An excellent appointment
April 29th, 2008 at 10:15 am by David FarrarThe Government announced yesterday that Iain Rennie has been appointed State Services Commissioner.
I regard this as an excellent appointment. Rennie is held in high regard in Wellington, and is a straight shooter. I can’t think of many people who would have a bad word to say about him. People who have worked with him also say he is very affable and approachable.
His appointment was recommended unanimously by a panel of Jim Bolger, Dame Margaret Bazley, Stan Rodger and David Parker. I think it was wise to not just have it done by the Minister. Hell, we may have ended up with Mike Williams as State Services Commissioner then 
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April 29th, 2008 at 10:25 am
and the state services commissioner does what exactly??
educate me dave!
[DPF: Well he employs the 40 or so state sector CEOs. Also has a Deputy look after e-govt. Sets state sector wide policy and procedures.]
Vote:April 29th, 2008 at 10:33 am
It is to be hoped that the new commissioner will do away with the notorious “In House” inquiries that have been the hall mark of past commissioner’s. Let offending state servants be treated under the Crimes Act 1961 like any other offending citizen. Cut out the discrimination.
Look at the present New Zealand Immigration Service scandal. Politicians running round like headless chickens, grizzling and complaining about the need for an inquiry. What a waste of time?
All they need to do, if they have the courage of their convictions and there is enough evidence round, is to lay a complaint with the police. Do away with political grandstanding. Let’s have a good look at the corrupt system of in house inquiries, that has every MP’s blessing?
Vote:April 29th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Did anyone Frank ever employ last out the first day.
Under national party rule the SSC was merely like the central personell department for the pulic service especailly the heads of department.
Vote:But since the myriad of state entities have made big stuff ups in computer purchases it now has expertise in this area as well ( as they did in the days of mainframe computers )
April 29th, 2008 at 10:50 am
GWW3 You are obviously not appraised of the principles of good governance Let me explain.
An Inquiry must not only be independent but be seen to be independent.
Alas particuarly over the past 9 years we have seen the nudge nudge wink wink school of Inquiry riven with conflicts of interest.
Good governance is about both fact and perception
This Socialist excuse for a government no longer care about either the facts or the perception.
The incoming Commissioner has a big task ahead of him given the incumbent allowed himself to become tainted and compromised beginning with the Rankin matter and then steadily progressing down the slippery slope of craven adherence to his political masters rather then displaying the traditional independence the citizens expect of the civil service.
Vote:April 29th, 2008 at 10:57 am
ASk McCully about ‘independence’ for the public service. When the public servants didnt direct lucrative advertising contracts to party mates he got rid of them with golden handshakes to boot.
Vote:Remember too the previews that Jenny Shipley got of the advertising campaigns BEFORE the client had even seen them. So much for independence under national party rule. What was good for the campaign funds of the party came first
April 29th, 2008 at 11:06 am
A wise appointment I think. Mike Williams would have been followed by a very quick resignation on the change in Government. I think this appointment will meet any concerns that an in-coming Government would have over the SSC. Now we have the matter of Miss Mary-Anne Thompson to clean up. I assume her resignation will be forth-coming. I would go further and appoint Dame Margaret Bazeley (or her equivalent) to clean up the Immigration Service say on a 18 month contract.
Vote:April 29th, 2008 at 11:12 am
thanks mate. i now consider myself an authority on the subject
Vote:April 29th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I have only two questions about this appointment:
Vote:1. Is he A-Political.
2. Is he capable of `leading the charge’ to a politically neutral civil service.
April 29th, 2008 at 11:39 am
GWW3 My comments apply to ALL political parties not just the Socialists although they have had 9 years to perfect the art of conflicts of interest and are well skilled in its practise.
IMHO given the small pool of pollies and civil servants we the citizens should demand and be given a comprehensive list of their interconnectivity if I may use the term.
Transperancey and Disclosure demand that we know the linkages.
After all both classes are there to serve the citizens therefore the citizen has the right to make a judgement on the facts.
Vote:April 29th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Dame Dame Margaret Bazeley would be tied by terms of reference, similiar to the narrow terms of her commission to inquire into the sexual conduct of police. She even found problems with the Police Complaints Authority. Our present Law and Order Select Committee, chaired by David Benson-Pope are finding grey areas in the approachs of the newly formed Police Conduct Authority.
Royal Commissions of Inquiry are long overdue in all areas of Government. The Last Election for example: The actions or lack of action on the part of the Chief Electorqal Officer, Electoral Commission, Police and Political Parties involved – The Education Department is long overdue. Even last night Close Up had a video on the text bullying that goes on in schools. Media have been full these last three months of instances of bullying. Nowhere do you see anything remotely resembling the reporting of the bullying of teachers and a class of pupil, by School Authorities (Boards of Trustees) Principals and the Ministry of Education…. for starters
then
Police – Immigration Prison Authorities – State Services Commission – Speakers Office… You name it
Vote:April 29th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
I guess we should wish him luck, sounds like he has his work cut out for him.
Vote:April 29th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Frank, you may well be right about the need for a wide-ranging investigation into a lot of aspects of government, but I’m surprised at your (and other commenters’) advocacy of Dame Margaret Bazley as the person to do it.
Perhaps the media’s notoriously short memories (read: inexperienced journos and a shocking lack of research) is beginning to infect its reader/listener/viewership.
Don’t forget it was Bazley who ran the Department of Social Welfare when Christine Rankin ran WINZ. I’m not sure whether Bazley appointed her, but Rankin was described as her “protege” in at least one profile, and certainly supported her. Rankin is quoted in a 2007 Herald article by Carroll du Chateau and Catherine Masters (sorry, I can’t find a link) as saying:
And her term as Secretary for Transport (1988-93) saw the singleminded pursuit of the ineffective, punitive policies that assume we’re all idiots.
Hardly a stellar record.
Vote:April 29th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
According to Radio News RENNIE most recently was required to inquire into the Claire CURRAN business and cleared all the state servants of any irregularity, just like all the Prebble enquiries.
Vote:April 29th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
baxter Im afraid that despite DPFs ringing endorsement Rennie doesnt fill me with confidence.
Has the look of yet another cardie wearer not willing or able to stand up for the principles of good governance but rather wring his hands whilst nodding agreement to the Minister.
WE sorely need a champion of good governance after the past 9 years of fetid feral venal bad governance.
What we need is a person who will standup and say NO and then explain to the great unwashed who alas wouldnt recognise good governance even if it was poking them what good governance is and why its so important not just in government but in all organisations
Vote:April 29th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Ossie Malcome ex MP and Immigration Consultant made some very succint points in a talkback interview with Bill Ralston a few minutes ago.
.
Something is well and truly rotten in the long standing rorting of the Immigration Service by Senior unnamed officials.
Boy it is a real tinder box – The fuse has been attached and the match applied. The Head of Immigration Services is an ex Prime Minister’s Department member and a close friend of Helens. Has, had 2 previous warnings to desist from getting preferrential treatment for her close family members entry into New Zealand.
The balloon is really going up!
Vote:April 29th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Agree this is a good appointment. Rennie used to be in Bolger’s office in the 90s. Won’t fold to pressure from Labour.
Vote: