8302 (2026). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister for the Public Service

8302 (2026). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister for the Public Service: What exemptions from the expectations set out in the Needs-based Service Provision Cabinet office circular of 13 September 2024, if any, have been granted in the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, and what was the rationale for granting that exemption, if any?

Hon Judith Collins: As Minster for the Public Service, I am not aware of any exemptions being granted to the expectations from this Circular in the agencies I am responsible for. The Circular makes clear that public service agencies must follow the expectations, whereas Crown entities or other public sector agencies should comply with the expectations as far as possible, taking into account their specific legal obligations, statutory functions and duties. However, I also note that individual agencies are accountable to their different Ministers or Boards for specific actions and advice, not to the Minister for the Public Service.