Public service needs to break down siloes

Public service needs to break down siloes
Head of the public service Peter Hughes says people's lives don't fit neatly into individual agencies' responsibilities. (Image: Public Service Commission)
Jem Traylen
The head of the public service says agencies must work harder to “overcome the siloes” and organise around what people actually need.In a report released on Thursday, public service commissioner Peter Hughes blamed the state sector reforms of the 1980s for the siloed mentality and said the public service was slow to step aside and let communities develop solutions that work for them.The report is a new requirement of the Public Service Act, which required the commissioner to report on the state of the public service at least every t...

More Public sector

One NZ poaches DOC from Spark after quarter-century run
Technology

One NZ poaches DOC from Spark after quarter-century run

One NZ says the DOC contract is one of several enterprise contracts it has won recently.

Dileepa Fonseka 26 Aug 2025
Union calls for retraction of minister’s ERA comments
Law & Regulation

Union calls for retraction of minister’s ERA comments

Public Service Association say Van Velden’s comments compromised ERA appointments.

Dileepa Fonseka 22 Aug 2025
Van Velden hopes new ERA appointees bring business focus
Law & Regulation

Van Velden hopes new ERA appointees bring business focus

Van Velden makes four ERA appointments and hopes for smaller awards against employers. 

Dileepa Fonseka 21 Aug 2025
Paying monkeys, the price of diplomacy and more
Public sector Business of Government

Paying monkeys, the price of diplomacy and more

BusinessDesk’s fortnightly look at the public sector. 

Ian Llewellyn 20 Aug 2025