The inaugural Pacific Integrity & Ethics Programme was launched on Friday to support the region’s Public Service Commissioners in implementing a Pacific-wide Code of Ethics.
The inaugural Pacific Integrity & Ethics Programme was launched on Friday to support the region’s Public Service Commissioners in implementing a Pacific-wide Code of Ethics.
The Code of Ethics is based on cultural values identified by Pacific Public Service Commissioners and the programme focuses on expected behaviours based on these cultural values.
The Code will help the region’s public servants to strengthen ethical public service cultures and enhance public trust and confidence in their work.
The Friday 22 October launch – led by the NZ based Public Service Fale – was to lift awareness and understanding of the Code and outline the future programme. The focus was familiarising public servants with the programme’s learning modules based on pillars of Service, Integrity, Equity, Accountability and Community.
The programme goals are to provide the tools necessary to develop and build integrity and ethics plans in-country for all Public Service Fale Pacific member states, to provide a forum for public servants to share their ideas and experiences from their own country contexts and, to provide a framework which can be adapted to existing integrity and ethics programmes, regardless of their stage of development.
Tokelau’s Public Service Commissioner Tiso Fiaola said he was looking forward to coming back in the new year for the next five modules and developing a Tokelau specific plan.
Tiso said it is important that people are confident about performing to the standards expected of them. “Doing the right thing and knowing what the right thing is, is key. The programme looks practical because is describes what good looks like and it is grounded in Pacific values.”
This first programme cohort is being attended virtually by twelve public service leaders from Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, and Tuvalu.
The 16 Public Service Fale member countries also include Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and Vanuatu, with Australia and New Zealand New Zealand supporting.
Hon. Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban
Chair, Public Service Fale Governance Board
Notes:
The Public Service Fale was announced in January 2020 as a centre of excellence to support Pacific Public Service Commissioners to strengthen public services across the region. The Fale is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and is housed at Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission.
In July 2020, Tania Ott was appointed Deputy Commissioner to lead the Fale and its programme is governed by the Pacific Public Service Fale Governance Board chaired by Hon. Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban.
The Fale has Pacific relationships, service design and secretariat teams servicing the Pacific Public Service Commissioners’ requirements.
Media queries:
Dominic Godfrey, Kaitohutohu Mātua | Senior Advisor, Communications and Engagement
Te Whare Pasifika | Pacific Public Service Fale
waea pūkoro: +6421 199 4689 | īmēra: dominic.godfrey@publicservice.govt.nz
