Auditor-General's overview
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangarangatanga maha o te motu, tēnā koutou.
I am pleased to present my Office's Annual plan 2021/22.
The purpose of our work is to improve trust in, and promote the value of, the public sector. Our work programme for 2021/22 has been prepared with this firmly in mind.
We have decided to continue to progress five priority areas for our work in 2021/22:
- the Covid-19 response and recovery;
- how well the public sector is improving the lives of New Zealanders;
- how well the public accountability system is working as a whole;
- keeping New Zealanders informed about public sector performance and accountability; and
- sharing insights about what "good" looks like.
Our priority areas take into account the environment we are working in. They provide a balance between the immediate response to Covid-19 and the important issues in the public sector that pre-dated Covid-19. This includes improving outcomes for Māori, reducing family violence, and improving housing, education, and health outcomes.
We will also consider how well New Zealand's public accountability system meets public expectations with a particular focus on the well-being agenda, understanding Māori perspectives on accountability, and significant government investment decisions. Our work also includes a focus on ethics and integrity in the public sector. We will continue supporting the public sector through providing more good practice guidance, finding different ways to share examples of what "good" looks like, and continuing to support audit and risk committees.
Our plan was finalised following feedback on our Draft annual plan 2021/22. A wide range of stakeholders, including members of Parliament, government and non-government organisations, and the public provided comments, which we have used to refine our plan.
I thank everyone who took the time to send feedback on our draft plan. A summary of the changes we have made is provided in Appendix 1. We will also use the feedback as we carry out more detailed planning of our work.
The response to Covid-19 and a large reform agenda has placed the public sector under ongoing pressure. I acknowledge the significant efforts of public servants who work to deliver services we all rely on every day. It is my expectation that our work will support the public sector's efforts in these challenging times.
I also thank my staff for their work to continue to support trust and confidence in the public sector. Our 2021/22 work programme is comprehensive, challenging, and necessary. I look forward to reporting on it as the year progresses.
Nāku noa, nā
John Ryan
Controller and Auditor-General
24 June 2021