“1A Purpose

• The purpose of this Act is to promote and uphold a State sector system that—

  • “(a) is imbued with the spirit of service to the community; and

  • “(b) operates in the collective interests of government; and

  • “(c) maintains appropriate standards of integrity and conduct; and

  • “(d) maintains political neutrality; and

  • “(e) is supported by effective workforce and personnel arrangements; and

  • “(f) meets good-employer obligations; and

  • “(g) is driven by a culture of excellence and efficiency; and

  • “(h) fosters a culture of stewardship.”

• “(aa) in relation to a departmental agency, means the person holding office under section 31 as the chief executive of the departmental agency:”.

“Crown entity has the meaning given to it by section 7 of the Crown Entities Act 2004”.

“department has the meaning given to it by section 27A”.

• “(aba) organisations named or described in Schedule 4, and companies named in Schedule 4A, of the Public Finance Act 1989; and”.

“departmental agency has the meaning given to it by section 27A

“host department has the meaning given to it by section 27A

“key position has the meaning given to it in section 50(2)

“ministerial staff means employees (including acting, temporary, or casual employees) who are employed on events-based employment agreements—

• “(a) by the department that is responsible for the employment of ministerial staff across all Ministers' offices; and

• “(b) to work directly for a Minister in a Minister's office rather than in a department

Example

The Hon Honour Able's ministerial staff includes 1 Senior Private Secretary, 1 Ministerial Secretary, 1 Ministerial Adviser, 1 Press Secretary, and 1 Private Secretary.

An event that could terminate the staff's events-based agreement is Minister Able no longer holding her Ministerial portfolio.

“outcome—

• “(a) means a state or condition of society, the economy, or the environment; and

• “(b) includes a change in that state or condition

“stewardship means active planning and management of medium- and long-term interests, along with associated advice”.

“2A Status of examples

• “(1) An example used in this Act is only illustrative of the provisions to which it relates. It does not limit those provisions.

  “(2) If an example and a provision to which it relates are inconsistent, the provision prevails.”

“4A Role of Commissioner

• The Commissioner's role is to provide leadership and oversight of the State services so as to ensure the purpose of this Act is carried out, including by—

  • “(a) promoting the spirit of service to the community; and

  • “(b) promoting the spirit of collaboration among agencies; and

  • “(c) identifying and developing high-calibre leaders; and

  • “(d) working with State services leaders to ensure that the State services maintain high standards of integrity and conduct and are led well and are trusted; and

  • “(e) overseeing workforce and personnel matters in the State services; and

  • “(f) advising on the design and capability of the State services; and

  • “(g) evaluating the performance of Public Service leaders, including the extent to which they carry out the purpose of this Act; and

  • “(h) supporting the efficient, effective, and economical achievement of good outcomes by the State services; and

  • “(i) promoting a culture of stewardship in the State services.”

“6 Functions of Commissioner

• For the purpose of carrying out the Commissioner's role, the principal functions of the Commissioner are to—

  • “(a) review the State sector system in order to advise on possible improvements to agency, sector, and system-wide performance; and

  • “(b) review governance and structures across all areas of government, in order to advise on—

    • “(i) the allocation and transfer of functions and powers; and

    • “(ii) the cohesive delivery of services; and

    • “(iii) the establishment, amalgamation, and disestablishment of agencies; and

  • “(c) review the performance of each department and each departmental agency; and

  • “(d) appoint leaders of the Public Service, which includes—

    • “(i) acting as the employer of chief executives of departments and chief executives of departmental agencies; and

    • “(ii) reviewing the performance of chief executives of departments and chief executives of departmental agencies; and

  • “(e) promote leadership capability in departments and other agencies; and

  • “(f) promote strategies and practices concerning government workforce capacity and capability; and

  • “(g) promote good-employer obligations in the Public Service; and

  • “(h) promote and reinforce standards of integrity and conduct in the State services; and

  • “(i) promote transparent accountability in the State services; and

  • “(j) exercise such other functions with respect to the administration and management of the Public Service as the Prime Minister from time to time directs (not being functions conferred by this Act or any other Act on a chief executive other than the Commissioner).”

