Hon. Trevor Mallard
3 July 2003 Speech Notes

Embargoed until:5.30pm

Launch of public service leadership programme

Speech to public sector chief executives and managers, Wellington

Good evening.

Many of you have been invited today because you are considered the ‘best and the brightest’ of the public service.

Some of you are at a stage in your careers where you are looking to progress, some of you may be considering your options for future career paths, and some of you may act as mentors or guides to people on a career pathway.

What many of you might have in common is a curiosity about the "next step" — the next step for yourselves as individuals, and for public service leadership in general.

This Government is committed to lifting the overall capability of the state sector and improving the delivery of government services to New Zealanders.

We are also intent on developing a public service which is committed to a whole-of-government approach that ensures collaboration and cooperation between departments and agencies when those services are delivered.

We recognise that if we want a strong future as a country we have to get the foundations right.

A strong and effective state sector is integral to the country’s economic and social performance.

This task requires strong leadership – from ministers, chief executives, senior managers and from the people who staff the many and varied government agencies.

I am pleased to therefore officially launch a new senior leadership and management development strategy for the public service.

At the heart of this strategy is a new Executive Leadership Programme that will be delivered through the new Leadership Development Centre, which we are also launching tonight.

The establishment of this programme and the centre is an important next step in the development of up and coming managers.

The initiative will bring about significant change in the way our best and brightest are developed and supported.

The main aim is to build a group of home grown talented managers of the required quality, quantity and diversity to meet the future needs of the public service.

This is likely to extend over time to the wider public sector.

A significant amount of new government funding for this initiative will match funding provided for development by departments.

The outcome of this programme should be to ensure that public service management is a much more attractive career option for talented people.

I believe the public service today offers talented men and women tremendous opportunities for personal development, and challenging leadership roles.

I’m pleased that representatives of the PSA are here tonight. The
Government, through the Partnership for Quality, is committed to working
with the PSA on a number of areas of common interest.

This programme will encourage talented public servants to stay and progress their career in the public sector, which is something we all support.

It also offers something even bigger — the chance to make a difference in the most important issues confronting our country today.

I look forward to seeing the results of this initiative over coming years.

For me, this means seeing leaders out there who have a real connection to New Zealand’s communities, and who are innovative and not afraid to challenge the status quo.

It also means leaders who continue to maintain the public service’s strong values and high ethical standards.

I would like to thank all those who have been involved in the work behind this launch, especially those involved in the Review of the Centre.

I would now like to hand over to the State Services Commissioner, Michael Wintringham, who will speak in more detail about the programme’s development and content.

ENDS

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