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Formats
Ministerial Statement of Responsibility#
I am satisfied that the information on strategic intentions prepared by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is consistent with the policies and performance expectations of the Government.
Rt Hon John Key
Prime Minister
September 2015
Introduction from the Chief Executive#
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) works to support the government of the day and does so by advising, leading, supporting and coordinating activities across the State sector, as well as providing specific advice and support to the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Civil Defence. In doing so, DPMC seeks to achieve its purpose of "advancing a confident, secure and well-governed New Zealand".
Confidence, security and good governance are key to a nation's wellbeing. These strategic intentions are intended to provide a high-level overview of how DPMC intends to advise, lead, coordinate and support to achieve our medium-term outcomes, covering both our own unique role and the way we work alongside other agencies.
DPMC has adopted more functions in recent years: in 2014 the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM) became a business unit within the Department; in 2015 the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) became a departmental agency housed within DPMC; and in 2016 as CERA transitions to its long-term arrangements it is expected that some of the functions previously performed by CERA will transfer into DPMC as a distinct business unit. A key focus for the Department in the coming years will be to fully incorporate these new functions to ensure they fit within, and support, the Department's common purpose.
As the Department takes on new functions, existing functions will continue to develop and play a key role supporting the government of the day. Over the next four years, DPMC will be building on the work completed in recent years refreshing the structure of the national security system. The system will become better at working collaboratively, identifying and addressing key national risks, setting priorities for the sector and matching investment to those priorities, all with the goal of lifting the resilience of New Zealand.
Through the Cabinet Office and Government House, DPMC will continue to support the smooth functioning of Executive Government through its support for the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and Ministers. As well as supporting the processes that underpin Executive Government, DPMC will also play a key role providing advice and support to the government of the day in support of its priorities, as well as advice on issues of the day, constitutional issues and national security. A key new focus for DPMC will be to lift the policy advice capability of the wider public service.
Underpinning everything DPMC intends to do within its strategic intentions is its workforce. The development of a talented, agile and diverse workforce will therefore remain a key priority in the coming years. As priorities change in the face of new governments, risks and events, so too DPMC needs to be flexible in its capabilities and approaches. DPMC will continue to work closely with the Treasury and State Services Commission (SSC) to lift performance and help agencies to deliver better public services within a constrained fiscal environment.
These strategic intentions are intended to cover the functions of DPMC and of CERA as a departmental agency housed within DPMC. In signing this information, I acknowledge that I am responsible for the information on strategic intentions for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. This information has been prepared in accordance with section 38 and section 40 of the Public Finance Act 1989.
[Signed by]
Andrew Kibblewhite
Chief Executive
September 2015