Part 4 – Restrengthening the New Zealand Public Services

Public services such as health, education, policing, courts, environmental protection, housing, social support, and economic development are central to the wellbeing, security, and opportunity of every community.

Part 4 examines how these services are currently organised and delivered. It considers how centralisation, fragmentation, repeated restructures, shifting policy priorities, and distance from local communities can undermine service quality, workforce morale, continuity, and public trust.

It then sets out how public services could operate under the three-tier governance model. Most delivery and planning responsibility would be devolved to the regional level, while national structures would retain responsibility for constitutional protections, minimum standards, equity, funding frameworks, national infrastructure, and matters requiring countrywide coordination.

Regional staff, communities, service users, iwi, businesses, and local organisations would have a greater role in identifying needs, shaping priorities, and improving delivery. Each region would assess its public-service assets, infrastructure, industries, workforce capabilities, environmental resources, and future economic opportunities as a single, interconnected system.

That work would inform a holistic Regional Strategic Plan — linking public services, local economic development, infrastructure investment, environmental stewardship, and community wellbeing rather than treating each area as a separate issue.

This part is 300 pages in short chapters, describing the main Government department, ministers, and how decisions are made and resources are allocated.