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Public Service Commission report on conflict of interest welcomed

We are pleased to see the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) review on the waste rōpū procurement process is consistent with the Ministry for the Environment’s (MfE) internal review findings.

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The PSC review identifies areas for improvement that are consistent with our review. Many of these improvements are already underway. Both our internal review and PSC’s review found no evidence or indication of any advisory group appointments being made because of any family connections to a Cabinet Minister, nor of any political involvement in the process.

The PSC report also notes MfE’s procurement and conflict of interest management policies and processes were sound. However, the Ministry should have better planned and implemented them.

Since the appointment of the waste rōpu in 2020, the Ministry has strengthened our procurement and conflict of interest management practices. Measures include:

  • The establishment of an integrity programme, which includes a focus on strengthening conflict of interest practices
  • The establishment of an Enterprise Portfolio Management Office to improve project management and planning
  • The improvement of expert support throughout the procurement process by implementing a Business Partner Model
  • The introduction of a new function to oversee all external advisory groups

These improvements will reduce the likelihood of similar procurement and conflict of interest issues arising again.