A constitutional personality: does the New Zealand public service possess one, and is it in good order?

On 4 May 2016 the Dominion Post published an editorial, as it is wont to do, on matters it deems of sufficient importance. This editorial was entitled ‘Servants of the people, not govt’. For the purposes of this article it is tempting to reproduce the editorial in its entirety. Typically such pieces are written with an efficiency of expression that generates maximum impact. Such was the case here. The point of departure was an announcement by the government of the appointment of Peter Hughes as the next state services commissioner

Ministers appoint special advisers for their policy expertise as much as for their partisan views

Special Advisers are a now a fixture of British government, with “SpAds” patrolling the political space in between Ministers and the Civil Service, offering the kind of policy and political advice which “Sir Humphreys” don’t feel inclined or able to offer. Drawing on research from New Zealand, Richard Shaw and Chris Eichbaum show that little research has been carried out into why Ministers opt to have Special Advisers, while arguing that it is as likely that SpAds are recruited for their specific policy expertise as they are for their partisan viewpoint and connections