The needs and wellbeing of New Zealanders are at the heart of the work we do. As the make-up of New Zealand changes, we will continue to evolve to make sure we meet customers’ needs, now and in the future.
Our transformed revenue system and organisation
Since 2017 Inland Revenue has transformed the way we deliver services by modernising the revenue system and making tax simpler, more open, and certain for our customers.
New Zealand now has a modern, digital, revenue system which reduces customer effort and cost, is more resilient, improves compliance levels, and enables policy changes to be made faster and more cost effectively. This was clearly demonstrated in the way we have been able to support the COVID-19 response.
A strong tax and social policy system will continue to support the recovery from COVID-19. We will contribute to Government’s priorities, including economic recovery and social wellbeing, by collecting and distributing money and making it easier for New Zealanders to receive the support they need. We are motivated by the knowledge that what we do is vital for the wellbeing of New Zealanders.
As part of our new operating model, we have also invested in our people so they are able and comfortable working digitally. We will continue to support the development of our people’s digital capability to support our new processes and ways of working.
With compliance at the heart of our work, our focus will continue to be on helping customers to get things right. This includes designing services around our different customer groups to meet their needs, as well as building in compliance checks right from the start. Our new digital and analytical capabilities enable us to work in increasingly targeted and effective ways to support compliance and maintain integrity and trust in the revenue system.
Building an effective Māori-Crown relationship
We are committed to meeting our Tiriti o Waitangi obligations as a government agency. Becoming a better partner in the Māori Crown relationship is being driven through our Māhutonga programme. This seeks to integrate Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori principles, concepts, and practices into the way we work.
A key component of this is delivering on Te Arawhiti’s Whāinga Amorangi expectations to transform Public Service leadership capability about Māori Crown relations. We will also build our people’s Tiriti o Waitangi, te reo Māori and tikanga Māori capability by developing an organisation-wide training programme, Te Arapiki.
Looking ahead
Working with our partners across government delivers better outcomes for New Zealanders and we will continue to collaborate to improve services. We will look to work with our partners to maximise the benefits of transformation, such as sharing our expertise.
By mid-2022 we will have delivered our transformation programme, and the final release will set us up to ensure benefits are fully realised for our customers and the Crown.
We are already seeing significant delivery of benefits and outcomes. We will continue to modernise the revenue system and look for further opportunities to leverage the significant investment made in our capabilities. This will support us in guiding our future direction, to deliver a world-class system for the benefit of all New Zealanders.
Chief Executive’s statement of responsibility
In signing this statement, I acknowledge that I am responsible for the information contained in the Statement of Intent for Inland Revenue. This information has been prepared in accordance with the Public Finance Act 1989.
Naomi Ferguson
Commissioner and Chief Executive