Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet of New Zealand
(often known by its acronym, DPMC) is the department charged with supporting the Prime Minister of New Zealand
and their Cabinet
. The department is one of three agencies responsible managing the public service in New Zealand, the others being the State Services Commission
and the New Zealand Treasury
.
The Department's overall area of responsibility is in helping to provide, at an administrative level, the "constitutional and institutional glue" within New Zealand's parliamentary democracy.
, the Chief Executive is Maarten Wevers
.
, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet) through the provision of impartial advice and support services.
In addition to serving the Executive, a major role of the department is to help co-ordinate the work of the core public service departments and ministries.
in carrying out his or her functions to represent Her Majesty the Queen of New Zealand
.
Government House
was added to the department in August 1990. The External Assessments Bureau
became part of the department on 1 July 1991.
The department consists of six units.
and its grounds in Wellington
, as well as the smaller Government House
in Auckland. Government House is managed by the Official Secretary, who reports to the Clerk of the Executive Council.
, and provides assessments on developments overseas in support of informed policy decision-making in New Zealand's external relations.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
(often known by its acronym, DPMC) is the department charged with supporting the Prime Minister of New Zealand
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
and their Cabinet
New Zealand Cabinet
The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...
. The department is one of three agencies responsible managing the public service in New Zealand, the others being the State Services Commission
State Services Commission
The State Services Commission , formerly the Public Service Commission, is a central government agency within the New Zealand government. The current State Services Commissioner is Iain Rennie...
and the New Zealand Treasury
New Zealand Treasury
The New Zealand Treasury is a public sector organisation and the Government’s lead advisor on economic and financial policy. Its role is to help the Government improve economic performance and manage scarce resources...
.
The Department's overall area of responsibility is in helping to provide, at an administrative level, the "constitutional and institutional glue" within New Zealand's parliamentary democracy.
, the Chief Executive is Maarten Wevers
Maarten Wevers
Maarten Laurens Wevers, CNZM is a New Zealand diplomat and public servant, who served as New Zealand's High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea and Ambassador to Japan...
.
Role
The Department serves the Executive branch of government (the Governor-GeneralGovernor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet) through the provision of impartial advice and support services.
In addition to serving the Executive, a major role of the department is to help co-ordinate the work of the core public service departments and ministries.
Supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet
The department supports the Prime Minister's twin roles as leader of the government and chair of Cabinet, and provides three kinds of direct support to the Prime Minister:- Support for constitutional issues, including those associated with the formation of governments; and issues associated with the operation of the Cabinet system.
- Overview of government activity and access to information on any and all issues that arise.
- Administrative support to the Prime Minister (and also to the Governor-General). This includes services to the Prime Minister – such as preparing replies to Parliamentary questions, and dealing with Official Information Act 1982Official Information Act 1982The Official Information Act 1982 is a New Zealand law passed by the 3rd National government in 1982 to "make official information more freely available, to provide for proper access by each person to official information relating to that person, to protect official information to the extent...
requests and other correspondence.
Supporting the Governor-General
The department also supports the Governor-General of New ZealandGovernor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
in carrying out his or her functions to represent Her Majesty the Queen of New Zealand
Monarchy in New Zealand
The monarchy of New Zealand also referred to as The Crown in Right of New Zealand, Her Majesty in Right of New Zealand, or The Queen in Right of New Zealand is the constitutional system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of the Realm of New Zealand,...
.
Structure
The department formally came into existence on 1 January 1990, as a result of a report which recommended establishing structures to provide two separate streams of advice to the Prime Minister; one, a new Government department to supply impartial advice and support to the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), and another, a Prime Minister's Private Office (which is not part of DPMC), to provide personal support and media services, and advice of a party political nature.Government House
Government House, Wellington
Government House in Newtown, Wellington, New Zealand is the principal residence of the Governor-General of New Zealand. It was designed by Claude Paton in the office of John Campbell, Government Architect. Built between 1908 and 1910, the house's grounds total 12 ha, and the house is 4200 m²...
was added to the department in August 1990. The External Assessments Bureau
External Assessments Bureau
The National Assessments Bureau is one of New Zealand's intelligence agencies. It was formerly known as the External Assessments Bureau when it was renamed as its current status in 2010...
became part of the department on 1 July 1991.