• “(1) This section applies when the Commissioner is carrying out his or her functions in respect of the Public Service.”

• “(1) The Governor-General in Council, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, may appoint an acting Commissioner or acting Deputy Commissioner to act for the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner (as applicable) in the event of—

  • “(a) the incapacity of the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner by reason of illness or absence; or

  • “(b) any reasonable cause that requires the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner to stand down (whether temporarily or in respect of a particular matter).

• “(2) Subsection (1) also applies where the Deputy Commissioner is performing or exercising the functions, duties, and powers of the Commissioner under section 12(3).”

“27 Public Service defined

• The Public Service comprises departments (and any departmental agencies that are part of those departments).

“27A Meaning of department, host department, and departmental agency

• “(1) In this Act,—

  “department means a department specified in Schedule 1

  “departmental agency means a departmental agency specified in the first column of Schedule 1A, which is part of its host department

  “host department means the department identified as the host department of a departmental agency in the second column of Schedule 1A.

  “(2) Unless the context otherwise requires, every reference in this or any other enactment to a department includes any departmental agency that is part of the department.

“27B Relationship between departments and departmental agencies

• Except as provided in this or any other enactment,—

  • “(a) the functions, duties, and powers of a departmental agency may be determined by the appropriate Minister of the departmental agency in conjunction with the appropriate Minister of the host department; and

  • “(b) the working arrangements between a departmental agency and its host department must be agreed by their respective chief executives and approved by their appropriate Ministers.”

• “(1A) The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, amend Schedule 1A if a departmental agency is disestablished, if its name, its host department's name, or its host department is changed, or if a new departmental agency is established.”

• “(3A) If an enactment or other thing refers to employees of a particular department and that reference is no longer appropriate because the department's name has changed, the reference must be read as a reference to the employees of the department under its new name.

• “(3B) If an enactment or other thing refers to employees of a particular department and that reference is no longer appropriate because the department has been disestablished, the reference must be read as a reference to the employees of the new responsible department.

• “(3C) If an enactment or other thing refers to employees of a particular department and that reference is no longer appropriate because functions have been transferred elsewhere in the Public Service, the reference must be read as a reference to the employees who perform the relevant functions.”

• “(1) Each department and each departmental agency must have, as its administrative head, a chief executive.”

“32 Principal responsibilities

• “(1) The chief executive of a department or departmental agency is responsible to the appropriate Minister for—

  • “(a) the department's or departmental agency's carrying out the purpose of this Act; and

  • “(b) the department's or departmental agency's responsiveness on matters relating to the collective interests of government; and

  • “(c) the stewardship of the department or departmental agency, including of its medium and long-term sustainability, organisational health, capability, and capacity to offer free and frank advice to successive governments; and

  • “(d) the stewardship of—

    • “(i) assets and liabilities on behalf of the Crown that are used by or relate to (as applicable) the department or departmental agency; and

    • “(ii) the legislation administered by the department or departmental agency; and

  • “(e) the performance of the functions and duties and the exercise of the powers of the chief executive or of the department or departmental agency (whether imposed by any enactment or by the policies of the Government); and

  • “(f) the tendering of free and frank advice to Ministers; and

  • “(g) the integrity and conduct of the employees for whom the chief executive is responsible; and

  • “(h) the efficient and economical delivery of the goods or services provided by the department or departmental agency and how effectively those goods or services contribute to the intended outcomes.

  “(2) Except as provided in any other enactment,—

  • “(a) the chief executive of a department is not responsible for the performance of functions or duties or the exercise of powers by that part of the department that comprises any departmental agency hosted by the department; and

  • “(b) the chief executive of a departmental agency is responsible only for the performance of functions or duties or the exercise of powers by that part of the department that comprises the departmental agency.”

“33 Duty to act independently

• “(1) Despite section 32, in matters relating to decisions on individual employees (whether matters relating to the appointment, promotion, demotion, transfer, discipline, or the cessation of the employment of any employee, or other matters),—

  • “(a) the chief executive of a department is responsible for acting independently (and is not responsible to the appropriate Minister); and

  • “(b) the chief executive of a departmental agency is responsible for acting independently (and is not responsible to the appropriate Minister or to the chief executive of the host department).

