Improved State Sector Performance

Page updated 7 Oct 2009

Improved State sector performance is one of the Treasury's three outcomes. Through our work in this area we aim to ensure that the State sector represents value for money in achieving the Government’s aims and objectives.

The Treasury's other outcomes are Improved Economic Performance and Macroeconomic Stability.

The effective delivery of public services, and management of the Crown’s assets and liabilities, is important for all New Zealanders. The State sector is a major part of the economy, so high performance matters a great deal, affecting economic growth, wellbeing and fiscal stability.

Governments around the world face the challenge of ensuring that public organisations are effective in delivering quality services and contributing to citizens’ growing expectations. For New Zealand, this means we need to find effective ways to lift performance, while still maintaining effective fiscal management. 

Our Role

The Treasury’s role is to ensure State services are delivered in the most efficient and effective way, both to meet the Government’s objectives and to generate the maximum possible benefit for taxpayers for a given level of expenditure. 

This requires a combination of policies, regulations, administration and delivery that leads to value for money in each area of government activity. We need a public sector management system that provides the framework for a high-performing innovative State sector. We also need to ensure that the Government’s assets and liabilities are efficiently managed. The Treasury is responsible for providing advice in all these areas. 

The Treasury’s interest in improving State sector performance arises from its combined roles as an economic and financial advisor to the Government, as well as one of three central agencies (along with the State Services Commission and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet). The shared central agency approach to state sector performance allows greater collective leverage on performance issues. 

To find out more about the Treasury’s objectives and priorities concerning improved State sector performance, please refer to our latest Statement of Intent. 

How Are We Doing?

For an overview of recent work done by the Treasury relating to State sector performance, see the relevant outcome performance section of our latest Annual Report.

Research and Policy Publications

Treasury Working Papers and Policy Perspectives Papers are commissioned as part of our core function in developing and providing advice to the Minister of Finance. Papers relating to the State sector can be found through the Public Sector subject link in the Publications Index.

Speeches

Treasury’s senior management, including the Chief Executive, regularly attend speaking engagements where they present on topics related to the Treasury’s work programme, including improved State sector performance. Notes from these engagements can be found at Speeches in the Publications section of this website.

Recent speeches include: