DPMC Strategic Intentions 2025/26 to 2029/30

Chief Executive's statement of responsibility#

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In signing this information, I acknowledge that I am responsible for the information on strategic intentions for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

This information has been prepared in accordance with the Public Finance Act 1989 (sections 38 and 40).

Ben King
Secretary and Chief Executive to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Responsible Minister's statement#

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I am satisfied that the information on strategic intentions prepared by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is consistent with the policies and performance expectations of the Government.

Rt Hon Christopher Luxon
Prime Minister, Responsible Minister for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Our story | Te kōrero#

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Our purpose#

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At the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), we support the government of the day. We do this by leading, advising, stewarding and delivering activities across the public service, as well as providing specific advice and support to the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and Ministers.

As a central agency, we play a vital role in leading and coordinating public service agencies. We are uniquely placed to support public sector agencies in the delivery of programmes and policies, and ensure there is a focus on progressing the Government's priorities.

Our purpose is to advance an ambitious, resilient and well-governed Aotearoa New Zealand.

Our core roles and responsibilities#

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We have three core roles which help us deliver on our purpose.

In undertaking each of our roles, we are committed to supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Supporting informed decision-making

We provide the Prime Minister, Ministers and Cabinet with insights, advice, support and brokerage on the business of the day. We provide strategic advice, taking a comprehensive all-of-government view to assist the Government shape its agenda. Our advice aims to achieve alignment and strong delivery across the public sector. Additionally, we are responsible for shaping and progressing advice on emerging high-priority issues.

We support the Prime Minister, Minister for National Security and Intelligence and Cabinet through the provision of timely, well-informed information and policy advice on emerging issues, and Cabinet and Cabinet Committee papers.

We support the Prime Minister in their role as lead decision maker for strategic crisis management, and in their international engagements and advancing our international interests.

Supporting well-conducted government

We support the Governor-General, Prime Minister and Ministers to exercise their constitutional roles. We ensure the smooth, lawful and trustworthy running of executive government through the provision of secretariat services, constitutional advice and support, legislative support and administration of the New Zealand Royal Honours system.

We support the Governor-General across the four main duties of the office: constitutional, ceremonial, community leadership and international. We support New Zealand's relationship with our Head of State. We also exercise stewardship of the heritage buildings and grounds of the Government Houses in Auckland and Wellington.

Leading an effective, strategically focused National Resilience and National Security System

We lead and steward a National Resilience System that comprises the national security, natural hazards, strategic crisis management and emergency management systems, so that they are integrated and function collectively to improve resilience to our most serious hazards and national security threats (National Risks). We support the system by ensuring appropriate governance arrangements are made across government to effectively mitigate and manage risks.

We lead and coordinate the National Security System through stewarding the National Security Strategy and supporting collaboration on nationally significant issues. We deliver 'all source' assessments and lead on national security advice for the Prime Minister, the Minister for National Security and Intelligence, and other relevant Ministers.

We also lead and steward New Zealand's all hazards, all threats strategic crisis management arrangements, known as the Officials' Committee for Domestic and External Security Coordination (the ODESC system) in both readiness and response.

Who we work with#

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DPMC works with many different stakeholders. We provide advice and support to the Prime Minister, Minister for National Security and Intelligence, other Ministers and Cabinet, and the Governor-General. We also support New Zealand's relationship with our Head of State.

DPMC has a unique position at the heart of central government. We work with other central government agencies to oversee performance, provide advice to Government, and support delivery of sector outcomes. We do this by ensuring alignment and integration across the public sector through working with other agencies to actively shape the direction and performance of the sectors that those agencies have a role in.

We also work with agencies to enhance their readiness capabilities, to potentially minimise consequences and ensure more effective crisis management responses.

Our structure #

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Since its establishment in 1990, DPMC has met the Prime Minister's priorities, with our size and composition changing to enable their delivery. Over the years, additional functions were added and shifted depending on the priorities of the Government-of-the-day (for example, additional business units for the Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) and the COVID-19 Response Group).

In 2024/25, DPMC deliberately streamlined our structure, divesting additional functions that were outside of our core role. Our structure over the coming forecast period reflects our focus on our core purpose, roles and responsibilities.

Our Chief Executive is responsible to the Prime Minister, and is the head of the policy profession across the public sector. Our Chief Executive is also the National Security Adviser, responsible to the Minister for National Security and Intelligence.

The Chief Executive is supported by the following senior leaders:

• Secretary of the Cabinet/Clerk of the Executive Council
• Deputy Chief Executive, Policy and Delivery Unit
• Deputy Chief Executive, National Security and Resilience (also Deputy National Security Advisor)
• Deputy Chief Executive, Corporate and Chief People Officer
• Chief Financial Officer.

