Public Administration

You’ll develop the cultural awareness and critical thinking skills you need to analyze and produce a broad range of discourse in a full spectrum of careers — and to make a difference in whatever you do.

Overview

Public Administration at Auckland Royal Academy prepares graduates for leadership and management roles within New Zealand's public sector — central government ministries, local authorities, state-owned enterprises, and Crown entities — as well as in the non-profit and international development organisations that complement government's work. The programme covers public management theory, public finance, policy analysis, regulatory practice, public law, and the ethics of public service.

The programme is enriched by New Zealand's accessible and innovative public sector, with guest lectures from senior public servants, ministers' advisers, and regulators from across Wellington's policy community. Research projects examine the design and performance of New Zealand government programmes — from ACC to Kāinga Ora, from the Inland Revenue transformation to the COVID-19 response — developing your ability to evaluate public administration practice with critical and constructive rigour.

Career Opportunities

Public Administration graduates enter the New Zealand public service through graduate recruitment programmes at Treasury, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Department of Internal Affairs, and many other agencies. Local government, Parliamentary Services, and the Office of the Auditor-General also provide career pathways, and many graduates progress to senior leadership positions that shape the design and delivery of services for all New Zealanders.

Program Learning Outcomes

Apply public management theory, organisational behaviour principles, and change management frameworks to analyse and improve the performance of public sector organisations in New Zealand's Westminster-derived governance system.

Conduct policy analysis using cost-benefit analysis, regulatory impact assessment, and evidence synthesis methods, producing professional policy documents that meet the analytical standards expected by New Zealand central government agencies.

Demonstrate understanding of New Zealand's constitutional arrangements — including Cabinet government, the role of Parliament, the Treaty of Waitangi, and the administrative law framework — and apply this knowledge to ensure lawful, ethical, and accountable public administration.

Programme

Semester 1	Credits	Number
Introduction to Public Administration	4	PUBA 101
Foundations & Theory	4	PUBA 110
Research Methods	3	PUBA 120

Semester 2	Credits	Number
Applied Public Administration I	4	PUBA 201
Professional Practice	3	PUBA 210
Industry Context NZ	4	PUBA 220

Semester 3	Credits	Number
Applied Public Administration II	4	PUBA 301
Critical Perspectives	3	PUBA 310
Ethics & Standards	3	PUBA 320

Semester 4	Credits	Number
Advanced Public Administration	4	PUBA 401
Specialisation Elective	3	PUBA 410
Public Administration Capstone Project	4	PUBA 490
Total for the entire period of study	11