Public Policy In New Zealand: Institutions, Processes And Outcomes

Description

Comprehensively revised and updated, this text provides an introduction to public policy in New Zealand: what it is, who makes it, and how it is made. Although this book is aimed at undergraduate students studying public policy, social policy and politics, it will appeal to anyone who is interested in how New Zealand is governed. Public policy matters, because it makes a difference - for better or for worse - to people’s lives. This book provides an introduction to public policy in New Zealand: what it is, who makes it, and how it is made. Public Policy in New Zealand is also about the system of government in which policy is shaped. The book’s main purpose is to explain in a straightforward manner what the institutions of government are, and how they interact with citizens and interest groups to produce public policy. In short, this is a book about government and governance. Contents * The nature of public policy and the policy process * The New Zealand constitution * Cabinet and the Prime Minister * Parliament * The Judiciary * Factors which influence the policy process, such as the economic context, the electoral system, public servants and political advisers, political parties and interest groups * Case-studies showing the policy process in action, focusing on social assistance reform, employment, and tertiary education policy * Governance Although this book is aimed at undergraduate students studying public policy, social policy and politics, it will appeal to anyone who is interested in how New Zealand is governed.

Author description

Richard Shaw (MA (Hons), PhD) is an Associate Professor in the Politics Programme at Massey University, Palmerston North, where he teaches courses in New Zealand politics and public policy. His current research interests include the roles and responsibilities of ministerial advisers, public sector reform, and e-politics. Chris Eichbaum (MA (Hons), MPubPol, PhD) is Reader in Government, in the School of Government at Victoria University of Wellington, where he teaches a range of undergraduate and graduate courses. He has worked as a public service policy analyst in Canberra and Wellington, and as a Senior Ministerial and Prime Ministerial Adviser. His current research interests are in the institutions of central banking, governance and public administration reform, the roles and responsibilities of ministerial advisers, and contemporary social democratic politics.

Table of contents

Introduction Part 1 Understanding public policy 1 What is public policy? 2 The policy process Part 2 Policy-making institutions 3 The constitution 4 Parliament 5 Cabinet and the Prime Minister 6 The public sector 7 The judiciary Part 3 Influencing policy development 8 MMP and the policy process 9 Political parties 10 Advisers and officials 11 Interest groups and policy-making 12 Economics, politics and policy-making Part 4 Policy case-studies 13 Employment policy 14 Tertiary education policy 15 From social welfare to social development Part 5 Governance 16 Governance