Live: Public Service Commissioner says public sector bosses have 'bought into' job cuts plan

Thursday, 21 May 2026

The prime minister said the public service was 'built for 1996 not 2026'.

What you need to know

Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche says chief executives “have bought” into the Government’s plan to reduce the size of the public service from 1.2% of the population to 1%.
The use of AI and the merging of some ministries is expected to save $2.4 billion over four years. Here’s what ministers think the robots do.
The Public Service Association described the move as “an act of wilful destruction,” and the mood in Wellington was bleak.
The plan again raised the issue of government spending and revenue (some in Australia consider NZ “a tax haven”). With a debt-to-GDP ratio of 41.8%, Stuff took a look at whether we really have a problem.

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