The department consists of six units.
The Cabinet Office
The Cabinet office produces a number of publications and documents that are crucial to the effective functioning of central government including the Cabinet Manual, Step by Step Guide, Cabinet Office Circulars and Cabinet Office Forms. The Cabinet office is also responsible for the administration of honours, and oversees the development of the honours lists. The Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council heads the Cabinet Office and is responsible directly (as Secretary) to the Prime Minister and (as Clerk) to the Governor-General for policy advice and secretariat functions.Government House
Government House is responsible for providing administrative and support services for the Governor-General to enable him or her to carry out the functions of the office. This includes the maintenance of Government HouseGovernment House, Wellington
Government House in Newtown, Wellington, New Zealand is the principal residence of the Governor-General of New Zealand. It was designed by Claude Paton in the office of John Campbell, Government Architect. Built between 1908 and 1910, the house's grounds total 12 ha, and the house is 4200 m²...
and its grounds in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, as well as the smaller Government House
Government House, Auckland
The site of the present day Government House, Auckland was first built upon in the 1880s or 1890s, although some of the trees are slightly older, dating from the 1870s...
in Auckland. Government House is managed by the Official Secretary, who reports to the Clerk of the Executive Council.
Policy Advisory Group
The Policy Advisory Group (PAG) is responsible for providing advice on issues of the day directly to the Prime Minister and to other ministers. A part of its job is to co-ordinate the advice coming in from different government departments, so that the Prime Minister is given coherent and impartial advice.External Assessments Bureau
The External Assessments Bureau is one of New Zealands intelligence agenciesNew Zealand intelligence agencies
New Zealand's intelligence agencies and units have existed, with some interruption, since World War II. At present, New Zealand's intelligence community has approximately 500 employees, and has a combined budget of around NZ$80 million.-Standalone agencies:...
, and provides assessments on developments overseas in support of informed policy decision-making in New Zealand's external relations.
Domestic and External Security Group
The Domestic and External Security Group co-ordinates central government action aimed at protecting New Zealand's domestic and external security, including intelligence, counter-terrorism preparedness, emergency and crisis management, and defence operations.Corporate Services Unit
The Corporate Services Unit co-ordinates recruitment for the department and is responsible for the development and implementation of Human Resource policies and procedures. It provides accounting services and financial reports including Annual Reports and is responsible for listing the department’s contract tenders on the ISO GETS website. It has planning and organisational development responsibilities including the production of Departmental Forecasts and other reporting requirements under the State Services Act 1988. The unit also plays a significant role in information systems development, information technology management and provides a range of support services.Head of DPMC
Heads of the DPMC (formerly Secretary, now the Chief Executive) are:- Simon MurdochSimon MurdochSimon Murdoch, CNZM is a New Zealand diplomat and public servant. He was New Zealand’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was previously New Zealand High Commissioner to Canberra, and Chief Executive of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.-Early life and education:Murdoch attended...
(1991–98) - Maarten WeversMaarten WeversMaarten Laurens Wevers, CNZM is a New Zealand diplomat and public servant, who served as New Zealand's High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea and Ambassador to Japan...
(2004 - )
See also
- Prime Minister of New ZealandPrime Minister of New ZealandThe Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
- Officials Committee for Domestic and External Security Co-ordinationOfficials Committee for Domestic and External Security Co-ordinationThe Officials Committee for Domestic and External Security Coordination is a New Zealand government committee which gives the Prime Minister strategic policy advice on security and intelligence matters...
- Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is an Australian Government department. The Department was first established in 1911...