In the inevitable election year attacks on the public service, two areas that are often particularly criticised are policy and communications.
To hear another side of the story, we talked with four public service sector members who work in these areas about the value of their work.
Mark - Policy Advisor
Mark’s work makes a positive difference for some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable people by helping apply the legislation covering financial assistance to those in need.
“We have a policy of full and correct entitlement, and my role is to make sure that my team gets the right information to ensure that happens" says Mark
With eight-years frontline experience, Mark knows the importance of policy work and positive difference the “back office” mahi makes, particularly when things get tough for those working with the public.
When Cyclone Gabrielle ravaged the North Island, Mark and his team used their knowledge to respond to an unprecedented situation.
“We had to be on top of the evolving situation, while still maintaining day-to-day support. The rules needed to be changed and updated quickly to ensure those in need got the support they were entitled to.
"Many of our staff worked additional hours, public holidays and weekends to make sure everyone in crisis got the support they need.
Briar - Senior Policy Analyst
Briar's work focuses on identifying the policy and legislation needed to reduce carbon emissions from the waste sector. She researches and writes policy papers, while staying on top of the news, and what's happening in Parliament and select committees.
Briar's work contributes to New Zealand's efforts to mitigate climate change, which in turn will help lessen the impact of climate change like flooding and sea level rise.
“I'm working on building a low-emissions and low-waste society, to reduce the environmental consequences created by our current linear approach to resource use."
Industries like transport, energy, and agriculture, as well as climate change organisations benefit from Briar’s work.
Briar says the role of policy analyst is to present all the workable options to the political decision makers in what is a highly contentious area.
“We work as public servants because we care. We want to make this country better. I get to help ensure a full and balanced voice for the environment in facing the urgent challenge of climate change".
Brianna and JS - website domain specialists
Communications work is also widely misunderstood. Communications people are often mischaracterised as merely “spin doctors” out to frustrate the media.
The reality is that most communications work in the public service, health and local government involves keeping the public informed via websites and social media channels, publications, posters, newsletters and campaigns.
Brianna and JS help meet the public’s demand for information in their roles as domain specialists responsible for a website that is accessed 24/7.
Brianna says their work means people “don’t have to spend hours on a phone waiting to talk to someone” but can find out their entitlements quickly and easily online.
JS says criticism of communications work is short sighted.
“Our team is working to help people all the time, and if it suddenly ceased, how would people access the information they needed in a 24/7 format?"