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Coordination between agencies has seen the Crown continue to reduce its property footprint and pay less for office space, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Property Management Centre of Expertise (PMCoE) today released the fourth Crown Office Estate Report showing the Government is making good progress creating more effective, flexible and agile workplaces.

State Services Minister Paula Bennett leaves today to represent the Government at World War One commemorations being held at sites significant to New Zealand on the Western Front in France.

“Our two nations share a special bond because of the immense sacrifice our troops made so far from their home and loved ones,” says Mrs Bennett.

“It’s an honour to make this journey and pay tribute to the memories of the brave men and women who gave their lives for their nation.”

The Government is continuing to back the recovery of central Christchurch, with about 350 public servants to relocate into a major new development, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and State Services Minister Paula Bennett have announced.

A new 8500 square metre office building to be constructed on the corner of Hereford Street and Cambridge Terrace – the site of the former central police station – will be tenanted by staff from the Ministry of Education, Housing New Zealand Corporation and the Ministry of Health.

Good morning. It’s great to be here to talk to you all.

I know your days are busy and it feels like we are all working harder than ever before. So thank you for taking time to come along.

We are all in our jobs for the same reason – to make a difference for New Zealanders.

Whether that’s developing new policies, implementing services, writing new legislation, working on the frontline.

We are all here to serve New Zealanders.  And I think we can do a better job than we are now if we are prepared to do things differently.

The Government has set itself ambitious new targets including 75,000 fewer New Zealanders being on benefits by June 2018 as part of its Better Public Services drive, Finance Minister Bill English and State Services Minister Paula Bennett say.

State Services Minister Paula Bennett is calling on Government agencies to put forward their nominations for the Deloitte Fujitsu Public Sector Excellence Awards 2015.   

The awards, organised by the Institute of Public Administration New Zealand (IPANZ), recognise outstanding achievements and innovations by organisations and teams across the public sector.

State Services Minister Paula Bennett has welcomed the latest Kiwis Count survey results, showing the levels of trust and satisfaction New Zealanders have in the frontline public services they use continues to increase.

The State Services Commission’s annual Kiwis Count survey looks at trust based on experience and perception, and satisfaction in public services, and shows improvements in both measures this year compared to last year.     

State Services Minister Paula Bennett has welcomed today’s half-yearly capping report, showing the number of administrative roles in the core public service remain below the cap and are forecast to stay at that level.

“The cap on core administrative positions, introduced by the incoming National Government in 2008, has successfully reduced back office roles and freed up resources, meaning improved public services for New Zealanders,” says Mrs Bennett.

State Services Minister Paula Bennett has today released the draft Terms of Reference for the Government Inquiry into matters concerning the escape of Phillip John Smith / Traynor.

The draft Terms of Reference focus on:

State Services Minister Paula Bennett is pleased to announce that today New Zealand formally became a member of the Open Government Partnership, with the publication of New Zealand’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) Action Plan. 

The OGP was established in 2011 and is an international partnership of countries aiming to foster openness, transparency and accountability to their citizens.

“The OGP Action Plan, published today, outlines our commitment to the Partnership, and to ensuring open and transparent government,” Mrs Bennett says.