A think tank's warning the way we appoint public agency leaders is hindering the Government from governing.  

The New Zealand Initiative says consecutive governments struggling to fulfil their promises is due to elected ministers being unable to choose a department's chief executive. 

Executive Director Oliver Hartwich says the Public Service Commissioner makes the appointment, which can happen before a minister is elected.  

He told Ryan Bridge that ministers may be forced to work with department heads appointed during the previous government's term, who may not be happy with you and vice versa, and that doesn’t work well to implement the Government’s agenda.  

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