Resource material › Corporate Publications › Statement of Intent 2012-15Tauāki Whakamaunga Atu
Introduction
On this page
- Foreword: Minister of Internal Affairs
- Overview from the Chief Executive
- Statements of responsibility
Foreword: Minister of Internal Affairs
As Minister of Internal Affairs, I am responsible for a Department entering the next phase of its development following the integration in 2011. This Statement of Intent sets out how the Department will take advantage of its expanded functions and leadership responsibilities to contribute to Government priorities for better, more effective services for New Zealanders.
The Government created the new Department to more easily combine expertise and resources, and deliver better value for taxpayers. The integration was driven by a desire to transform how government services are provided to New Zealanders by seamlessly linking people to the most appropriate service provider to meet their needs.
I am determined to work with the Department to build a world leading organisation that, in time, is an international benchmark for the delivery of citizen focused services and innovations in service delivery.
New Zealanders expect public services to be organised around what people really want. To this end we will be customer focused, engaging with New Zealanders to ask them what they want. Part of this will be ensuring New Zealanders can interact easily with government in a digital environment. This is a key result that both the Department’s Chief Executive and I will be focusing on. This will see more convenient services focused on the needs of customers, and reduced costs in time and money.
Internal Affairs is an agency that is well-placed to fulfil this leadership role. It is connected to many parts of the public sector and, as the home of the Government’s Chief Information Office, it has a mandate to lead better use of information and communications technology across the public service. This provides great scope for supporting better coordination across sectors to improve outcomes for the public and Government.
This Statement of Intent coincides with the establishment of a single Vote for Internal Affairs, incorporating the eight Votes previously administered by the Department. This change allows Ministers and the Department to be more flexible in allocating resources across areas of greatest need or benefit. This will contribute significantly to realising Government priorities for a more efficient and effective public sector.
The recent integration has not been without challenges, but with these come opportunities. I want to look forward with the aim of building a Department which every employee can be proud of as a valued contributor to New Zealand’s future.
Hon Chris Tremain
Responsible Minister for the Department of Internal Affairs
April 2012
Overview from the Chief Executive
This Statement of Intent represents the start of a new and important phase for the Department of Internal Affairs.
While the nature and scope of our functions has broadened over the past two years, the core purpose of our work remains the same. We have always been committed to connecting people, communities and government.
It is this commitment that underpins our contribution to Government’s goals for better public services. These goals put us in an influential position to lead changes in the way the public sector works as a system to serve New Zealanders.
With the Minister of Internal Affairs, we are responsible for the Government’s Result 10: New Zealanders can complete their transactions with government easily in a digital environment. This will be a key focus for us over the next three years.
This work is about understanding better how people want to engage with government and designing new approaches to service delivery that meet these needs. Achieving this result will be challenging. Agencies will have to work much more closely together and in new and innovative ways. It is a challenge we are embracing because it is an opportunity to make a real and measurable difference to New Zealanders’ lives.
Smarter use of ICT will play a significant role in more efficient, convenient and responsive services. The Government’s integration of our functions into one agency enhanced our responsibility and capability to take advantage of new technologies to improve services across the State sector. As a result, we are in a strong position to continue leading the transformation in the way government collectively uses and invests in ICT.
Realising the vision of more connected and responsive public services can only be done in collaboration with others – citizens, other departments and the private sector. We will continue to place a high priority on building valuable and enduring relationships with other agencies and stakeholders, and developing strategic partnerships in key areas such as local government, so that we more effectively achieve outcomes across sectors.
This includes continuing to work closely with other agencies and communities in Christchurch to support the recovery from the Canterbury earthquakes. Our ongoing responsibilities include supporting the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust and the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failure Caused by the Canterbury Earthquakes. We are continuing to explore opportunities for new partnerships so that in the longer term we can more effectively meet the needs of the Christchurch public.
In this challenging environment Government and the public have high expectations of us. It is the skills, experience and passion of our people that will bring success and drive our performance forward. Over the past year we have consolidated our new structure and we are now developing our capability and building a collective commitment to our leadership role to ensure we unlock the value from internal connections and combinations.
I have confidence in our ability to meet the challenges ahead. This is my first Statement of Intent as Chief Executive of the Department and I am looking forward to leading an agency that has a pivotal role to play in New Zealand’s future.
Colin MacDonald
Chief Executive
April 2012
Statements of Responsibility
I am satisfied that the information on future operating intentions provided by my Department in this Statement of Intent and the Information Supporting the Estimates is in accordance with sections 38, 40 and 41 of the Public Finance Act 1989 and is consistent with the policies and performance expectations of the Government.
Hon Chris Tremain
Responsible Minister for the Department of Internal Affairs
April 2012
In signing this statement, I acknowledge that I am responsible for the information contained in the Statement of Intent for the Department of Internal Affairs. This information has been prepared in accordance with the Public Finance Act 1989. It is also consistent with the proposed appropriations set out in the Appropriations (2012/13 Estimates) Bill, as presented to the House of Representatives in accordance with section 13 of the Public Finance Act 1989, and with existing appropriations and financial authorities.
Colin MacDonald
Chief Executive
April 2012
Shirley Smith
Chief Financial Officer
Counter-signed
April 2012