The Department of Internal Affairs

The Department of Internal Affairs

Te Tari Taiwhenua

Building a safe, prosperous and respected nation

 

Resource material › Corporate Publications › Statement of Intent 2013-16Tauāki Whakamaunga Atu

Foreword: Minister of Internal Affairs

Chris Tremain

This Statement of Intent shows the Department moving into a more influential role as one of the key agencies in the development of better public services for New Zealanders. It is building on its purpose of serving and connecting people, communities and government, and its expertise in ICT and identity management to bring agencies together and improve the way New Zealanders interact with public services.

In the past two years, the Department has changed considerably as its priorities of lifting state sector performance and its key role as leader in government ICT have come to the fore.

There is a very close connection between the Government’s Better Public Services outcomes and success in leading all-of-government ICT initiatives. The Government is very focused on these outcomes and we expect results from agencies. This is a key activity I am working on with the Department.

The Department’s specific responsibility for Better Public Services Result 10 brings together its various roles in ICT and services to individuals and communities. The delivery of Passports, Citizenship, and Births, Deaths, Marriage and Civil Union services both grounds and informs the Department’s leadership role in providing digital services. I was particularly pleased to see the launch of the online passport application system last year.

Internal Affairs’ diversity allows it to bring many different approaches and sets of skills to its work. However, it also means there are many different interests to align to ensure the success of the Department’s programmes. Achieving the outcomes outlined in this document will require strong leadership across the Department, and input from the whole DIA team.

There is a lot of work on our plate this year, ranging from government ICT initiatives to Class 4 gambling, reviewing Fire Service functions and funding, and the National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan, and continuing the Better Local Government reforms. As the other major arm of government, local government needs to be efficient and responsive to the needs of communities, and the assistance and intervention framework the Department will implement will contribute to this. Some reorganisations are also on the cards and this will create more work for the Local Government Commission.

The quality of the advice Ministers receive from departments is crucial, and last year DIA’s policy team was recognised as a high-performing team, judged second across the State Sector in terms of policy advice. We have a range of policy challenges looming and Ministers are relying on sound, quality advice from the Department.

In the past year we have seen the reopening of the newly refurbished National Library building. We look forward to renaming the building and moving the Treaty of Waitangi and other important founding documents to the new constitution suite in the National Library building.

The Department has a number of initiatives underway to strengthen its leadership and is building staff engagement with a comprehensive programme to strengthen its culture. We want to build on the successes of our team, and I am very supporting of the Chief Executive’s efforts in this area.

These are exciting and challenging times in government and the Department is in the front line of many of them. I look forward to working closely with the Department to ensure it plays its role in ensuring New Zealand’s prosperous future.

Chris Tremain's signature

Hon Chris Tremain

Responsible Minister for the Department of Internal Affairs
April 2013

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