Election Year Guidance Released for the State Services
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Media statement from Mark Prebble, State Services Commissioner, 11 March 2005.
The State Services Commissioner, Mark Prebble, today released updated election year guidance for State servants.
"In New Zealand, the State Services serves the government of the day without bias towards one political party or another. This is called 'political neutrality'. Political neutrality requires State servants to demonstrate loyalty to the government of the day and to successive governments. It enables successive governments to have confidence in the State Services. It enables the public to have trust and confidence in the ongoing institutions of government at all levels. Political neutrality is as important for front line staff as it is for senior State servants.
"Particular care around political neutrality needs to be exercised at election times. This is a testing time. It is a time when behaviours, relationships and expectations among State servants, Ministers and other Members of Parliament that would otherwise be unexceptional may be seen to have a particular significance.
"That is why early in each election year the State Services Commission issues guidance to State servants that covers the main things they need to know prior to, and following a general election," Mark Prebble said.
Copies of this material (an easy to read fact sheet and more detailed guidance) can be found on the SSC's website
