On-Demand Learning | Self-Paced Course
Most organisations need to engage with government at some point: a policy change that affects a sector, new legislation that affects how an organisation operates, or a select committee inquiry. PR and communications professionals are often involved in navigating these situations, but strong communication skills alone may not be enough without an understanding of how government decisions are made, and when.
In-House addresses this knowledge gap by exploring how New Zealand’s system of government works: how ministers set their agendas, how officials develop policy, what really happens in the lead-up to a Cabinet decision, and how a bill moves through Parliament. Along the way, you’ll learn how to present your case in language officials, ministers and MPs can act on, and when to engage to achieve the greatest impact.
The course is non-partisan and doesn’t teach shortcuts or ways around the system. As former Attorney-General Chris Finlayson KC puts it, In-House “encourages organisations to engage with government on substance, not just connections”.
This is an eight-session, on-demand course developed and delivered by Civicsquare in partnership with PRINZ, providing practical insights into government processes, policy development and effective engagement with decision-makers for PRINZ members and the wider communications community.
The course is suitable for all career levels and ideal for:
- Communications and PR practitioners working in organisations that engage with government
- Organisations that want to build internal government engagement capability
- Consultants who advise clients on engaging with government
- Practitioners new to government relations, and experienced communicators who want a solid grounding in how the system works
Session Overview
How New Zealand’s system of government works, including the separation of powers and the role of the public sector, and why successful engagement should start early.
How political advisers, coalition agreements, officials and outside events shape what reaches a minister, and the different routes to a minister.
How officials define problems, weigh options and use the Regulatory Impact Statement, and how to provide evidence that fits their analysis.
Cabinet conventions such as collective responsibility, what “it’s with Cabinet” really means, and what that means for timing.
The pre-Cabinet phase, including consultation with ministerial colleagues and coalition partners, and the roles of the Prime Minister’s Office and the Policy Advisory Group.
How government and members’ bills progress, how the ballot works, when conscience votes apply, and which stages of a bill are worth your attention.
What makes written and oral submissions effective, party dynamics, and the role of the Departmental Report.
An end-to-end view of the system, and how to build a flexible engagement plan.
Key Features
- On-demand: online, eight sessions, 14 hours in total. Start any time and learn at your own pace
- 12 months to complete the course, with reminder emails to keep you on track
- A certificate of completion once the course is finished
- Downloadable slides for every session
- Private questions: send questions to the facilitator as you go, and get an answer by email
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Explain how New Zealand’s system of government works, and why engaging early matters
- Identify the different routes for getting an issue in front of a minister
- Present evidence in a way that fits how officials analyse policy
- Understand how Cabinet works and what it means for the timing of their engagement
- Track a bill through the House, and know what to do when supporting or opposing it
- Prepare written and oral select committee submissions that MPs and officials engage with
- Build a flexible, end-to-end government engagement plan
Meet the Content Creator: Dr Ryan Malone
Dr Ryan Malone is a founder and director of Civicsquare, which provides training on government, policy and Parliament for people who work in government and those who engage with it from outside.
Ryan has long-standing expertise in New Zealand’s machinery of government, government decision-making and parliamentary process. He is the author of Rebalancing the Constitution: The Challenge of Government Law-Making under MMP and has worked at the Law Commission and the Cabinet Office in the Beehive.
