State Services
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A refresh of the Better Public Services targets will further improve the lives of New Zealanders, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

Prime Minister Bill English today outlined a new set of 10 targets which set the Government’s expectations for the public service, building on the success of the initial targets set in 2012.

“These targets are challenging. They won’t all be easily achieved but we’re not here to shy away from these challenges, we’re here to change lives,” Mrs Bennett says.

The new targets include:

Paula Bennett State Services Deputy Prime Minister
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State Services Minister Paula Bennett has today welcomed the Better Public Services (BPS) results which have delivered improved outcomes for people, families and businesses across every target. 

“When we set the BPS targets in 2012, we designed them to be challenging. Five years on they’re driving real improvements in the services government provides to New Zealanders to address complex and long-term issues,” Mrs Bennett says.

Paula Bennett State Services
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State Services Minister Paula Bennett has welcomed an agreement with unions which will see the Government’s new pay equity principles applied for the first time.

In November the Government announced it had accepted the recommendations of the Joint Working Group on Pay Equity. The Principles were developed by the Joint Working Group on Pay Equity to make it easier for women to file pay equity claims with their employers, and assist employers in addressing those claims, rather than having to go through the courts.

Paula Bennett Women State Services
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The Government will update the Equal Pay Act and amend the Employment Relations Act to implement recommendations of the Joint Working Group on Pay Equity.

This will make it easier for women to file pay equity claims with their employers, rather than having to go through the courts. It will also assist employers in addressing those claims.

“The Government has accepted the recommendations of the Joint Working Group, which set out principles for raising and resolving pay equity claims through bargaining,” State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

Louise Upston Michael Woodhouse Paula Bennett Workplace Relations and Safety Women State Services
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Targeted early intervention and a Social Investment approach is being reflected in the steadily improving Better Public Services (BPS) Results, Ministers Bill English and Paula Bennett say.

The Government has released the BPS mid-year report which outlines the progress being made against the 10 challenging Results set by the Prime Minister in 2012.

Paula Bennett Bill English State Services Finance
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State Services Minister Paula Bennett has today announced the publication of New Zealand’s second National Action Plan under the international Open Government Partnership.

“New Zealand is internationally recognised as world-leading in open and transparent government with well-established public accountability processes, advanced open data systems and a strong, high integrity public service,” Mrs Bennett says.

Paula Bennett Social Housing State Services
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Improving the livelihoods of children will be at the heart of a newly established South Auckland Social Investment Board, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

“The costs of poor outcomes for at-risk populations in South Auckland are significant, with estimates showing that improving the outcomes for just 10 per cent of at-risk children could save close to $60 million of future costs,” Mrs Bennett says.

Paula Bennett State Services
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Greater collaboration and strategic thinking by the public sector is delivering real benefits for the public, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

Close to 400 public servants from across New Zealand attended the 2016 Deloitte IPANZ Public Sector Excellence Awards in Wellington last night.

“It’s always a great privilege to celebrate our hard-working and dedicated public servants who provide the outstanding services New Zealanders expect,” Mrs Bennett says.

Paula Bennett Social Housing State Services
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The Joint Working Group on Pay Equity Principles has reported back to the Government with a number of recommendations, State Services Minister Paula Bennett and Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse say.

The Joint Working Group was tasked with recommending principles for dealing with pay equity claims under the Equal Pay Act.

“I would like to thank the Joint Working Group members for their commitment to improving our pay equity laws,” Mrs Bennett says. 

Paula Bennett Michael Woodhouse State Services Workplace Relations and Safety
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More efficient use of office space and the sharing of facilities by government agencies has saved taxpayers $57 million over the past financial year, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

The fifth Crown Office Estate Report, released by the Property Management Centre of Expertise (PMCoE), shows the government is continuing to reduce the Crown’s property footprint while ensuring its employees are in modern, safe and healthy work environments.

Paula Bennett State Services
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Student achievement is ahead of target, welfare dependence continues to fall, immunisation rates are growing and child abuse rates are stabilising, Ministers Bill English and Paula Bennett say.

The Government has released the latest update of the Better Public Services (BPS) Results, outlining their progress against the ten challenging targets set by the Prime Minister in 2012.

Paula Bennett Bill English State Services Finance
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State Services Minister Paula Bennett has today announced that the process for appointing the next State Services Commissioner will soon begin, with applications expected to open in March.

Current State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie’s term ends on 30 June 2016.

“Mr Rennie has advised me that he is not seeking a further term as Commissioner, but will be staying in the role until the end of his current term,” says Mrs Bennett.

