The administration of the New Zealand Royal Honours System, including the institution and conferring of honours, decorations and medals by Her Majesty The Queen, is undertaken by the Honours Secretariat in the Cabinet Office. The Policy Advisors are each responsible for providing advice on issues of the day directly to the Prime Minister and to other Ministers. A part of their job is to co-ordinate the advice coming in from different government departments, so that the Prime Minister is given advice of a coherent and impartial nature. These are usually of a political, economic, strategic or biographical nature. They draw on a wide range of New Zealand and foreign sourced information, both classified and public.
Reports range from basic research to immediate assessments on developing crises.
Corporate Services Corporate Services co-ordinates the production of the Corporate Plan, Annual Report, Purchase Agreement and the Departmental Forecast Report and other reporting requirements under the Public Finance Act 1989, and the State Sector Act 1989. It negotiates and administers contracts for employment, co-ordinates the selection and appointment of new staff, maintains personal files, leave records and develops and implements human resource policies. Corporate Services also supply accounting services, financial reporting, payroll services and travel arrangements. The Unit plays a significant role in information systems management, planning, development and support to the whole department. A range of administrative and support services including messengers are provided within Corporate Services and to other areas of the department.