SPECIFIC CRITERIA

Improving Public Value through Business Transformation
The extent to which the project or organisation:

• has actively investigated different, creative ways of thinking about the way in which it delivers its services or carries out its business
• implements innovative ways of carrying out some aspect(s) of its business
• is ultimately employing innovative methods to deliver better services to New Zealanders at a significantly lower cost

Working Together for Better Services
The extent that the project or organisation:

• demonstrates the development of joint outcomes and other shared accountabilities across clusters of agencies
• enhances government's engagement with communities and citizens to better understand a complex problem
• demonstrates the redesign and delivery of accessible and responsive services for the diversity of ethnic and social groups in our communities
• delivers tangible benefits to New Zealand and New Zealanders

Crown - Māori Relationships

Excellence will be demonstrated through an example of a good relationship between an organisation and a specific Māori group, or with respect to the organisation's relationships with Māori generally, in terms of:

• commitment to the relationship with Māori, undertaken in good faith and with good intent
• generating a high degree of trust and goodwill from Māori toward the organisation
• achieving a reciprocal relationship, with each party seeking to understand the viewpoint, circumstances, capability and operating environment of the other, and an ability to compromise when required
• employing staff with the requisite experience, skill and empathy to work with the organisation's Māori stakeholders, and encouraging staff in their responsiveness to Māori
• evaluating the organisation's performance in its relationships with Māori and providing an avenue for disagreement and complaint.

Networked Government
The extent that the project or organisation:

• demonstrates the smart and cost-effective use of networks and information and communication technology to achieve government outcomes
• demonstrates improvement in the integration of information, service delivery and government processes across agencies to ensure that the organisation is responsive, and citizen-centric
• demonstrates the principle of 'no wrong door' - that is any New Zealander accessing government services will be referred appropriately to the organisation best able to address their concerns
• demonstrates access to service anywhere, anytime and any channel.

Public Sector Communications

The Excellence in Public Sector Communications recognises the design and delivery of innovative public sector communications strategies that have significantly increased public awareness of a government objective. This may be a public information campaign, a public engagement strategy, or the communication of a specific initiative, change of policy, legislation or regulation, and may be in a variety of mediums.
Criteria: The extent to which the strategy and/or campaign demonstrates that the entry:

• has clearly defined objectives and measurable outcomes
• is based on sound rationale and clearly linked to organisational objectives
• uses innovative and relevant methods to communicate to the target audience
• achieved its stated objectives/outcomes

Improving Performance through Leadership Excellence

The extent that the intervention, led by the human resources/organisation development group in partnership with line management, demonstrates some/all of the following:

• adjusting human resource strategies to respond to changing needs
• identifying critical human resource metrics and using these to inform decision-making
• identifying new business strategies
• understanding/addressing the talent needs of the organisation
• identifying issues before they affect the organisation
• developing the next generation of leaders
• demonstrating how the human resources/organisational development group can best support organisational performance
• actively supporting senior managers in some/all of the above points

Prime Minister's Award for Public Sector Excellence
The Prime Minister's Award winner will be selected from the winners of the Awards above. This Award will recognise:

• outstanding achievement in the project nominated
• a sustained commitment to excellence
• vision, innovation and results in public sector management
• continuous improvement in services to New Zealanders.