Bob Edlin: What state services can learn from Fonterra......

What state services can learn from Fonterra: bigger isn’t always better and merging might not make us better off

Streamlining is one thing. Merging is another.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis drew attention to this when discussing the Government’s public-sector policy objectives yesterday:

Geoff Parker: When Did 'Consultation' Become 'Partnership'?

Lately I’ve noticed something creeping into the way government agencies talk — especially Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

An increasing number of projects now seem to involve “partnering with mana whenua. (Maori tribes)”

Not consulting. Not engaging. Just partnering.

That might sound like a small shift in language, but it’s doing a lot of heavy lifting.

Because here’s the simple question that doesn’t seem to get asked:

When did consultation become partnership?