Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader

20 February 2014

Inquiry Into Public Service Long Overdue

A complete review of New Zealand’s public service is long overdue, says New Zealand First.

Rt Hon Winston Peters says New Zealand First has consistently alerted New Zealanders to the way the public service has been undermined and degraded, and backs former prime minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer’s call for an overhaul.

“The National Government’s agenda has been to reduce the public service to courtiers whose role is to make the minister look good.

“They have no interest in maintaining or building the capacity of the public service, on the contrary, it has cut budgets in a crude and ill-informed way, such as in conservation.

“An efficient public service is fundamental to democracy,” says Mr Peters.

Sir Geoffrey has called for an inquiry, saying the quality of the public service has declined, morale is low and the legislation has become complicated and incoherent.

ENDS

© Scoop Media