Central
Government

Trusted partner of choice

Allen + Clarke has worked alongside almost every government agency in Aotearoa New Zealand and many at Commonwealth and State/Territory level in Australia. This experience makes us a trusted partner in conducting sensitive and strategic projects and for providing a steady hand to navigate success across priority programmes. We pride ourselves on producing reports and advice that enables agencies to provide free and frank recommendations to Ministers that support the Government's focus. 


  • Arrow exchange icon Manage change across agencies, programmes, and/or services while keeping your staff engaged and the public informed.
  • Thumbs up icon Provide assurance that you are meeting legislative and regulatory requirements along with Government priorities.
  • Three person team icon Enable your organisation to grow internal capability and lessen reliance on external contractors.
  • Folder icon Provide evidence-based recommendations to assist decision-makers, including Royal Commissions.
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4.5 / 5

Central Government client satisfaction rating

1066 projects

77%

Are repeat clients

Capabilities

Risk Management

Ensuring risks are identified and planned for through research and review.

Operating Models

Designing new models with proven management methods to maximise your organisation’s impact and efficiency.

Strategic Plans

Defining your organisation’s goals and objectives though planning in-line with Government focus.

Mixed-methods Evaluation

Providing independent, evidence-backed assessment of outcomes and return on investment.

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People

The People who make it happen

Jacqui Haggland
Senior Consultant
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Anton Davis
Director Consulting (NZ)
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Craig Griffiths
Innovation + Engagement Lead
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Jason Carpenter
Director Business Development (NZ)
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Jeremy Markham
Senior Consultant
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Matt Allen
Chief Executive Officer
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Ned Hardie-Boys
Senior Consultant
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Sean Stack
Senior Consultant
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Stephanie James
Senior Consultant
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Stuart Beresford
Senior Consultant
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The team... at Allen + Clarke were knowledgeable, flexible and above all enthusiastic to be involved in our project... We are extremely happy with the final output having achieved a far superior document than we could have hoped for.

Manager

Waka Kotahi

Very high quality work, project management, communication and engagement.

Principal Advisor

Health New Zealand

Find out how we can help you,
Book a Discovery Session

Get clarity on your challenge with our free one-hour discovery session - no obligation, just practical insights on how we can help.

Understand your Treaty obligations

Fostering meaningful partnership from the beginning: we work with central government to understand obligations under Te Tiriti, plan and conduct engagement with Māori and design services that drive impact for whānau. We ensure that partnership with Māori is planned at the beginning of a process, and achievable within the timeframe and budget on the project. 

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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What differentiates your approach to government projects from other consultancies?

Our point of difference is combining deep public sector understanding with practical implementation expertise. Unlike firms that deliver theoretical frameworks, we focus on creating solutions that work in real-world government contexts with practical tools your team can actually use. 

How do you ensure continuity if key team members change during a project?

We take a team approach to projects meaning that if one individual is unavailable the rest of the team are able to step up to deliver. In addition, we have robust knowledge management practices such as maintaining documents and internal knowledge sharing. If staff changes do occur, we manage this carefully with no cost or detriment to clients or the overall project. 

Can you work alongside our team rather than taking over a project completely?

Absolutely - we work in partnership with your team regardless of the project scope or management. Many of our projects involve Allen + Clarke people working alongside or as part of your internal team. 

How do you handle potential conflicts of interest with other government clients?

We have robust conflict management policies and processes. These include transparent disclosure of potential conflicts and establishing appropriate information management practices when needed. We discuss potential conflicts openly during project initiation and agree management strategies with our clients. 

What reporting mechanisms do you use to keep project sponsors informed?

Our project planning approach typically includes establishing clear governance and reporting processes from the beginning. This typically includes regular status updates, milestone reporting, and executive dashboards. Our approach emphasises no surprises, with early and transparent flagging of emerging issues. 

How do you manage sensitive stakeholder relationships during government projects?

At the beginning of a project, we will identify key stakeholders, relationship sensitivities, and develop an appropriate engagement plan. We have found that communicating a clear plan with stakeholders up-front, and being genuine in how they will be engaged and how their feedback has been taken on board is the best approach. Our team has experience in managing complex stakeholder dynamics, including navigating agency relationships and ministerial relationships.