All Talk, No Action: Willis Fails to Tackle Bloated Public Sector Wage Bill

The Taxpayers’ Union is challenging Nicola Willis to stick to her promise and rein in the public sector wage bill after Public Sector Commission figures reveal that public sector workers were almost twice as likely to receive a salary increase as those in the private sector in the first quarter of 2025.

"Nicola Willis promised to get the public sector wage bill under control, but the data shows that she has failed to do so," said Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf.

“In just three months, 20 percent of public sector workers received a pay rise, compared to only 11 percent in the private sector. Why do bureaucrats keep getting pay hikes when taxpayers aren’t seeing the same?”

“With the average bureaucrat’s salary now topping $101,000 and continuing to climb, the trend is clear: public sector spending remains out of control.”

"Willis’ promise to curb public sector wage inflation is looking more like a broken vow. With one in five public sector workers getting a pay rise in just the last quarter, it’s clear this government is not taking control of spending."

"New Zealanders deserve a government that keeps its promises and manages taxpayers’ money responsibly. It's time for Nicola Willis to take action, slash the bureaucratic wage bill, and stop making empty promises."