The New Zealand Department of Labour was established in 1891 and its primary role is to improve the performance of the labour market and, through this, strengthen the economy and increase the standard of living for those in New Zealand.

The department's chief executive is the Secretary of Labour Chris Blake. The department is responsible to several cabinet ministers, including:

• The Minister of Labour (Hon
  The Honourable
  The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
  
   Kate Wilkinson
  Kate Wilkinson
  Kate Wilkinson was an American stage, film and television actress, best known for her roles as Viola Stapleton in the CBS soap opera Guiding Light, a role she played from 1976 to 1981, and Clara Hudson on the NBC soap opera Another World, which she played from 1987 to 1989.In addition to...
  
  )
• The Minister for ACC (Hon Nick Smith
  Nick Smith (New Zealand)
  Nicolas Rex "Nick" Smith is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand Parliament as a National Party MP...
  
  )
• The Minister of Immigration (Hon Jonathan Coleman)
• The Minister for Social Development and Employment (Hon Paula Bennett
  Paula Bennett
  Paula Lee Bennett is a New Zealand politician and member of parliament for the National Party. She is a Cabinet minister with the roles of Minister for Social Development and Employment, Minister for Disability Issues and Minister of Youth Affairs.-Early life:Bennett was born in 1969 to Bob...
  
  )

Structure

The Department of Labour is made up of six work groups. These are:

• Immigration Group
  
• Labour Group
  
• Policy and Research Group
  
• Business Services Group
  
• Legal and International Group
  
• Executive Group
  

The Department’s Chief Executive also serves as the Secretary of
Labour. In this capacity, he is legally responsible for carrying out
the Department’s work as directed by the Government through its
responsible Ministers, and as detailed in the
Statement of Intent. Responsibility for this work is delegated
to the Deputy Chief Executives who, along with the Chief Executive,
comprise the Department’s Strategic Leadership Team.

Immigration Group

Immigration delivers immigration and settlement services and
provides immigration instructions advice on these areas to the Government.

Labour Group

Labour delivers employment relationship and workplace health and
safety services and provides policy advice to the Government on both
these areas and the ACC.

Policy and Research Group

Policy and Research Group provides the Ministers with a strategic
whole-of-labour market policy perspective on employment,
immigration, and accident compensation. 

Business Services Group

The Business Services Group provides a range of central services,
including advice on policy and standard setting, which are designed
to improve the Department’s overall capabilities. Responsibilities
include human resources, information communications technology,
information management, communications, and financial management
(including property and procurement).

Legal and International Group

Legal and International provides legal services and advice to the
Department and Ministers, and oversees our official information and
privacy requirements. International Services manages the 
 Government's relationship with the International Labour
Organisation (ILO), and maintains an overview of linkages between
international developments and domestic policy issues. Legal and
International also represents the Department in courts and
tribunals, and performs a key role in the development of legislative
reforms and their passage through Parliament.

Executive Group

Executive Group provides dedicated support functions and services
to the Chief Executive. The major focus is to providing the Chief
Executive with risk, reputation and governance assurance.  These
functions are carried out with the assistance of the Internal Audit
Team and the Departmental Portfolio Management Office. The Executive
Branch also leads work on critical Departmental projects.