This report challenges common perceptions of New Zealand's state sector and calls for fundamental reforms to improve its performance.
The report "Demystifying the State", authored by Dr Tony Burton, provides an in-depth analysis of how the state sector functions, moving beyond idealistic portrayals to examine its real-world limitations and potential for improvement.
"There is a tendency to view the public service through rose-tinted glasses, as either unsung heroes or faceless bureaucrats," says Dr Oliver Hartwich, Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative. "This report strips away those myths to reveal a very human institution, with all the aforementioned strengths and weaknesses".
Key findings of the report include:
- Hierarchy, disengaged motivation, information limits, and lack of accountability constrain the state sector.
- These constraints create mismatches between what state institutions are asked to do and what they can realistically achieve.
- Recent reforms, particularly the 2020 Public Service Act, further undermine the transparency and accountability of the state sector.
"Understanding these limitations is crucial for any meaningful reform," says Burton. "We need to move beyond simplistic notions of 'public service motivation' and confront the realities of how large organisations function."
The report is the first of two examining the state sector. A follow-up report, to be released later this year, will propose specific reforms to address the issues identified.
Click here to download the two-page summary of Demystifying the State