The Secretary of the Cabinet is also responsible directly to the Prime Minister, and the Clerk of the Executive Council is responsible directly to both the Prime Minister and the Governor-General.

How we work#

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To achieve our purpose, we need to be an influential, agile, high-performing agency in which our people feel empowered, valued and engaged. We will enable this through focusing on:

• Our people and expertise: Skilled, diverse and values-led people with the expertise and judgement to advise, lead and steward the system.
• Our operating approach: Adaptive, purpose-driven and sustainable ways of working that enhance our agility, resilience, decision-making and delivery.
• Our cultures and behaviours: A high-trust, inclusive culture that supports collaboration, accountability and delivery.

How we will enable the achievement of our purpose is detailed in the organisational health and capability section.

Our changing operating environment #

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New Zealand is affected by both global and local trends. The environment we work in is dynamic and fast moving, and requires us to build resilience and be responsive to:

• cross-cutting and complex strategic policy issues and a changing geostrategic context
• crises caused by unpredictable hazards, threats and adverse events, as well as increasingly complex, interdependent security issues
• elections and changing Government priorities
• changes to the way the public service works and changes in our environment
• our customers and stakeholders, and their changing needs.

DPMC also recognises the Government's expectation that public service agencies deliver high-quality, efficient and responsive services, while managing costs effectively. We will continue to provide advice and support to ensure that we are efficient, effective and responsive.

Contributing to Government priorities #

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As part of the New Zealand public service, DPMC contributes towards the Government's objectives and priorities.

The Prime Minister expects DPMC to be a purposeful and impactful organisation focused on its core responsibilities, including its role as a central agency.

DPMC is committed to lifting policy quality and capability across the public sector. Our targeted learning opportunities and ongoing guidance aim to build a high-performing policy system. We also provide second opinion advice to the Prime Minister as well as monitor and report quarterly on how the Government is achieving against its key priorities.

We support well-conducted government by providing advice and support on constitutional and procedural matters and ensuring the smooth and effective running of executive government.

The Government also committed to setting targets for important measures, to achieve better results for New Zealanders. Through DPMC's core role of supporting informed decision-making, we will ensure that the public service is aligned with, and gets traction on, delivery of Government targets.

The Government committed to ensuring that public services are more efficient, effective and responsive to all who need and use them. Alongside other central agencies, we will support the Government in its efforts to improve the performance of the public sector. We will support public sector agencies to deliver and report on key priorities, progress and results achieved.

The Prime Minister also expects DPMC to enhance and protect New Zealand's national resilience and security. We will do this through leading and stewarding an effective and strategically focused National Resilience System so government agencies to ensure New Zealand is ready to respond to emerging risks and strategic crises.

As the Government's priorities evolve or change, we will work with the Prime Minister and other responsible Ministers to ensure our work programme is focused on emerging priorities.

Monitoring our progress #

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We will monitor progress at two different levels. To track progress towards our outcomes, we will develop outcome indicators that tell us whether DPMC's programmes and deliverables are having the intended impacts. We will develop specific measures to track our performance and progress, and report on them through our annual reporting.

To track how well we are delivering our outputs, we will also develop performance measures that show whether we are delivering on what we said we would. These performance measures are included in the Estimates of Appropriations each year and results are reported in our annual reporting.

Our strategic intentions | He takunetanga rautaki#

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Outcome - Supporting the Government to deliver its priorities#

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DPMC delivers free and frank advice to the Prime Minister to deliver Government priorities. We also collaborate with other central agencies to strengthen collective leadership and drive performance across the public service to deliver on Government priorities and improvements for New Zealanders.

As a central agency, DPMC provides core advisory and support functions for the Prime Minister and Cabinet so they can deliver their work programme. We are uniquely placed at the centre and close to Ministers, therefore able to apply a whole-of-government perspective to steward the system of Government decision-making and public service delivery.

What success looks like

Successful delivery of our work programme will see a focused public service that delivers high quality, free and frank advice to support delivery of Government priorities, targets, and actions in a well-coordinated way.

Our contribution

Within our enduring role we support informed decision-making, and will progress this outcome by:

• providing effective oversight, monitoring and support to Ministers and lead agencies on achieving Government targets
• coordinating across agencies to advise on issues, and reduce barriers to delivery of targets and priorities
• providing advice on issues and solutions to improve public sector performance.

Outcome - High quality free and frank advice is delivered consistently across the public service#

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DPMC plays a system leadership role in lifting policy capability and driving the quality of advice across the public sector to support informed decision-making.

Working alongside the other central agencies, DPMC fosters a culture of delivery and high performance in the public service. We set the standards for policy quality, champion long-term thinking, and actively test agency advice to ensure it is robust, evidence-based, and actionable.

What success looks like

Successful delivery of our work programme sees a public service that consistently delivers high-quality, free and frank advice on the issues of today and the challenges of tomorrow. Ministers receive the evidence, advice and support they need to make well-informed decisions. Agencies work as a unified system to deliver results and meet performance targets.

