The Hughes culture: 'command and control'

Responsive, agile and committed – and also “aggressive/defensive”. (Image: Getty)

Wed, 04 Oct 2023

What sort of culture will Peter Hughes leave behind when he retires as Public Service Commissioner in February? This is the ninth in a series of articles exploring the state of New Zealand's public service, including the career and legacy of public service commissioner Peter Hughes.An external review of the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) in 2011 – right at the end of Peter Hughes’ 10 years as chief executive – verged on effusive about the organisation he was leaving behind.MSD under Hughes, now the public servic...

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