Articles tagged with Public Service Commissioner

Public Service Commission to Review Ministry of Justice Employment Case Handling

2 weeks ago | 224 views

The Public Service Commission will conduct a rapid review of the Ministry of Justice following serious mishandling of an employment case involving criminal proceedings over five years. Minister Paul Goldsmith has directed the Commission to provide firm guidance to all chief executives on managing such cases to ensure active and timely decision-making. He emphasized the need for fair but practical management to protect taxpayers' interests and prevent similar issues in the future.

Tags: Paul Goldsmith Russell Harrison Andrew Kibblewhite Debbie Francis Steve Haszard Brian Roche Ministry of Justice Public Service Commission Justice Secretary Public Service Commissioner

MBIE Biometric Project Cost Overruns Spark Independent Audit and Inquiry

3 weeks ago | 245 views

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) ceased the seven-year Biometric Capability Upgrade project in December 2025, initially reporting $33 million in costs written off. Subsequent reviews revealed discrepancies in MBIE’s financial reporting, leading to the identification of an additional $6 million in project costs and prompting the commissioning of an independent financial audit. The matter has been referred to the Michael Heron inquiry and the Public Service Commissioner to investigate MBIE’s financial controls and potentially expand the inquiry’s scope.

Tags: Biometric Capability Upgrade Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment MBIE Greg James Education and Workforce Committee Nicola Willis Michael Heron Public Service Commissioner financial audit Cabinet scrutiny

Education Minister Erica Stanford Welcomes New Primary Principals’ Pay Deal

6 months ago | 1017 views

Education Minister Erica Stanford has announced the successful renewal of the Primary Principals’ Collective Agreement, ratified by NZEI members, covering around 1,300 primary principals. The settlement includes immediate and future pay increases, a $15,000 Curriculum Change Allowance, and an increased Leadership in Literacy and Numeracy payment, recognizing principals' leadership during educational reforms. Stanford emphasized the importance of principals' roles in schools and communities and thanked the Public Service Commissioner for facilitating the negotiations.

Tags: Erica Stanford NZEI Te Riu Roa Primary Principals Brian Roche Public Service Commissioner PPCA Education Minister Curriculum Change Allowance Leadership in Literacy and Numeracy Primary Principals’ Collective Agreement