  “(2) The independence provided in subsection (1) is subject to—

  • “(a) the requirement in section 50(4) that a chief executive may only appoint an employee to a key position with the Commissioner's agreement; and

  • “(b) the requirement in section 59(5) that a chief executive have regard to the wishes of the relevant Minister in relation to decisions on ministerial staff.”

• “(4AA) In relation to a vacancy or an impending vacancy in the position of chief executive of a departmental agency, the panel established under subsection (4) must also include the chief executive of the host department.”

• “(1) The Commissioner may recommend to the Minister that the existing chief executive of a department or departmental agency be reappointed for a further term.

• “(1A) Section 35(7) to (10) apply (with any necessary modifications) to the recommendation under subsection (1) as if it were a recommendation under section 35(6).”

“37A Transfer of chief executives

• “(1) The Commissioner may recommend to the Minister that a chief executive of a department or departmental agency be transferred into a vacancy or an impending vacancy in the position of chief executive in—

  • “(a) that department or departmental agency (as applicable); or

  • “(b) another department or departmental agency.

  “(2) Section 35(7) to (10) apply (with any necessary modifications) to a recommendation under subsection (1) as if it were a recommendation under section 35(6).

  “(2A) Section 35(6) to (11) do not apply to a recommendation under subsection (1) if it relates to a transfer of a chief executive of a department or departmental agency into a vacancy or an impending vacancy in the position of Government Statistician.

  “(3) Before making a recommendation under subsection (1), the Commissioner must—

  • “(a) believe on reasonable grounds that the transfer would be in the public interest; and

  • “(b) obtain the chief executive's agreement to the transfer; and

  • “(c) consult the appropriate Ministers.

  “(4) The Commissioner may make a recommendation under subsection (1) without notifying the vacancy or impending vacancy or examining other applicants or establishing a panel under section 35(4).”

• “(1AA) The Commissioner has, except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Act, the rights, powers, and duties of an employer in relation to chief executives.”

• “(2) The Commissioner must consult the chief executive of the host department before removing a chief executive of a departmental agency under subsection (1).”

• “(1A) Where a new department or departmental agency is to be established on a certain date, the Commissioner may appoint as an acting chief executive any person the Commissioner considers suitable to exercise and perform all or any of the functions, duties, and powers of the chief executive of that new department or departmental agency.

• “(1B) The position of an acting chief executive appointed under subsection (1A) ceases to exist on the date a chief executive of the new department or departmental agency takes office after being appointed under section 35.”

• “(1) A Public Service chief executive may, either generally or particularly, delegate in writing to a person described in subsection (1A) or (2A) any of the functions or powers of the chief executive under this Act or any other Act (including functions or powers delegated to the chief executive under this Act or any other Act), except that—

  • “(a) the delegation of functions or powers delegated to the chief executive by a Minister requires the prior written approval of that Minister; and

  • “(b) the delegation of functions or powers delegated to the chief executive by the Commissioner requires the prior written approval of the Commissioner.”

• “(1A) The following persons may be a delegate under subsection (1) or a subdelegate under subsection (2):

  • “(a) another Public Service chief executive:

  • “(b) a Public Service employee:

  • “(c) an individual working in the Public Service as a contractor or as a secondee from elsewhere in the State services in relation to a function or power of the Public Service:

  • “(d) the holder for the time being of any specified office in the Public Service.”

• “(2) A person to whom a function or power has been delegated under subsection (1) by a chief executive may, with the prior written approval of that chief executive, subdelegate the function or power to any other person described in subsection (1A).”

• “(2A) A Public Service chief executive may delegate under subsection (1) a clearly identified function or power to a person outside the Public Service (whether or not the person is within the State services), but only after—

  • “(a) obtaining the appropriate Minister's prior written approval; and

  • “(b) satisfying himself or herself that any potential conflicts of interest will be avoided or managed.

• “(2AA) However, a delegate described in subsection (2A) may not subdelegate the delegated power or function under subsection (2).

• “(2B) A delegation described in subsection (2A) must be noted, with a description of how effectively the delegated function or power was performed or exercised,—

  • “(a) in the case of a delegation made by the chief executive of a department, in the annual report of that department; or

  • “(b) in the case of a delegation made by the chief executive of a departmental agency, in the annual report of that departmental agency.