Paula Bennett State Services
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Ongoing restraint in the public sector and a focus on better frontline services has seen a further reduction in the number of core Government employees, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

The June 2015 update of the Core Government Administration shows 35,632 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff, a reduction of 474 from December 2014. This latest result is 843 under the cap set by the Government in 2012, and the lowest since it was introduced. 

Paula Bennett State Services
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The first meeting of the Pay Equity Working Group is an important milestone in the work to deal with equal pay claims, Ministers Paula Bennett and Michael Woodhouse say.

Ministers announced the formation of the Group in October to develop principles for dealing with claims of pay equity under the Equal Pay Act.

“Pay equity is a serious issue, and I am very pleased that representatives of employers, unions and Government agencies are getting together to discuss how progress can be made,” State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

Michael Woodhouse Paula Bennett Workplace Relations and Safety State Services
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State Services Minister Paula Bennett is in Finland and Sweden this week to attend meetings with Ministerial counterparts and present New Zealand’s perspective on providing better public services.

Mrs Bennett will deliver one of the keynote addresses at the OECD Public Governance Ministerial meeting in Helsinki, Finland.

Paula Bennett State Services
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Employers and unions have agreed to a Government proposal to set up a Joint Working Group to develop principles for dealing with claims of pay equity under the Equal Pay Act.

Minister of State Services Paula Bennett and Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Michael Woodhouse say the group will recommend agreed principles on pay equity that could be applied in all sectors of the economy.

Paula Bennett Michael Woodhouse State Services Workplace Relations and Safety
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The Inquiry report into Phillip John Smith / Traynor’s escape is being released alongside the Government’s response to its findings, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

A Government Inquiry was launched in December 2014, following Mr Smith / Traynor’s abscondment while on temporary release from prison.

“I am confident that this review provides information needed by agencies to assist with their response to vulnerabilities identified through Mr Smith / Traynor’s departure from New Zealand,” says Mrs Bennett.

Paula Bennett State Services
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The Productivity Commission’s latest report on social services in New Zealand will be a valued input into the Government’s ongoing programme of public sector reform, Finance Minister Bill English and State Services Minister Paula Bennett say.

The Commission found there are significant opportunities to improve the support given to the most vulnerable New Zealanders.

“The Government agrees with the Commission’s analysis of the weakness in our current social delivery systems,” Mr English says.

Paula Bennett Bill English State Services Finance
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Putting citizens at the centre of policy and using information to deliver results will be key themes of a Trans-Tasman conference on Government, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

Mrs Bennett travels to Melbourne today to attend The Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) Annual Conference, where she will be a keynote speaker.

“I’m pleased to have the opportunity to offer New Zealand’s perspective on the Conference’s theme of Government engagement with the public in the information age,” says Mrs Bennett.

Paula Bennett State Services
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Greater collaboration and strategic thinking by the public sector is delivering real benefits for the public, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

Close to 400 public servants from across New Zealand attended the 2015 Deloitte Fujitsu Public Service Excellence Awards in Wellington last night.

“I was thrilled to be able to celebrate with all the winners, and recognise the talented and hard-working New Zealanders who have dedicated themselves to providing outstanding public services for their communities,” Mrs Bennett says.

Paula Bennett State Services
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More young people are achieving higher qualifications, welfare dependency continues to fall and Kiwis are doing more of their government transactions digitally, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and State Services Minister Paula Bennett say.

The Government today published the latest update of progress against the ten challenging targets set three years ago by the Prime Minister.

Paula Bennett Bill English State Services Deputy Prime Minister
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Strategic thinking about property needs for Government agencies in Wellington will deliver savings for taxpayers, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Property Management Centre of Expertise (PMCoE) today moves into the second phase of the Wellington Accommodation Project – Tranche Two (WAP2).

“WAP2 outlines a plan to optimise leased office space in Wellington so that agencies can continue to deliver outstanding public services and save taxpayer dollars,” Mrs Bennett says.

Paula Bennett State Services
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The Government Inquiry into the escape of Phillip John Smith / Traynor has been extended by two months, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

“When the inquiry was announced in November 2014 I made it clear the six month period proposed for its completion might be extended because it is important New Zealanders get answers to the many questions around the escape,” Mrs Bennett says.

Paula Bennett State Services
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The latest public sector staff capping report shows the Government’s commitment to providing better front-line services and keeping back-office numbers down is paying off, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

“Across the board, the Government has set out a plan for a public service that puts New Zealanders first, ensuring taxpayers’ dollars are being spent on services that deliver real results for those most in need.

Paula Bennett State Services