The public service boss says his sector is “not as politicised as some would have you believe”, even amid significant change in its senior ranks and politicians’ commentary.
Sir Brian Roche, who was appointed as Public Service Commissioner in November last year, told Q+A public servants are “very neutral”.
“[Politicisation of the public service] is something we have to remain alert to. But I don’t see any particular examples of it at all,” he said.
“I think the public deserves to know that they have an independent group of people who serve the government of the day.”
Sir Brian had criticised a health official in the past for using the word “crap” to describe the advice Associate Health Minister Casey Costello used to grant tax cuts for heated tobacco products.
The Government is currently considering changes to the Public Service Act, as part of the National and ACT coalition agreement. The reforms are expected to “clarify the role of the public service” and “reinforce the principle of merit-based appointments”.
When asked in February if the changes could include politicians being able to directly appoint public service chief executives, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had not immediately ruled it out. Labour said the idea risked politicising the public service.
Sir Brian said ministers had “significant say already” over these appointments because they signed off on job descriptions and got to see the long and shortlists of possible public sector leaders.
He said these powers, as they stood, were sufficient.
When asked what would happen to perceptions about neutrality if politicians were given greater powers over candidates, Sir Brian said there was only one case in the early 1990s he was aware of where someone was removed from consideration.
“We avoid those situations.”
All appointments were already merit-based and “that has never changed”, he added.
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters suggested in March diversity quotas were affecting the public service. Public Service Minister Judith Collins said she was not aware of any.
Who has left?
When asked if public chief executives were too easily reappointed, Sir Brian said: “I think there has been a little bit of experience — before I got there, by the way — of people being rotated through jobs without perhaps due scrutiny.”
“That’s going to be addressed in the changes to the [Public Service] Act where, after a five-year term or a three-year term, there is a process where people get re-scrutinised and compared to the market.
“I think that’s healthy for them, and it’s healthy for the system.”
Since early January 2024, at least eight public sector chief executives under the Public Service Commissioner’s direct purview had left their roles.
Sir Brian said that number was not “abnormally high”.
“I think it reflects contractual cycles and change.”
One chief executive had sighted health reasons for their departure: Oranga Tamariki’s Chappie Te Kani.
Audrey Sonerson resigned as boss of the Ministry of Transport after her appointment as Director-General of Health, while Chris Seed of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had chosen to retire. Seed is now in the UK as Acting High Commissioner, after Phil Goff’s sacking.
Treasury’s Caralee McLiesh and Ministry of Education’s Iona Holsted did not seek reappointment, both saying last year it was their decision to leave.
In December, Andrew Crisp finished up at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development after six years to take up a role with IHC.
Health NZ’s Diana Sarfati resigned suddenly in February this year, less than halfway through her five-year term. She said it was “time to allow someone new to take up the mantle”.
Meanwhile, Stats NZ chief executive Mark Sowden chose not seek re-appointment after the release of a scathing Public Service Commission report. It found Stats NZ had insufficient privacy safeguards when it contracted Manurewa Marae to collect Census data. That inquiry was launched after allegations Census and Covid-19 vaccination data collected at the marae was misused for Te Pāti Māori’s election campaign.
Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of NZ on Air.
