Public Service principles
New Zealand’s Public Service principles are central to the way we deliver services and outcomes for New Zealanders. They help to preserve public trust and confidence in our ability to serve current and future governments.
The 2025 Public Service Census measured perceptions of the principles outlined in the Public Service Act 2020. We found that nearly all public servants (95%) felt they had a good understanding of what it means to be a politically neutral public servant. Most people said it was important to them that their organisation is open and transparent with the public (91%). Most believed their organisation is working for the long-term good of New Zealand (87%), which is a measure of stewardship.
Two principles had lower agreement levels. Though 44% of public servants felt confident that people in their organisation get jobs based on merit, 30% disagreed or strongly disagreed, and a further 26% neither agreed nor disagreed. Of the people who were directly involved in preparing advice for ministers, 71% agreed or strongly agreed that their organisation is free and frank in their advice to ministers.
Find more information about the principles on our website.
Public Service principles: What are they and why do they matter?
Involved in providing ministerial advice
Integrity culture
In the 2025 Public Service Census, we found that about 3 in 4 public servants believed the culture in their organisation supported people to act with integrity (74%). Even more felt their own manager led by example in ethical behaviour (83%).
There was an increase in the proportion of staff who felt they could trust their colleagues to do what was right, with 82% agreeing or strongly agreeing compared to 78% in our 2021 Public Service Census.
Most people (90%) said they knew what to do if they experienced or witnessed wrongdoing or inappropriate behaviour, but fewer (70%) said they felt safe to speak up about those issues.
Find more information about integrity and conduct in the Public Service on our website.
Respectful workplace
In the Public Service Census 2025, we found that 8 in 10 public servants (80%) felt they could be themselves at work, this was down slightly from the 2021 result (82%), but higher than the 76% of the New Zealand populace who felt they could be themselves in the latest General Social Survey 2023.
Most people (73%) felt that their organisation supported and promoted a workplace where people could be respectful towards each other. A similar question was asked in 2021 about whether participants felt their agency supports and actively promotes an inclusive workplace. Because the question changed, results between years should be compared with caution.
Most public servants felt accepted as a valued member of the team (79%) which is unchanged from 2021.
Learn more about the General Social Survey on the StatsNZ website.