Suchergebnisse

The main source of non-bureaucratic policy advice since 1976 has been a small Advisory Group of about eight members located within the Prime Minister's Department. This article examines the origins, functions and evolution of the Advisory Group during the past decade or so, a.o. the relationship between the Group and the Wellington bureaucracy, the changes to its operations following the election of the Labour Government in July 1984, and the possible implications of the restructuring of the Prime Minister's Department into two separate offices - the Cabinet Office and the Prime Minister's Office - in April 1987. The article is based on a series of interviews conducted with politicians, civil servants and Advisory Group members during the late 1970s and again in mid 1987. (IPSA, abridged/DÜI)

Since its election in July 1984 the fourth Labour government in New Zealand has embarked upon the most radical and systematic reorganization of the state sector since the creation of a unified, non‐partisan, career‐oriented service in 1912. The reforms include the commercialization of many of the goods and services provided by state agencies, the turning of public trading enterprises into corporations, major administrative changes and the overhauling of state pay‐fixing arrangements. This article examines the theoretical assumptions underpinning Labour's strategy and assesses the extent to which the new arrangements are likely to achieve their intended purpose of improving the efficiency, flexibility and accountability of the public sector.

Background and findings of the 1986 report of the Royal Commission on the Electoral System in New Zealand. Recommends a mixed member proportional electoral system, the abolition of the four Maori seats, a substantial increase in the number of MPs, the state funding of political parties, and various changes to the system of boundary redistribution and the administration of elections.

In late 1986 the Royal Commission on the Electoral System in New Zealand published its report. The Commission's recommendations were both radical and comprehensive. Amongst other things it proposed the introduction of a mixed member proportional (MMP) electoral system, the abolition of the four Maori seats, a substantial increase in the number of MPs, the state funding of political parties, and various changes to the system of boundary redistribution and the administration of elections. This paper outlines the background to the establishment of the Royal Commission, briefly examines the Commission's principal findings, and considers the prospects for reform. (Internat. Polit. Science Assoc.)

Since the early 1970s New Zealand governments have relied heavily on non-market policy instruments (i.e. statutory contols. political pressure and moral suasion) to restrain the growth of wages and prices. The Labour Government has rejected this approach and is seeking to control inflation primarily through a reliance on market mechanisms. This article considers the merits of Labour's strategy in the wages arena. It is contended that there may be some significant transition costs associated with the new approach and that there is a risk that non-market failure will simply be replaced by market failure.