Abstract
This chapter describes the issues and events surrounding the introduction of open government in New Zealand. The purpose and principles of the Official Information Act 1982 are described, including the provisions relating to official advice. The chapter considers the impact of open government, in particular on the relationship between ministers and public servants, and examines the extent to which it has contributed to the effectiveness of government and achieved its purpose of improving accountability and participation. It concludes with a brief section outlining ways in which the system of open government will need to adapt in the future.
Keywords
Public Servant Chief Executive Open Government Government Department State Sector
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Notes
- 1.See, for example, Geoffrey Palmer, Unbridled Power: An Interpretation of New Zealand’s Constitution and Government (Auckland, 1987).Google Scholar
- 2.Robert Gregory, ‘Knowledge as power? An overview’ in Robert Gregory (ed.), The Official Information Act: A Beginning (Wellington, 1984), p. 13.Google Scholar
- 3.John Roberts, Politicians, Public Servants and Public Enterprise (Wellington, 1987), p. 60.Google Scholar
- 4.Committee on Official Information (Chair: Sir Alan Danks), Towards Open Government: General Report (Wellington, 1981), vol. 1, p. 5.Google Scholar
- 7.This section is adapted from State Services Commission, The Public Service and Official Information (1995).Google Scholar
- 10.1980 Annual Report of the Ombudsmen cited by Ian Eagles, Michael Taggart and Grant Liddell, Freedom of Information in New Zealand (Auckland, 1992), p. 21.Google Scholar
- 31.John Martin, ‘Ethos and Ethics’, in Jonathan Boston et al. (eds), Reshaping the State: New Zealand’s Bureaucratic Revolution (Auckland, 1991).Google Scholar
- 36.Parliamentary select committee, State Owned Enterprises (Ombudsmen and Official Information Acts) Committee (Wellington, 1990).Google Scholar
- 41.See, for example, Brian Priestly, ‘Official Information and the News Media’, in Robert Gregory (ed.), The Official Information Act: A Beginning (Wellington, 1984).Google Scholar
Copyright information
© Judith Aitken 1998