• “(2C) A delegate described in subsection (2A) must comply with the following obligations in relation to the performance of a delegated function or the exercise of a delegated power (in the same way as a delegate described in subsection (1A) must comply with them):

  • “(a) all relevant statutory obligations; and

  • “(b) all relevant obligations in a code of conduct set by the Commissioner under section 57(2).

• “(2D) Any information held by a delegate described in subsection (2A) in relation to the performance of a delegated function or the exercise of a delegated power is, for the purposes of the Official Information Act 1982 (see section 2(5) of that Act), deemed to be held by,—

  • “(a) in the case of a delegation made by the chief executive of a department, that department; or

  • “(b) in the case of a delegation made by the chief executive of a departmental agency, the host department of that departmental agency.

• “(2E) If the delegate described in subsection (2A) is outside the Public Service, the Ombudsmen Act 1975 and the Official Information Act 1982 apply to the delegate—

  • “(a) in relation to the performance of a delegated function or the exercise of a delegated power; and

  • “(b) as if the delegate were an organisation named in Schedule 1 of the Ombudsmen Act 1975.

• “(2E) In relation to the performance of a delegated function or the exercise of a delegated power, the Ombudsmen Act 1975 and the Official Information Act 1982 apply to a delegate described in subsection (2A) as if the delegate were an organisation named in Schedule 1 of the Ombudsmen Act 1975.”

• “(4A) Where a chief executive or a delegate of the chief executive uses a written document to inform any other person of an action taken by a delegate of the chief executive, the document must—

  • “(a) state that the action was taken by a delegate of the chief executive; and

  • “(b) give the delegate's name and office; and

  • “(c) inform the other person that a copy of the instrument of delegation may be inspected at the chief executive's office.”

• “(1A) When reviewing the performance of a chief executive of a departmental agency, the Commissioner must consult the chief executive of the host department.”

• “(1A) Nothing in sections 35, 36, 38, and 39 applies in respect of the Solicitor-General, and a review of the Solicitor-General's performance under section 43—

  • “(a) must only pertain to the Solicitor-General's responsibilities as the chief executive of a department; and

  • “(b) must not pertain to the performance of the independent and constitutional functions of the Solicitor-General or the performance of persons assisting the Solicitor-General in the performance of those functions.”

“46 Object

• The object of this Part is to specify the Commissioner's responsibilities for developing senior leadership and management capability in the Public Service.

“47 Responsibilities of Commissioner

• “(1) The Commissioner is responsible for developing and implementing a strategy for the development of senior leadership and management capability in the Public Service, which could include, for example, the flexible deployment of individuals to developmental roles in the Public Service (with the agreement of the individuals and the relevant chief executives).

  “(2) The Commissioner may promote the strategy to other agencies in the State services, and may invite employees in the State services to participate in initiatives under the strategy (with the agreement of the relevant chief executives).

“48 Responsibilities of chief executives

• Each chief executive of a department or departmental agency is responsible for—

  • “(a) developing senior leadership and management capability in the department or departmental agency; and

  • “(b) assisting the Commissioner to fulfil the Commissioner's responsibilities under section 47.”

• “(1) The Commissioner may arrange for a State services employee to be seconded elsewhere in the State services (with the agreement of the employee and the relevant chief executives) for the purpose of developing senior leadership and management capability in the State services.”

“50 Key positions in Public Service

• “(1) After consulting the chief executive of a department or departmental agency, the Commissioner may designate a position in the department or departmental agency that meets the criteria in subsection (2) as a key position.

  “(2) For the purposes of this section and section 33(2)(a), key position means a position in a department or departmental agency that, in the opinion of the Commissioner, is key—

  • “(a) because of its potential to develop senior leaders; or

  • “(b) because it is critical to the Public Service.

  “(3) The Commissioner must publish a list of key positions on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the Commissioner.

  “(4) A chief executive may only appoint an employee to a key position with the Commissioner's agreement.”

“Part 5
“Government workforce policy and personnel provisions”.

