Elected ministers need people at the top who are committed to delivering the Government’s programme. Ninety per cent of these appointments come from within the career service, not from party backrooms. The career service below is protected by statute, with permanent tenure and promotion based on merit. The duty comes with defined escalation steps and legal protection against reprisal. Officials need a legal obligation to raise concerns when something is wrong, and legal protection when they do.

Source: New Zealand Herald April 09, 2026 04:31 UTC