Andrew Urquhart is joined by John Peachy from Think Farm to discuss whether New Zealand's public servants, unlike elected politicians, are held to account for poor decisions and misuse of taxpayer money. They contrast the New Zealand system, where senior civil servants often remain in place regardless of which government is elected, with the American model, where leadership changes wholesale alongside a new administration.

Peachy argues this creates a risk of "ideological capture," where officials pursue their own agendas rather than faithfully carrying out the policies of the elected government, citing Fire and Emergency New Zealand's referral to the Serious Fraud Office and the tragic case of a 12-year-old girl who died in Oranga Tamariki's care as examples of failures in character and accountability. He warns that while gaps in competence can be forgiven, gaps in character and a lack of genuine accountability cannot, and calls for public service leaders to face real consequences, including resignation or dismissal, when outcomes fail New Zealanders (thinkfarm.org).

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