The Public Service Commission Te Kawa Mataaho exists to help build a Public Service that New Zealanders can trust, now and into the future.

We want a Public Service that works as one system, not a collection of disconnected agencies. One that is organised around the citizens who use services, not the machinery behind them. When people interact with government, it should feel simple, joined‑up and human, no matter which agency sits behind the scenes.

Our ambition is a Public Service that delivers better outcomes with discipline and care. One that is fiscally sustainable over time, makes smart choices about where effort and investment go, and focuses resources where they add the most value. Sustainability isn’t just about cost control; it’s about building a system that can keep delivering, even as pressures and expectations grow.

Technology is a critical part of that future, not as an end in itself, but as an enabler. We want technology to help government simplify services, reduce duplication, and improve delivery at scale, while being used responsibly and transparently, with strong ethical guardrails so trust is maintained.

We also want a Public Service with strong leadership and capability – people who can work across boundaries, adapt to change, and keep improving how the system performs. A workforce that is deployed where it makes the biggest difference and supported to grow the skills needed for the future.

We are committed to strengthening the Crown’s relationship with Māori under Te Tiriti ō Waitangi | the Treaty of Waitangi. 

He arataki, he whakarato – we lead, we serve – so New Zealand has a Public Service that is modern, trusted, digitally enabled, fiscally sustainable, and organised around the people it exists to serve.

Our name 

The name Te Kawa Mataaho reflects the essence and purpose of our agency. It speaks to being an authority for maintaining kawa | protocols and practices as it leads the public sector in the service of our nation.

The design that sits alongside all our work was developed to reflect the name and narrative for Te Kawa Mataaho. 

Our visual design(PDF, 4.2 MB)