“Subpart 1—Government workforce policy

“55A Commissioner's functions in relation to this subpart

• The Commissioner has the following functions in relation to this subpart:

  • “(a) to provide advice and guidance to the State services (except Crown Research Institutes and their subsidiaries) on workforce matters; and

  • “(b) to consider whether to draft and submit draft government workforce policy for ministerial approval as a Government Workforce Policy Statement; and

  • “(c) to advise affected agencies on the operation of any Government Workforce Policy Statement; and

  • “(d) to facilitate the operation of any Government Workforce Policy Statement in conjunction with affected agencies.

“55B Government workforce policy

• “(1) The Commissioner may draft government workforce policy and, after consulting the affected agencies and any other parties that the Commissioner considers appropriate, submit it to the Minister for his or her consideration.

  “(2) Government workforce policy must relate to workforce (including employment and workplace) matters for the purpose of fostering a consistent, efficient, and effective approach to such matters across the State sector.

  “(2A) Workforce matters may, without limitation, address (in relation to the affected agency or agencies)—

  • “(a) the Government's expectations about the negotiation of collective agreements and individual employment agreements in the State Services (being expectations that do not determine pay or conditions); and

  • “(b) the development of workforce strategy.

  “(3) Government workforce policy must specify the agency or agencies to which it applies, which may be any or all of the following:

  • “(a) a department or departments:

  • “(b) a Crown agent or Crown agents:

  • “(c) an autonomous Crown entity or autonomous Crown entities.

  “(4) The Minister may approve government workforce policy as a Government Workforce Policy Statement.

  “(5) A Government Workforce Policy Statement is not a regulation for the purposes of the Regulations (Disallowance) Act 1989 or the Acts and Regulations Publication Act 1989.

“55C Government Workforce Policy Statement: process

• “(1) As soon as practicable after the Minister's approval under section 55B(4), the Commissioner must—

  • “(a) send the Government Workforce Policy Statement to the affected agencies; and

  • “(b) publish the Government Workforce Policy Statement on an Internet site maintained by, or on behalf of, the Commissioner.

  “(2) A Government Workforce Policy Statement may be amended, revoked, or replaced in the same way as it may be made.

“55D Government Workforce Policy Statement: implementation

• “(1) A department must give effect to a Government Workforce Policy Statement.

  “(2) A Crown agent must give effect to a Government Workforce Policy Statement.

  “(3) An autonomous Crown entity must have regard to a Government Workforce Policy Statement.

  “(4) Despite subsections (1) to (3), a Government Workforce Policy Statement may not—

  • “(a) create, alter, or remove employment or other legal rights or obligations; or

  • “(b) determine or alter the content of the law applying to employees or chief executives or the Commissioner.”.

“Subpart 2—Personnel provisions”.

• “(ba) companies named in Schedule 4A of the Public Finance Act 1989:”.

• “(3) The Commissioner may apply a code to any agency or agencies referred to in subsection (1), or to any particular persons or groups of persons undertaking particular functions in such an agency or agencies, with any variations that the Commissioner thinks appropriate in light of the legal, commercial, or operational context of the agency or agencies or of the persons or groups of persons.

• “(4) The Commissioner's functions include providing advice and guidance to the State services (except Crown Research Institutes and their subsidiaries) on matters, or at times, that affect the integrity and conduct of those within the State services (including, for example, on the interpretation of relevant standards and on the application of a code of conduct in specific cases).”

“Compare: 1988 No 20 ss 6(ha), 57C(2)”.

• “(1) The Commissioner's functions include promoting, developing, and monitoring equal employment opportunities programmes and policies for the Public Service.”

“Compare: 1988 No 20 s 6(g)”.

“59 Employees of departments

• “(1) In relation to the functions, duties, and powers of a department, the chief executive of the department—

  • “(a) may appoint such employees of the department (including acting, temporary, or casual employees) as the chief executive thinks necessary; and

  • “(b) may, subject to any conditions of employment included in the employment agreement applying to an employee, at any time remove that employee from his or her office or employment; and

  • “(c) has, except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Act, the rights, powers, and duties of an employer in respect of the employees of the department.

