Overview

Annual Plan 2017/18.

I am pleased to submit this Annual Plan for 2017/18.

This programme of work aligns well with our strategic intentions to 2025, and the challenge we have set ourselves – to more effectively use our unique role and independent perspective to influence improvements in the public sector's performance, and the public management system in which it operates.

This is the sixth work programme in our multi-year themed work programme. It includes reporting performance audits and other work. Our previous themes were:

  • 2012/13 – Our future needs – is the public sector ready?;
  • 2013/14 – Service delivery;
  • 2014/15 – Governance and accountability;
  • 2015/16 – Investment and asset management; and
  • 2016/17 – Information.

I am pleased to confirm that the theme for 2017/18 is Water.

Our Water theme reflects Parliament's and New Zealanders' growing interest in water. Public entities in both central and local government play critical roles as policy makers, regulators, and service providers in relation to water. These functions are often delivered in collaboration with other entities – for example, iwi and community organisations. With our overview of the entire public sector, we are well placed to examine how effectively public entities are managing their responsibilities for water.

The performance audits and other work we will carry out under the Water theme are described in Part 3. The Appendix provides an overview of our multi-year work programme. Each year's theme is the focus of our work for that year, but some larger pieces of work carry over into other years. The programme for the years beyond 2017/18 is indicative only and is still being explored and developed. We are currently considering the content of our proposed themes:

  • 2018/19 – Procurement and contract management; and
  • 2019/20 – Sustainable development.

Feedback from Parliament

Our work programme for 2017/18 was confirmed after consultation with members of Parliament and other stakeholders. Consultation with Parliament helps us to ensure that our work is relevant and useful to Parliament, public entities, and the public. It is an important way in which we can ensure that our work remains responsive to the needs of our key stakeholders.

We consulted the Speaker and select committees about our proposed work programme. We thank them all for their consideration.

The Finance and Expenditure Committee (FEC) formalised its feedback and that of other select committees in a report to the House. In its report, The FEC endorsed our Water theme for 2017/18. The FEC also indicated its support for our strategic intentions.

The FEC conveyed to us comments from the Commerce Committee, the Local Government and Environment Committee, the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, the Māori Affairs Committee, the Justice and Electoral Committee, the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee, and the Health Committee. These committees indicated their support for our 2017/18 Water theme and for various topics in the plan. The Māori Affairs Committee highlighted the significance of our Water theme to Māori. We thank all committees for their consideration of our Draft Annual Plan 2017/18.

Concluding comments

Many staff have contributed to the development of this Annual Plan. I thank everyone involved for their work. Their efforts will enable our Office to continue to focus its finite resources on work that will have the most impact in providing assurance to Parliament, public entities, and the public about the use of public resources and powers.

Signature - GS

Greg Schollum
Deputy Controller and Auditor-General

26 June 2017