Business of Government: Meaningless reporting, quiet policy quitting, Yes Minister, and more

Business of Government: Meaningless reporting, quiet policy quitting, Yes Minister, and more
Filling out forms correctly is not always an effective performance measure. (Image: Alex Burton)
Jem Traylen
Auditor general issues another performance reporting wake-up callTwo years ago, auditor-general John Ryan issued a landmark report, “The problems, progress and potential of performance reporting”. The title was quite tactful, given it was an apparent attempt to shake up the establishment over the deep-set problems in the current state of performance reporting.In that report, Ryan said his office regularly saw public organisations struggle to clearly explain what they did and how well they did it. “It’s not just repo...

More Policy

'There are some firms in NZ I won’t touch'
Policy

'There are some firms in NZ I won’t touch'

Adam Feeley on the reluctance to call out poor performers in NZ infrastructure sector.

Oliver Lewis 30 Jun 2025
Govt mandates high-rise zoning around key CRL stations
Policy

Govt mandates high-rise zoning around key CRL stations

Auckland Council will need to provide for building heights of at least 10-15 storeys.

Oliver Lewis 25 Jun 2025
Infrastructure Plan floats higher health, electricity spend
Policy

Infrastructure Plan floats higher health, electricity spend

Draft plan identifies priority projects and recommends transport system reform.

Oliver Lewis 25 Jun 2025
Infrastructure plan: 17 projects made it, 31 missed out
Policy

Infrastructure plan: 17 projects made it, 31 missed out

Rail, prison and ferry terminal projects excluded from infrastructure priority list.

Oliver Lewis 25 Jun 2025