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School of Government · Te Kura Kāwanatanga: Institute for Governance and Policy Studies: Working and Policy Papers

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://ir.wgtn.ac.nz/handle/123456789/21219

The Institute for Governance and Policy Studies (IPS) fosters discussion, research and publication of current issues of domestic and foreign policy. We particularly link academic research and public policy by providing opportunities for independent and detached study, and for neutral and informed discussion of important and relevant issues. Our goal is to engage the broadest possible range of informed opinion, particularly in drawing people together from the universities, the public service, the business community and the wider public community. Our three catchwords might be summed up as study, engage, inform.

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Browsing School of Government · Te Kura Kāwanatanga: Institute for Governance and Policy Studies: Working and Policy Papers by Author "Cook, Len"

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    The new governance arrangements for the public health sector and the need for wider public sector reform
    (Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, 2010) Cook, Len; Hughes, Robert
    Across the OECD countries the organisation of the public health service is subject to frequent scrutiny. In New Zealand there have been five major changes to the governance model for the public health service since the public finance and state sector reforms of twenty years ago. Reliance of politicians and public sector leaders on structural change may well continue. To anticipate the potential limitations and strengths of the reforms approved by the Cabinet in late 2009, this paper assesses the report of the Ministerial Review Group (MRG) and subsequent Cabinet decisions against seven themes relevant to improving the future capacity of public sector organisations. A central conclusion of the MRG’s report is the need for a new public health delivery model. To this end a key MRG recommendation is the creation of an independent National Health Board (NHB) to plan and monitor health service delivery through the District Health Boards. Consistent with this are proposals for the centralisation of some supporting functions and improved regional coordination. Cabinet has been more constrained in the changes eventually to be made. For example the NHB is an entity within the Ministry of Health. The Cabinet decisions also put in place initiatives to centralise support functions and improve regional coordination. However, little consideration is given to “consumers”, who are at times patients, and the special relationship which exists between medical professionals and patients. From this perspective, the MRG’s recommendations display strong managerial predilections. This paper concludes that to improve the new public health service delivery model, additional changes will be required. These changes are centred on: (1) improving consumer/patient and health professional/patient relationships; (2) building from this the other elements of a supporting service delivery value chain, including appropriate structures and funding mechanisms; and (3) nurturing an allied and uniting continuous improvement culture able to bring about change to the entire health system through its components within the public, private and voluntary sectors.
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    Official statistics in the search for solutions for living with COVID-19 and its consequences
    (Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, 2020) Cook, Len; Gray, Alistair; Haslett, Steve; Lumley, Thomas; Mackie, Roger; Trewin, Dennis; Cope, Ian; Snively, Suzanne; Rosenberg, Bill; Karacaoglu, Girol; Yeabsley, John; Sutch, Hellen; Easton, Brian; Snorrason, Hallgrimur; Ljones, Olaf; Thygesen, Lars; Radermacher, Walter; Wilson, Nick; Holt, Tim; Pullinger, John; St John, Susan; Dunnett, Gary
    The prolonged existence of COVID-19 and the consequential actions to manage it both nationally, regionally and internationally will provide national statistical offices with the greatest challenges that they might ever expect. There is much in common across statistical systems in the breadth of the expectations that are coming to be placed on them. Few countries will have the capacity to meet all these needs, or even plan for meeting them as they become recognised. This paper presents some personal views on how official statistics will need to change and foreshadows the range of influences on the context for which official statistical offices and international organisations need to plan for. The paper draws on experiences in New Zealand and focuses on aspects which have general applicability in other countries. All countries have some advantages and disadvantages that are unique to them, and those that have relevance to a study anchored in experiences in New Zealand are made clear. The central thrust of the paper is that national statistical offices need to be thinking now about the huge medium- and long-term influences that will shape what they need to change in their work.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Official statistics in the search for solutions for living with COVID-19 and its consequences
    (Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, 2020) Cook, Len; Gray, Alistair; Haslett, Steve; Lumley, Thomas; Mackie, Roger; Trewin, Dennis; Cope, Ian; Snively, Suzanne; Rosenberg, Bill; Karacaoglu, Girol; Yeabsley, John; Sutch, Helen; Easton, Brian; Snorrason, Hallgrimur; Ljones, Olaf; Thygesen, Lars; Radermacher, Walter; Wilson, Nick; Holt, Tim; Pullinger, John; St John, Susan; Dunnett, Gary
    The prolonged existence of COVID-19 and the consequential actions to manage it both nationally, regionally and internationally will provide national statistical offices with the greatest challenges that they might ever expect. There is much in common across statistical systems in the breadth of the expectations that are coming to be placed on them. Few countries will have the capacity to meet all these needs, or even plan for meeting them as they become recognised. This paper presents some personal views on how official statistics will need to change and foreshadows the range of influences on the context for which official statistical offices and international organisations need to plan for. The paper draws on experiences in New Zealand and focuses on aspects which have general applicability in other countries. All countries have some advantages and disadvantages that are unique to them, and those that have relevance to a study anchored in experiences in New Zealand are made clear. The central thrust of the paper is that national statistical offices need to be thinking now about the huge medium- and long-term influences that will shape what they need to change in their work.