MEDIA RELEASE

Statement From Mark Prebble

“I am honoured to be appointed as the next State Services Commissioner.

I have spent my career as a public servant working for a succession of governments. My work has brought me in touch with a very wide range of issues, and with the concerns that face New Zealanders in their dealings with government. I now have an opportunity to work at the heart of the Public Service and the State sector to ensure that New Zealanders get the strongest possible performance from government employees. I will do my very best.

The State Services Commissioner is responsible for the standards of performance of public servants and the State sector. Previous Commissioners have established a proud record in the job. Most recently, Michael Wintringham has provided powerful leadership and support for the New Zealand Public Service. I hope I will be able to achieve similar results.

The New Zealand Public Service is characterised by high integrity, high commitment and high performance. It is our job to work to the highest standard for Ministers of whatever government. Where there is a lapse in behaviour, it is important that matters are put right. As State Services Commissioner, I intend to maintain and continually improve the performance of the State sector.”

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>