Department of Labour leadership change to promote high-quality working lives for New Zealanders

23 March 2004

The Secretary of Labour, Dr James Buwalda announced the new strategic leadership team structure for the Department of Labour today. The structural change is designed to increase the Department's ability to influence the quality of New Zealanders' working lives.

"The new structure will lift the Department's policy capability on labour market issues and interventions, and strengthen the quality of our service delivery to customers. Overall, this will mean a more co-ordinated, whole-of-Department approach in all our work", Dr Buwalda said.

The Department will now recruit for five new Deputy Secretary roles. Three of these will focus on the main areas where the Department directly influences the quality of New Zealanders' working lives:

Deputy Secretary - Workforce will be responsible for employment, skills and immigration services.

Deputy Secretary - Workplace will be responsible for employment relations, occupational safety and health services, and advice on ACC.

Deputy Secretary - Work Opportunities will be responsible for community employment opportunities.

The other two Deputy Secretaries will focus on supporting the Department's overall direction and strategy, including internal infrastructure to ensure the Department works efficiently:

Deputy Secretary - Strategy will be responsible for strategic labour market policy, information, research and evaluation.

Deputy Secretary - Corporate will be responsible for Human Resources, IT, Finance, Communications, Planning and Reporting, Audit and Administration.

Two other roles, Legal and Maori Perspectives, will build on existing positions. The Maori Perspectives position will be phased out as this capability is integrated into the other Deputy Secretary roles over time.

"The new Strategic Leadership team will work more closely together across the various areas the Department is responsible for, to better meet the needs of New Zealanders in their working lives. Once appointed, the Deputy Secretaries will lead a change process in each of their teams, reviewing current structures and capability," Dr Buwalda said.