Statement of Intent
The Statement of Intent sets out the overall strategic focus for the Ministry and the outcomes to which the Ministry will contribute over the next three to five years. This Statement of Intent represents an initial step towards effective outcome-based management of our work programmes and is part of an ongoing and evolving strategic framework for our business. The adoption of an outcome-based approach will progressively shift the management focus from what we are doing to the impact our activities are having on the current and potential well-being of New Zealanders. MAF welcomes the opportunity to define its portfolio of responsibilities in a manner that provides a clear focus on results and allows its effectiveness to be measured.
Over the forthcoming year we will consolidate this initial work and refine our outcome framework by:
- Identifying what our unique contribution is and should be.
- Identifying key capability issues so that we can effectively meet future needs and demands.
- Developing evaluation methods and measures (including the management of risk) to assess progress in achieving the desired outcomes.
- Modifying the outcome framework to reflect our evolving understanding of its application.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
MAF has a very broad span of interests and responsibilities. They encompass providing leadership and direction for the agricultural, horticultural, forestry and food sectors (including international trade issues) ; as well as leadership, policy advice, and service delivery to the biosecurity, food safety, animal welfare, rural affairs and forestry programmes.
MAF's roles are to:
- Provide policy advice on the trading environment, sustainable resource use, rural affairs and the regulation of product safety, biosecurity and related matters.
- Administer the regulation of product safety, biosecurity and related matters, plus forestry legislation.
- Be New Zealand s competent authority for sanitary and phytosanitary ( SPS) purposes.
- Provide inspection and testing services where government needs to be the provider.
More specifically:
- We provide the Government, rural sectors and interested parties with information, analysis and advice on agricultural, horticultural, forestry, food safety and biosecurity issues.
- We work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) to help win and maintain access to overseas markets for New Zealand products. We make a significant contribution to the thinking behind the country's representation in international organisations such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the OECD and contribute significantly to the international rules set to cover health 1 in trade.
- We set the rules that ensure New Zealand s food products are safe to eat, so that overseas and domestic consumers can choose New Zealand food with confidence. We protect New Zealand s productive and indigenous flora and fauna from unwanted pests and diseases. We work to minimise the number of foreign pests and diseases entering our borders and, if they do, we either eradicate them or minimise the damage they may cause.
- We manage Government-owned forests.
- We support rural communities with initiatives such as co-ordinating drought relief and addressing infrastructure issues. We advise on and administer the rules that ensure that animals are treated humanely.
These roles have been assigned to us over the years, not necessarily with a single coherent plan or vision in mind for the organisation. The development of this Statement of Intent is aimed at providing a framework within which MAF's work can be directed towards ensuring that New Zealand's primary sectors make the best possible contribution to the nation's well-being.
Contact for Enquiries
Strategy and Performance Group
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: +64 4 894 0100
Fax: +64 4 894 0738
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