Business of Government: Brian Roche and strikes, policy, the ‘C’ word and more

The welcome mat is not out for Christopher Luxon. (Image: NZME)

Wed, 29 Oct 2025

Standing firmPublic Service Commissioner Brian Roche is unapologetic for taking a central role in state sector pay bargaining, saying he was instructed to by the Cabinet and that it was once commonplace.Roche has faced accusations that his direct interventions and public statements relating to last week’s mega-strikes by the public education and health workforces were politicising his role.“Going back in time, the SSC (State Services Commission) was actively involved in the industrial settlements, and I'm back in an age of Doug...

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