19 June 2007 – Embargoed to release at 4pm

Launch of State Services Commissioner’s Code of Conduct

The State Services Commissioner Mark Prebble has launched his new code of conduct for State servants – Standards of Integrity and Conduct.

An amendment to the State Sector Act in 2004 extended the Commissioner’s mandate for setting standards of integrity and conduct to include many Crown entities alongside the Public Service Departments.

“A major aim for the code is to encourage good behaviour and to strengthen the high level of trust that the public, Ministers and Parliament have in the State Services,” Mark Prebble said.

“New Zealand already has a great record of having an open and honest State Services. This is not a response to any crisis or failure in the system.

“In fact if the status quo continued and the State Services continued to operate at its very high level of integrity we could all be grateful.

“What this code and other checks and balances are for is to ensure we don’t fall into complacency and bad habits.

“I have deliberately kept the code short and clear - it is a one page document that states that we must be fair, impartial, responsible, and trustworthy.

“This code has been designed to reinforce the spirit of service that currently exists in our State Services and will be a unifying document for all of the departments and Crown entities it applies to.

“Importantly, the code will contribute to the Development Goal “strengthening trust in the State Services” and is one of a number of initiatives the State Services Commission (SSC) is pursuing to achieve this goal.

“Over the next few months I will be taking part in a series of regional meetings to promote the code. I will continue to impress on leaders and managers within the State Services the importance of modelling ethical conduct and giving effect to the code,” Mark Prebble said

The State Services Commissioner’s code - Standards of Integrity and Conduct – comes into effect on November 30th.

For further information please see www.ssc.govt.nz/code

ENDS

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