The crucial currency for critical thinking

Todd was tasked with managing New Zealand’s first-ever set of national targets and world-first tobacco control legislation and was suddenly drafting Cabinet papers and preparing legislation that would help reshape Aotearoa’s attitude towards smoking.

The legislation required workplaces to adopt smoke-free policies, and restrictions on advertising, sponsorship, and sales came into effect, all while a new agency was established.

“It was big social change—younger generations don’t realise you could actually smoke at your desk before then,” says Todd.

"All these changes required a huge amount of work— it was trial by fire.”

“I needed economics, law and political awareness that I didn’t have to work with ministers, Treasury and the Public Service Commission. The Master of Public Policy covers all these subjects, so I enrolled.”

Todd’s perspective shifted during his studies, and he became more aware of and interested in wider policy issues, beyond the health sector.

“Many sectors tend to have a dominant professional culture, but policy issues are often similar, so sectors can learn from each other. This is where the MPP skills are transferable,” he says.

“The degree draws on law, economics, and politics, meaning you can work across government. More recently for me it also means I can help people to engage with government if they don’t really know how things work.

“Knowledge from the MPP creates a bridge to encourage more consensus and collective action and is key to New Zealand’s future,” he says.

Completing a MPP opened a wider set of doors for Todd, including what became a career highlight for him—working in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) Policy Advisory Group.

“The DPMC is the only department that sits in the same building as the Minister. I went in as health advisor but also looked after biosecurity, customs, sport, and other areas.”

Over the years, the skills that he gained from the MPP have helped him work widely across public sector, traversing the Ministry for the Environment, Department of Labour (now Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment), and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

Todd now works at the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, independently reviewing the quality of policy advice in central and local government agencies.

“Having the MPP and having managed a few different policy shops has been important to be able to do this work with the care and credibility required. The quality of policy advice isn’t something you ‘fix’, it needs constant attention,” he says.

“There is no professional registration of policy analysts—no bar exam or trade certification. Professionally I say I am a policy analyst because of my experience and the MPP.”

Although Todd believes the core disciplines and processes in public policy remain the same as they were at the start of his career, he says “learning how to give second opinion advice and working with stakeholders is going to be even more important now, because policy analysis is being democratised”.

He also says the rise of AI will give you a very good first pass systematic options analysis and ministerial briefing in a millisecond and can also critique a policy paper instantly.

“This capability will improve but critical thinking skills and acquired wisdom will always remain the crucial currency,” says Todd.

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