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Public Service Act 2020

People working in public service - Public service chief executives, system leaders, and public service leadership team - Public service chief executives

52: General responsibilities of chief executives of departments and departmental agencies

You could also call this:

"What bosses of government departments and agencies are responsible for"

The chief executive of a department or departmental agency is responsible to the Minister for several things. You are responsible for improving how your agency works with other public service agencies and for making sure your agency is responsive to the government's collective interests. You must also make sure your agency is working well and following the purpose of the public service as outlined in section 11.

You have to support the Minister in acting in the best interest of the public, which includes maintaining public institutions and assets, and keeping up to date with any legislation your agency is responsible for. You must also provide advice on the long-term effects of policies and make sure your agency is performing its functions and duties well.

You are responsible for giving advice to Ministers and for the integrity and conduct of your employees. You must also make sure your agency is delivering goods and services efficiently and effectively, and that they are contributing to the intended outcomes.

If you are the chief executive of a department, you are not responsible for the performance of a departmental agency hosted by your department, unless it is stated in this Act or another enactment. If you are the chief executive of a departmental agency, you are only responsible for your agency's performance, not the host department's, unless stated in this Act or another enactment.

As the chief executive of a servicing department of an interdepartmental executive board, you are not responsible for the board's performance unless stated in an enactment or delegated to your department under section 27. However, if you are also a member of the board, you have full responsibilities as a board member.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS179758.

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51: Public service chief executives, or

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Part 3People working in public service
Public service chief executives, system leaders, and public service leadership team: Public service chief executives

52General responsibilities of chief executives of departments and departmental agencies

  1. A chief executive of a department or departmental agency is responsible to the appropriate Minister for—

  2. improving ways of working across public service agencies; and
    1. their agency’s responsiveness on matters relating to the collective interests of government; and
      1. the operation of their agency, including in carrying out the purpose of the public service under section 11; and
        1. supporting that Minister to act as a good steward of the public interest, including by—
          1. maintaining public institutions, assets, and liabilities; and
            1. maintaining the currency of any legislation administered by their agency; and
              1. providing advice on the long-term implications of policies; and
              2. the performance of the functions and duties and the exercise of the powers of the chief executive or of their agency (whether those functions, duties, or powers are imposed or conferred by an enactment or by the policies of the Government); and
                1. giving advice to Ministers; and
                  1. the integrity and conduct of the employees for whom the chief executive is responsible; and
                    1. the efficient and economical delivery of the goods or services provided by the agency and how effectively those goods or services contribute to the intended outcomes.

                      1. The chief executive of a department is not responsible for the performance of functions or duties, or the exercise of powers, of or by that part of the department that is a departmental agency hosted by the department unless expressly provided in this Act or another enactment.

                      2. The chief executive of a departmental agency is responsible for the performance of functions and duties, and the exercise of powers, by that part of the department that is the departmental agency only and not any functions, duties, or powers of the host department unless expressly provided in this Act or another enactment.

                      3. The chief executive of a servicing department of an interdepartmental executive board is not responsible for the performance of functions or duties, or the exercise of powers, of or by the board unless provided in an enactment or delegated to the department under section 27.

                      4. However, if the chief executive of a servicing department is also a member of the board they also have full responsibilities as a member of the board.

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