The functions of government departments are under a continual process of review. Crown entities are organisations or offices listed in the Fourth Schedule of the Public Finance Act 1989. There are around 3,000 Crown entities, including school and reserve boards.
Crown entities are diverse in their functions, size and structure.
They include organisations such as the Human Rights Commission, the Land Transport Safety Authority, the ACC and Crown Research Institutes. They are required under statute to operate as successful businesses and to be as profitable and efficient as comparable businesses in the private sector. The Government's interest in SOEs is substantially in their ownership, and it may purchase services from SOEs, but generally will do so on the same basis as other purchasers. The function of the Audit Office is to act as a monitor on behalf of Parliament and to control issues of money out of the Crown Bank Account. The Audit Office audits the financial statements of government departments, local authorities, and most government-controlled corporations, boards and companies.