Public Service Act 2020

If you need more information about this Act, please contact the administering agency: Public Service Commission
52 General responsibilities of chief executives of departments and departmental agencies

(1)

A chief executive of a department or departmental agency is responsible to the appropriate Minister for—

(a)

improving ways of working across public service agencies; and

(b)

their agency’s responsiveness on matters relating to the collective interests of government; and

(c)

the operation of their agency, including in carrying out the purpose of the public service under section 11; and

(d)

supporting that Minister to act as a good steward of the public interest, including by—

(i)

maintaining public institutions, assets, and liabilities; and

(ii)

maintaining the currency of any legislation administered by their agency; and

(iii)

providing advice on the long-term implications of policies; and

(e)

the performance of the functions and duties and the exercise of the powers of the chief executive or of their agency (whether those functions, duties, or powers are imposed or conferred by an enactment or by the policies of the Government); and

(f)

giving advice to Ministers; and

(g)

the integrity and conduct of the employees for whom the chief executive is responsible; and

(h)

the efficient and economical delivery of the goods or services provided by the agency and how effectively those goods or services contribute to the intended outcomes.

(2)

The chief executive of a department is not responsible for the performance of functions or duties, or the exercise of powers, of or by that part of the department that is a departmental agency hosted by the department unless expressly provided in this Act or another enactment.

(3)

The chief executive of a departmental agency is responsible for the performance of functions and duties, and the exercise of powers, by that part of the department that is the departmental agency only and not any functions, duties, or powers of the host department unless expressly provided in this Act or another enactment.

(4)

The chief executive of a servicing department of an interdepartmental executive board is not responsible for the performance of functions or duties, or the exercise of powers, of or by the board unless provided in an enactment or delegated to the department under section 27.

(5)

However, if the chief executive of a servicing department is also a member of the board they also have full responsibilities as a member of the board.

Compare: 1988 No 20 s 32