Standards of
Integrity and Conduct
A code of conduct issued by the
State Services Commissioner
Why a code for the State Services?
• The State Services Commissioner has a
statutory power to issue a code setting
minimum standards of conduct and integrity
for the State Services
• Helps promote a unifying sense of values
across the State Services
• Provides an opportunity to focus on integrity
• Strengthens trust and reinforces the spirit of
service
Who is covered by the code?
• More than 130 agencies and 110,000 people:
– All Public Service departments
• e.g. MoH, IRD, SFO, TPK, FSA
– Crown entities, including:
• Crown agents – e.g. DHBs, ACC, Housing NZ
• Autonomous Crown entities – e.g. Lotteries
Commission, Arts Council, Public Trust
• Independent Crown entities – e.g. Human Rights
Commission, Privacy Commissioner
• Crown entity subsidiaries e.g. Health Alliance
– The code has not been applied to school boards
and their employees
What does it mean to be part
of the State Services?
• We are all part of the Executive
• We share a responsibility to serve New
Zealanders and act with a spirit of service
• We also share the State Services
Development Goals
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Employer of Choice
Networked State Services
Value for Money
Coordinated State Agencies
Accessible State Services
Trusted State Services
Achieving the Trust Goal:
6 elements
• Research shows we need these elements
to support integrity and maintain trustworthy
behaviour:
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Standards of integrity and conduct in place
Standards are promoted
Standards are integrated into our behaviour
Managers model the standards in their behaviour
Consequences for breaches are known
Decisive action is taken when breaches occur
What does the code of conduct do?
• Sets out the minimum standards of integrity and
conduct required by agencies and their staff
• Promotes a unifying sense of values
• Provides an opportunity to focus on integrity
• Incorporates enduring standards (including Statement
of Government Expectations, and obligations in Crown Entities Act,
State Sector Act, previous Public Service Code of Conduct)
• Reflects consultation process, qualitative
research on New Zealanders expectations of the
State Services values and standards
Why is the code important?
• What you do affects the level of public trust
in your organisation and in the State
Services as a whole
• The code sets out the standards of
behaviour required so that New Zealanders
can be confident we are:
– fair, impartial, responsible and trustworthy
– acting with a spirit of service to the community
How was the code developed?
• Research and consultation with organisations,
unions, professional bodies, staff and public
– 2005: comprehensive research with Crown entities
and snapshot of Public Service
– Qualitative research
• focus groups with staff of organisations
• focus groups with members of the public
• online questionnaire
– 2006/2007: meetings with organisations, unions,
union delegates, professional organisations and
feedback via website
What did the research show?
• Staff perceptions:
– 65% are proud to work in the State Services because
they have an opportunity to contribute to society/make
a difference
– diverse and satisfying range of work
– safe, family-friendly, non-corrupt and fair
• Public perceptions:
– high level of trust
– responsiveness and transparent processes engender
trust
– expect State servants to behave to a high standard
What does the code require?
• We must:
– comply with the standards
– meet our employment, professional and other legal
obligations
• Our organisations:
– can develop additional or detailed standards
consistent with the code
– must maintain policies and procedures that give
effect to the code
What are the standards?
The standards are grouped under four
headings. We must be
•
•
•
•
Fair
Impartial
Responsible
Trustworthy
Fair
We must:
• treat everyone fairly and with respect
• be professional and responsive
• work to make government services
accessible and effective
• strive to make a difference to the well-being
of New Zealand and all its people
Impartial
We must:
• maintain the political neutrality required to
enable us to work with current and future
governments
• carry out the functions of our organisation,
unaffected by our personal beliefs
• support our agency to provide robust and
unbiased advice
• respect the authority of the government of the
day
Responsible
We must:
• act lawfully and objectively
• use our organisation’s resources carefully
and only for intended purposes
• treat information with care and use it only for
proper purposes
• work to improve the performance and
efficiency of our organisation
Trustworthy
We must:
• be honest
• work to the best of our abilities
• ensure our actions are not affected by our personal
interests or relationships
• never misuse our position for personal gain
• decline gifts or benefits that place us under any
obligation or perceived influence
• avoid any activities, work or non-work, that may
harm the reputation of our organisation or of the
State Services
Questions / discussion points
• What standards will you need to be most mindful of
in your day-to-day work?
• How do your organisation’s own policies and
procedures reinforce these standards?
Are there any gaps?
• What can you and your organisation do to promote
the standards, raise awareness of the code and
ensure an integrity-rich culture?
• What would you expect to be included in a process
for reporting and acting on suspected breaches of
the code?
For further information about the
code of conduct visit:
www.ssc.govt.nz/code