Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Ministry of Works and Development
open-in-new
<p>The <a href="/facts/New_Zealand/4mpSlJdg">New Zealand</a> Ministry of Works and Development, formerly the Department of Public Works and often referred to as the Public Works Department or PWD, was founded in 1871 and disestablished and sold off in 1988. The Ministry had its own <a href="/facts/New_Zealand_Cabinet/T2Mu41eT">Cabinet</a>-level responsible minister, the <a href="/facts/Minister_of_Works_(New_Zealand)/tLPEQvv6">Minister of Works</a> or Minister of Public Works. </p><p>Historically, the state has played an important part in developing the New Zealand economy. For many years the Public Works Department (which became the Ministry of Works in 1948 and the Ministry of Works and Development in 1974) undertook most major construction work in New Zealand, including roads, railways and power stations. After the reform of the state sector, beginning in 1984, the ministry disappeared and its remnants now have to compete for government work. </p><p>The Ministry of Works and Development was disestablished in 1988 and a Residual Management Unit continued to oversee the Ministry's operations and assets until formally ending in 1993. It was abolished via the Ministry of Works and Development Abolition Act 1988. </p>