The Institute’s Managing for Performance Project considered how the performance information system in the New Zealand state sector could be better aligned with the needs of key users and achieve a greater focus on outcomes. Underpinning this question was a perception that the information produced by the current formal performance information system was little valued...

In public administration circles there are two widely accepted stylised facts about New Zealand. First, New Zealand implemented sweeping public sector reforms and was at the forefront of the New Public Management movement. Second, New Zealand scores very well on several international league tables measuring the quality of government. This paper considers possible connections between...

The quake caused significant damage to the Canterbury region with power outages, ruptured pipes, falling masonry, collapsed buildings, and liquefaction 1 across the region. The majority of the damage was sustained in particular areas of Christchurch city and in parts of Kaiapoi in the Waimakariri district. Nevertheless, the earthquake was economically significant, with damage of...

Disasters are focusing events that can drive immediate policy change. It argues that good recovery institutions provide the adaptive capacity that enables communities to recover from natural disasters. This paper briefly describes recovery processes after three natural disasters in Australia and New Zealand between 2009 and 2011: bushfires in Victoria in 2009, flooding in Queensland...

The Oceans Governance project was funded by the Emerging Issues Programme, overseen by the Institute of Policy Studies at Victoria University of Wellington. Its primary goal is to provide interested members of the public and policymakers with a general overview and a description of the types of principles, planning tools and policy instruments that can...