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With a record number of Māori in and around cabinet, there’s a call for renewal at senior levels in the public service to help drive the Government’s agenda.
New Zealand Māori Council executive director Matthew Tukaki is welcoming the inclusion of five Māori in cabinet, including new minister Kiri Allen in the Conservation portfolio, as well as Meka Whaitiri and Rino Tirikatene in executive roles outside cabinet.
The size of the Māori caucus means there should be Māori voices in all the major select committees, where critical decisions are also made.
He doesn’t see a similar proportion of Māori in the senior ranks of the public service, which is responsible for the implementation of Government policy.
"We need a new breed of younger, more dynamic, and that includes our Maori people at the helm of some of these agencies if we are really going to push forward on this big social and economic policy agenda the Government has. It's time for a new State Services Commissioner, it's time for new chief executives in some of the key government agencies and departments, and let's not be afraid of doing that. Thank you for your service. It’s time for us to all move on," Mr Tukaki says.
He says he impressed with a large number of talented younger Māori officials in the public sector.
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