December 24th, 2024
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has launched a comprehensive plan aimed at propelling New Zealand forward through nine ambitious Government Targets. These targets span crucial areas including health, education, law and order, employment, housing, and environmental sustainability, with the overarching aim of significantly improving the lives of New Zealanders.
Zoom in: Luxon's strategy revolves around three central pledges to the nation – revitalising the economy, reinstating law and order, and enhancing public services. Despite acknowledging the progress made, Luxon admitted the nation faces substantial hurdles, necessitating a renewed focus on achieving tangible outcomes in critical public sectors.
What they're saying: "Our Government is bringing back public service targets, to focus our public sector on driving better results for New Zealanders," stated Luxon. He highlighted the challenges ahead but maintained a firm commitment to tackling issues such as crime reduction, healthcare wait times, and educational attainment head-on.
Details: The nine targets to be met by 2030 include:
Health: 95% of emergency department patients to be processed within six hours; 95% of individuals to wait less than four months for elective treatments.
Law and Order: A 15% reduction in child and youth offending; 20,000 fewer people falling victim to violent crimes.
Employment: A decrease of 50,000 people on the Jobseeker Support Benefit.
Education: 80% of students to have over 90% term attendance; 80% of Year 8 students to reach expected curriculum levels in reading, writing, and maths.
Housing: A 75% reduction in households in emergency housing.
Environment: Meeting net zero climate change targets with specific emissions caps set for 2022-2025 and 2026-2030.
Between the lines: The initiative marks a distinct shift from previous administrations, emphasizing accountability and value for taxpayer money. Luxon critiqued past approaches where increased spending failed to yield improved public service outcomes, advocating for a focus on delivery and innovative problem-solving within the public sector.
What's next: The targets will be monitored by designated lead ministers and public service agency chief executives, supported by cross-government collaboration. Public progress reports are scheduled to commence in mid-2024, with quarterly updates to ensure transparency and accountability.
The bottom line: "The targets are deliberately ambitious – they will be challenging and require the public sector to think differently," Luxon concluded, signaling a determined push towards addressing New Zealand's most pressing challenges through strategic, outcome-focused governance.