New Zealand Legislation: Acts

56 General principles

• (1) The chief executive of a department must—

  • (a) operate a personnel policy that complies with the principle of being a good employer; and

  • (b) make that policy (including the equal employment opportunities programme) available to its employees; and

  • (c) ensure its compliance with that policy (including its equal employment opportunities programme) and report in its annual report on the extent of its compliance.

  (2) For the purposes of this section, a good employer is an employer who operates a personnel policy containing provisions generally accepted as necessary for the fair and proper treatment of employees in all aspects of their employment, including provisions requiring—

  • (a) good and safe working conditions; and

  • (b) an equal employment opportunities programme; and

  • (c) the impartial selection of suitably qualified persons for appointment; and

  • (d) recognition of—

    • (i) the aims and aspirations of the Maori people; and

    • (ii) the employment requirements of the Maori people; and

    • (iii) the need for greater involvement of the Maori people in the Public Service; and

  • (e) opportunities for the enhancement of the abilities of individual employees; and

  • (f) recognition of the aims and aspirations and employment requirements, and the cultural differences, of ethnic or minority groups; and

  • (g) recognition of the employment requirements of women; and

  • (h) recognition of the employment requirements of persons with disabilities.

  (3) In addition to the requirements, specified in subsections (1) and (2), each chief executive shall ensure that all employees maintain proper standards of integrity, conduct, and concern for the public interest.

  (4) [Repealed]

  Section 56(1): substituted, on 25 January 2005, by section 10(1) of the State Sector Amendment Act (No 2) 2004 (2004 No 114).

  Section 56(2)(f): substituted, on 25 January 2005, by section 10(2) of the State Sector Amendment Act (No 2) 2004 (2004 No 114).

  Section 56(4): repealed, on 25 January 2005, by section 19(2) of the State Sector Amendment Act (No 2) 2004 (2004 No 114).