Our contribution

Within our enduring role we support informed decision-making, we will progress this outcome by:

• rigorously testing and challenging agency advice and implementation plans as required
• building a high-performing policy system through setting expectations for the quality of policy advice
• supporting agencies to build policy capability, develop insights into and advise on long-term strategic opportunities and challenges
• partnering with the other central agencies to drive system-wide performance.

Outcome - Our constitutional arrangements and systems of executive government are well maintained#

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DPMC ensures the constitutional machinery, systems and institutions of Cabinet government are effective and well maintained, and the Governor-General is well supported.

DPMC is one of the stewards of New Zealand's executive government. We ensure the effective operation of the Cabinet system and provide advice to the Prime Minister and Ministers to support the good conduct of government business. We support the Governor-General to fulfil their constitutional, ceremonial and community duties, including recognising the significant contributions of New Zealanders in service to New Zealand.

What success looks like

Successful delivery of our work programme will see an effective, well maintained and trusted system of executive government and a well-supported Governor-General.

Our contribution

In addition to our enduring role of supporting well-conducted government, we will progress this outcome by:

• maintaining an effective Cabinet system to support decision-making
• providing procedural and constitutional advice in the pre- and post-election periods to the Governor-General, the government and the public service
• supporting the transition to a new Governor-General.

Outcome - A secure, resilient and prosperous New Zealand#

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DPMC leads and stewards the National Resilience System so that it is integrated and functions collectively to improve New Zealand's resilience to our most serious natural hazards and national security threats.

DPMC works with agencies across government to ensure proactive strategic management of National Risks and issues - hazards and security threats that could trigger a national level crisis at any time, and cause significant harm to our collective safety, security and prosperity.

What success looks like

A coordinated and proactive National Resilience System that identifies risks, builds readiness, and responds to hazards, threats and crises to ensure a secure, resilient and prosperous New Zealand.

Our contribution

In addition to our enduring role of leading and stewarding the National Resilience System we will progress this outcome by:

• leading and coordinating an integrated national security community
• ensuring New Zealand has a relevant and adaptive National Security Strategy that is responsive to the threat environment
• implementing system-level changes to ensure appropriate legislative and governance support for the National Resilience System
• coordinating advice on strategic risk management gaps or opportunities, through the activities listed in the National Risk and Resilience Framework
• driving proactive and responsive strategic crisis management through leadership of the ODESC system.

Organisational health and capability#

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An influential, agile, high-performing central agency in which our people feel empowered, valued and engaged

Who we are#

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Our role at the centre of the New Zealand Government

We hold a unique position at the centre of the New Zealand Government supporting the Prime Minister, Ministers and Cabinet, and Governor-General, as well as leading and stewarding cross-government coordination on government priorities. Our work directly shapes the quality of strategic advice and system leadership that enables informed decision-making at the heart of the Government.

We often operate at the leading edge of emerging issues, risks and system-wide challenges, in an environment that moves at pace and where ambiguity is expected. Our ability to anticipate change, connect insights, and provide trusted, free and frank advice is central to advancing an ambitious, resilient and well-governed Aotearoa New Zealand.

Our people and expertise

Our people are foundational to our success. Delivering high-quality advice, system coordination, ensuring the smooth running of executive government, and stewarding a national security and resilience system requires a skilled, diverse and values-driven workforce.

We rely on expert knowledge workers who are curious, critically minded and able to navigate cross-government challenges with sound judgement, cultural competence and integrity. This underpins how we work with our many different stakeholders. By investing in capability, leadership and talent development, we uphold the quality and credibility of our work to ensure DPMC remains resilient and trusted, and contributes to a pipeline of future senior public service leaders.

How we work#

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Our operating approach

To remain effective in a dynamic operating environment, we require approaches to working that are collaborative, adaptive, and purpose-driven. Sustainable and modern ways of working enhance our ability to influence system settings, steward public resources responsibly and support Ministers with timely, high-quality advice.

We are embedding our updated operating model, adopting AI and other digital tools, strengthening cross-agency collaboration, and improving our governance, systems and enabling processes. Together, these shifts build the institutional agility and resilience needed to meet today's demands and prepare for the future.

Our culture and behaviours

Our culture underpins our performance. As a central agency, trust, inclusion, collaboration and delivery are essential to how we operate and how others experience us.

We are committed to a people-centred culture supported by our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Te Taunaki Plan actions and our Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations. Our internal environment needs to enable people to thrive, belong and contribute meaningfully - where they can speak up safely, collaborate effectively and bring their best.

By upholding shared values, cultural integrity and strong accountability, we build a high-trust environment and reinforce behaviours that strengthen our collective wellbeing, relationships and ability to deliver.