The public service’s growth spurt – where it all went

The public service’s growth spurt – where it all went
MBIE went from fifth largest public service department to third. (Image: NZME)
Jem Traylen
The public service workforce has grown by about a third in the six years to June – roughly spanning the time the outgoing Labour government was in power.In June 2017, there was the full-time equivalent (FTE) of about 47,000 public servants – in the following six years, an additional 16,000, or 34%, were added.There’s been population growth and covid, but those factors alone don’t explain the current size of the public service, which is proportionately bigger than the last time Labour left office, although Labour can fair...

More Policy

The cost of over-regulated banking: $10b to $14.4b a year
Finance

The cost of over-regulated banking: $10b to $14.4b a year

Critics claim a huge annual cost from 30 years of regulatory creep.

Pattrick Smellie 16 Apr 2025
Fast-track panels not out of blocks yet
Policy

Fast-track panels not out of blocks yet

The first three projects to go through the process are still waiting on panels.

Oliver Lewis 10 Apr 2025
Airfare reporting not ready for takeoff
Policy

Airfare reporting not ready for takeoff

Airport group says transparency measure should have a chilling effect on fares.

Oliver Lewis 09 Apr 2025
'The Great Privatisation': a NZ perspective
Economy

'The Great Privatisation': a NZ perspective

KPMG partner sees value in considering asset recycling to fund new infrastructure.

Oliver Lewis 09 Apr 2025