New Zealand's Public Service Act 2020 identifies a spirit of service to the community as the fundamental characteristic of the public service. Chief executives are required to preserve, protect, and nurture the spirit of service that public servants bring to their work. As the leader of the public service, the Public Service Commissioner has an important role in guiding and supporting chief executives to achieve this aim. 

This paper seeks to explore what a ‘spirit of service’ might mean; how it can be preserved, protected, and nurtured; and what effects that might have on the integrity, services, and outcomes achieved by public institutions.