Open AccessWaiting for the next wave: trajectories, narratives and conveying the state of public sector reform
Author(s) -
Evert A. Lindquist
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
policy quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2324-1101
pISSN - 2324-1098
DOI - 10.26686/pq.v5i1.4284
Subject(s) - public sector , politics , public administration , government (linguistics) , state (computer science) , political science , democracy , reputation , new public management , political economy , sociology , law , philosophy , linguistics , algorithm , computer science
With the adoption of the State Sector Act in 1988, the New Zealand public sector revolution was in full motion. The Act was one of many initiatives that provided a new framework for government and managing public services (Boston et al., 1996; Scott, 2001). New Zealand rapidly became the poster child for what became known as the New Public Management, and an archetype scrutinised around the world. The audacity and intellectual coherence of the New Zealand model became a standard against which the progress of other governments was judged. These reforms were part of a larger social and economic transformation which led to dislocation and democratic reform. In the crucible of introducing and implementing these reforms, and in the inevitable re-adjustment phases, New Zealand gained a reputation for continuous reflection on its progress by its political leaders, government officials and a small band of impressive academics.