Public Engagement for New Zealand’s third National Action Plan: Key phases and activities
April 2018 – Launch
Minister launched the public engagement process during her speech at the public service Graduate Welcome Event.
May – July – Collaboration to Develop the Plan
Online – conversation and ideas generation (Delib tool). Themes and ideas available for all New Zealanders to view and comment and the synthesis was published for further discussion and feedback.
Workshops/Events – six public workshops held around the country, including one with high school students in Dunedin. Workshops attended by EAP (civil society representatives). 449 ideas grouped into 7 themes and 13 sub-themes by the EAP, working with officials. A synthesis workshop, attended by nominees from the public workshops, EAP, officials, external facilitator:
- considered the themes and ideas relevant to those themes refined the themes to 3 priority actions for inclusion in the plan (via a voting process)
- tested proposals from officials to deliver those actions, with consideration to building a credible OGP plan (including what could be improved and/or what was missing)
- agreed that HOW the commitments are implemented (for example, with respect for diversity) is important and this underpins NZ’s plan.
August – September – Finalise the Plan
On-line – draft actions published for further discussion and comment, Action Plan published, along with commentary on draft plan and all documents associated with producing the plan.
Workshops/Events – EAP and officials met to further refine the commitments and supporting initiatives against the OGP framework. Some proposals refined and some discarded. Cabinet considers draft actions and agrees on plan
Journey of an Idea
Ideas that turned into Commitments
“Civics education in school”
EAP and officials organise idea into theme and sub-theme:
Theme 1. All New Zealanders know how our democracy and system of government works and how they can participate; they are empowered to contribute to wider community life
Sub-theme 1a) Children and young people are empowered to contribute.
Idea considered at synthesis workshop as part of theme. Consolidated theme (All New Zealanders know how our democracy and system of government works) selected by workshop attendees as a priority action area for the plan.
Ministry of Education presented four proposals to deliver on action area. Workshop participants tested the proposals and refined them down to one (School Leaver’s Toolkit).
EAP worked with the officials to refine the proposal into a Commitment and Milestones.
Commitment 3: The School Leavers’ Toolkit – providing opportunities for young people to access civics education and financial literacy education and key workplace competencies.
“Algorithmic transparency (rules, calculations, AI, machine learning) need to be open and available for inspection and interrogation and justification”
EAP and officials organise idea into theme and sub-theme:
Theme 3: Increase government transparency / accountability. Sub-theme 3B: Publish algorithms to increase transparency / accountability.
Idea considered at synthesis workshop as part of theme. Consolidated theme (Increase government transparency and accountability) selected by workshop attendees as a priority action area for the plan.
Statistics New Zealand presented a proposal to review the use of algorithms across government to determine options to strengthen transparency. Participants were supportive of the initiative and noted that it would be important that this work consider the impact on children and youth.
EAP worked with the officials to refine the proposal into Commitment and Milestones.
Commitment 8: Review of government use of algorithms – initial review of existing operational algorithms and their use.
Idea that was tested and refined
“Create and spread a Gold standard Decision-maker Driven Engagement for NZ government that will have more impact because it involves the decision makers in the process; focus on issues the government want public input on; produces recommendations usable for politicians; and feedbacks the government response/action.”
EAP and officials organised idea into theme and sub-theme:
Theme 2. Government and New Zealanders work collaboratively to shape policy decisions and design of public services.
Sub-theme 2B: What should good engagement/consultation/co-design look like?
Idea considered at synthesis workshop as part of theme. Consolidated theme (Government and New Zealanders work collaboratively to shape policy decisions and design of Public Services) selected by workshop attendees as a priority action area for the plan.
Initiatives presented by DPMC included Public Sector engagement champions, guidance on the characteristics of good engagement, and a demonstration project.
Workshop participants tested the proposals, including whether they had enough stretch to be part of a credible plan.
EAP worked with the officials to refine the proposal into Commitment and Milestones.
COMMITMENT 5: Develop a deeper and more consistent understanding within the New Zealand public sector of what good engagement with the public means (right across the IAP2’s Public Participation Spectrum).
Idea that was not progressed
“Better media coverage of new and existing policies”
EAP and officials organised idea into theme:
Theme 6: Environment supports a free and independent media to increase transparency of Government decision-making.
Idea considered at workshop as part of theme.
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage advised participants that this theme will be progressed through the Advisory Group on Media Funding and outlined the ToR for the advisory group.
Workshop participants did not select this theme as a priority for the plan. However, participants noted that it would be useful to know how the Advisory Group’s work will be communicated.
The Advisory Group on Media Funding is referenced in the introduction to the action plan, rather than as a commitment.