  “(2) In relation to employees of a host department who perform the functions or duties or exercise the powers of a departmental agency, the chief executive of the host department is deemed by this subsection—

  • “(a) to have delegated to the chief executive of the departmental agency the following rights, duties, and powers:

    • “(i) those described in subsection (1)(a), (b), and (c) and 69(a) and (c); and

    • “(ii) those described in sections 60 to 64; and

    • “(iii) those described in sections 82 and 83; and

  • “(b) not to have those rights, duties, and powers in relation to those employees.

  “(3) The chief executive of a departmental agency may exercise the rights, duties, and powers deemed to have been delegated to him or her under subsection (2) in the same manner, subject to the same restrictions, and with the same effect as if they had been conferred on him or her directly by this Act and not by delegation.

  “(4) Appointments under subsection (1)(a) or (2)(a)(i) (except of ministerial staff) are provisional pending the outcome of any review under section 65.

  “(5) The chief executive of the department that is responsible for the employment of ministerial staff across all Ministers' offices must have regard to the wishes of the relevant Minister in relation to ministerial staff.”

“61A Restriction of redundancy payments in certain situations

• “(1) A Public Service employee who has received a notice of redundancy is not entitled to a redundancy payment if, before the employee's employment has ended, the employee either—

  • “(a) is offered and accepts another position in the State services (either in the employee's current department or elsewhere in the State services) that—

    • “(i) begins before, on, or immediately after the date on which the employee's current employment ends; and

    • “(ii) is on terms and conditions of employment (including redundancy and superannuation conditions) that are no less favourable; and

    • “(iii) is on terms that treat service within the State services as if it were continuous service; or

  • “(b) is offered an alternative position in the State services (either in the employee's current department or elsewhere in the State services) that—

    • “(iaaa) begins before, on, or immediately after the date on which the employee's current employment ends; and

    • “(i) is a position with comparable duties and responsibilities to those of the employee's current position; and

    • “(ii) is in substantially the same general locality or a locality within reasonable commuting distance; and

    • “(iii) is on terms and conditions of employment (including redundancy and superannuation conditions) that are no less favourable; and

    • “(iv) is on terms that treat service within the State services as if it were continuous service.

  “(2) Sections 60, 61, and 65 do not apply in relation to the offer of an alternative position.

  “(3) This section overrides Part 6A of the Employment Relations Act 2000.

  “Compare: 1988 No 20 ss 30E, 30F, 61A, 61B(1)

“61AB Transitional provision relating to restriction of redundancy payments

• “(1) The new redundancy-related sections do not apply until the expiry of 3 years after the commencement of this section.

  “(2) The old redundancy-related sections continue to apply until immediately before the expiry of 3 years after the commencement of this section.

  “(3) For the purposes of this section,—

  “new redundancy-related sections means sections 61A and 61B after their amendment by the State Sector and Public Finance Reform Act 2012

  “old redundancy-related sections means sections 30C, 30D, 30E, 30F, 61A, and 61B as they were in force immediately before their repeal by the State Sector and Public Finance Reform Act 2012.

“61B Application of employee provisions to transfers of functions between Crown entities and departments

• “(1) The following provisions apply both to a transfer of functions from a Crown entity to a department and to a transfer of functions from a department to a Crown entity:

  • “(a) sections 61A and 61C:

  • “(b) sections 30H, 30I, and 61D in so far as—

    • “(i) those sections relate to a collective employment agreement that binds the chief executive of the Crown entity or department before the transfer of the functions; and

    • “(ii) that collective employment agreement applies to an employee whose position in the Crown entity or department ceases to exist as a result of the transfer of functions.

  “(2) The sections referred to in subsection (1) apply in respect of the Crown entity or department that functions are transferred from—

  • “(a) as if any reference to Department A in those sections were a reference to that Crown entity or department; and

  • “(b) with all other necessary modifications.

  “Compare: 1988 No 20 s 30D”.

“61D Application of collective agreements to employees following reorganisations

• “(1) This section limits which employees may be bound by a collective agreement that—

  • “(a) binds the chief executive of Department A before a transfer of functions from Department A to Department B and that, as a consequence of sections 30H and 30I, binds the chief executive of Department B after that transfer of functions (collective agreement A); or

  • “(b) binds the chief executive of Department B before that transfer of functions (collective agreement B).

