Bureaucrats Paid around 30 Percent More Than Kiwis And Still Unhappy

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling out the public service after the release of the 2025 Public Service Census, which reveals widespread dissatisfaction among government workers, despite enjoying average salaries of $101,700 - around 30 percent more than the average Kiwi.

According to the census:

• Only 34 percent of public servants are satisfied with their pay
• Just 30 percent believe their pay reflects their performance
• Only 44 percent are confident that public servants get jobs based on merit

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:

“This is what life in the Wellington bubble looks like - being vastly overpaid and still complaining taxpayers aren’t giving you enough. Ordinary New Zealanders are battling the cost of living while the public service is bloated, overpaid, and still thinks it’s hard done by.”

“Add in the fact less than half believe their colleagues earned their jobs through merit and the Public Service Census should terrify anyone who believes in a capable, cost-effective public service. With still more than 15,000 extra bureaucrats since 2017, Ministers need to dig deep into this census and root out the hangers-on who don’t deserve their bloated salaries.”

“The public service exists to serve the public, not be a plush make-work scheme. Tying bureaucrats’ wages to their performance would finally deliver some value for money, and be a much-needed wake-up call for the Wellington blob.”