 20,000 fewer people who are victims of an assault, robbery, assault, or sexual assault.
- Fewer people on the Jobseeker Support Benefit: 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support Benefit.
- Increased student attendance: 80% of students are present for more than 90% of the term.
- More students at expected curriculum levels: 80% of Year 8 students at or above the expected curriculum level for their age in reading, writing and maths by December 2030.
- Fewer people in emergency housing: 75% reduction of households in emergency housing.
- Reduced net greenhouse gas emissions: On track to meet New Zealand’s 2050 net zero climate change targets, with total net emissions of no more than 290 megatonnes from 2022 to 2025 and 305 megatonnes from 2026 to 2030.
How were the Targets chosen?
The Targets were developed from areas New Zealanders told the Government were most important to them - health, education, restoring law and order, work, housing and the environment.
When will the Targets be delivered?
The Targets will be delivered by 2030.
How will the Targets be delivered?
Delivery of the Targets is the responsibility of a lead minister and lead public service agency chief executive, working in partnership with other ministers and their agencies as appropriate.
Lead agencies will develop the delivery plan for the Target, including the contributions from other agencies and prepare quarterly progress reports for their minister to approve. The lead minister will approve delivery plans and the plans will be regularly reviewed and updated.
What changes will New Zealanders see?
New Zealanders will see improvements over time in:
- Shorter stays in emergency departments
- Shorter wait times for elective treatment
- Reduced child and youth offending
- Reduced violent crime
- Fewer people on the Jobseeker Support Benefit
- Increased student attendance
- More students at expected curriculum levels
- Fewer people in emergency housing
- Reduced net greenhouse gas emissions
How will Target results get reported?
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Delivery Unit will run a regular reporting cycle for the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Quarterly Targets reports to Cabinet will be proactively released.
Lead agencies and Ministers will provide information on Targets process on lead agency websites.
What is the difference between a Government Target and other targets that ministers or agencies have set?
Government Targets are six-year aspirations for achieving better results on public services and priorities that matter to New Zealanders.
Ministers and agency chief executives may also set targets beyond the nine Government Targets to drive up the performance across a broader range of public services and improve the effective and efficient operation of agency performance.
Why set Government Targets?
Government Targets will focus attention, resources and accountability on improving service outcomes. The Targets are intentionally ambitious to ensure New Zealanders get better results and the public services they deserve in health, education, law and order, work, housing and environment.
Ministers and agency chief executives are accountable for delivery, and the Government expects the public service to dig deeply into root causes, to be innovative, and to be disciplined in directing resources to where they will have the greatest impact on outcomes.