  “(2) After that transfer of functions,—

  • “(a) the only employees of Department B who are entitled to be bound by or enforce collective agreement A are those employees who are appointed to a position in Department B that has been established (whether or not previously existing in Department A) to enable Department B to perform the transferred functions; and

  • “(b) the only employees of Department B who are entitled to be bound by or enforce collective agreement B are those employees who hold, or are appointed to, a position other than a position referred to in paragraph (a).

  “(3) Subsection (2) does not bind an employee to a collective agreement, or entitle an employee to be bound by or enforce a collective agreement, if the employee would not otherwise be bound by, or be entitled to be bound by or enforce, that agreement.

  “(4) This section limits which employees may be bound by collective agreements (including collective employment contracts), and the coverage of those agreements, under Part 6 of this Act and sections 56(1), 57, 62(3), 63(3), and 243 of the Employment Relations Act 2000.

  “(5) This section does not apply to a collective agreement to the extent that the parties agree otherwise.

  “Compare: 1988 No 20 s 30G”.

“66 Certain sections do not apply in relation to ministerial staff

• Sections 60, 61, 64, and 65 do not apply in relation to ministerial staff.”

“77 Immunity for education service chief executives and employees

• Education service chief executives and employees are immune from liability in civil proceedings for good-faith actions or omissions in pursuance or intended pursuance of their duties, functions, or powers.”

“86 Immunity for Public Service chief executives and employees

• “(1) Public Service chief executives and employees are immune from liability in civil proceedings for good-faith actions or omissions in pursuance or intended pursuance of their duties, functions, or powers.

  “(2) See also section 6 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1950.”

“7 Delegation of powers by Commissioner

• “(1) The Commissioner may delegate in accordance with sections 41 and 42 of the State Sector Act 1988 any of the Commissioner's functions or powers under this Act or any other Act (including functions or powers delegated to the Commissioner under this Act or any other Act), except that—

  • “(a) the delegation of functions or powers delegated to the Commissioner by a Minister requires the prior written approval of that Minister; and

  • “(b) the delegation of functions or powers delegated to the Commissioner by the State Services Commissioner requires the prior written approval of the State Services Commissioner.

  “(2) However, the Commissioner may not delegate to a person outside the Public Service (as described in section 41(2A) of the State Sector Act 1988) any of the following functions or powers:

  • “(a) the Commissioner’s functions or powers in relation to obtaining information from and about taxpayers (sections 16 to 21 of this Act); and

  • “(b) the Commissioner’s functions or powers in relation to imposing civil and criminal penalties on taxpayers in various circumstances (Part 9 of this Act, subpart 3 of Part 4 of the Student Loan Scheme Act 2011, and Part 12 of the Child Support Act 1991); and

  • “(c) the Commissioner’s functions or powers in relation to deducting amounts from payments due (section 157 of this Act, section 193 of the Student Loan Scheme Act 2011 but in respect only of the powers in section 157 of this Act, and section 154 of the Child Support Act 1991); and

  • “(d) the Commissioner’s functions or powers in relation to tax recovery agreements negotiated between the government of a territory outside New Zealand and the Government of New Zealand (Part 10A of this Act).

  “(3) Sections 41 and 42 of the State Sector Act 1988 apply to delegations under this section as if those delegations were made under section 41(1) of that Act.”

• “(4A) Despite certain Crown servants being immune from liability under section 86 of the State Sector Act 1988,—

  • “(a) a court may find the Crown itself liable in tort in respect of the actions or omissions of those servants; and

  • “(b) for the purpose of determining whether the Crown is so liable, the court must disregard the immunity in section 86.”

• “(1A) The State Services Commissioner must exercise functions requested by the Speaker in accordance with subsection (1) consistently with the role of the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives and its separation from the executive government.”

• “(1A) The State Services Commissioner must exercise functions requested by the Speaker in accordance with subsection (1) consistently with the role of the Parliamentary Service and its separation from the executive government.”

• “(5) A Government Workforce Policy Statement is neither a legislative instrument nor a disallowable instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2012 and does not have to be presented to the House of Representatives under section 41 of that Act.”