Managing in a changeable operating environment

To fulfil our purpose, LINZ has adopted effective management and governance processes. We work to an outcomes framework, which establishes:

• what we want to achieve (see the outcomes outlined in the Strategic Direction section)
• the business activities and initiatives that will contribute to these results (as detailed in the Operating Intentions section), and
• the type of capability required to deliver those services now and in the future (see the Assessing Organisational Health and Capability section).

Demonstrating our progress towards outcomes

Understanding the impact of our activities and seeking to improve our performance are the hallmarks of managing for outcomes. For that reason, more emphasis will be placed on measuring costeffectiveness.

During 2008/09, LINZ will continue to:

• develop methods to better measure effectiveness
• put into place projects that will identify ways to achieve long-term public value, a workstream that will progress further over time, and
• monitor our ongoing capability requirements to support our future ownership demands.

Audit committee

LINZ's audit committee is an important mechanism for the Chief Executive to ensure effective control arrangements are in place and assurance activities are rightly focused. Made up of a majority of members who are independent of LINZ, the committee is chaired by an independent non-executive member. The members collectively demonstrate expertise in governance, public sector management, risk management disciplines, internal controls and assurance frameworks, and technology and financial matters.

The audit committee independently reviews, monitors and reports to the Chief Executive on the attainment of effective control systems and financial reporting processes. In particular, it focuses on risk management, the internal control environment, the assurance function, legislative compliance, and internal reporting. It also oversees external audits.

Managing for sustainability

In 2005, LINZ joined the Govt³ initiative, run by the Ministry for the Environment. As part of this, LINZ agreed to move towards sustainable practices in four main areas:

• buildings
• transport
• office consumables, and
• equipment and recycling/waste minisation.

This initiative contributes to the Government's goal that the core Public Service moves towards carbon neutrality by 2012. To achieve that target, LINZ is moving towards the milestones set out in our Govt3 action plan and carbon emissions reduction plan. These milestones include:

• implementing practices to reduce waste to landfill, working towards zero waste
• producing a workplace travel plan to reduce kilometres travelled
• re-drafting our print strategy to reduce demand for copier/printer paper
• introducing more sustainable paper sources to LINZ, and
• implementing practices to reduce energy usage.

This section also includes:

• The key risks LINZ faces