It is important that the Public Service reflects and understands the communities it serves.

Workforce Data and Te Taunaki Public Service Census data provides important insights into the current makeup and composition of the Public Service. As at 30 June 2025, Māori public servants make up 16.6% of the Public Service workforce, and continue at higher levels compared to the overall New Zealand working-age population (15.3% in the year to June 2025). Te Taunaki, the Public Service Census, found that Māori public servants are affiliated to over 160 different iwi, with many having whakapapa to multiple iwi.

Workforce Data — Ethnicity in the Public Service

Public Service Census — Māori Crown

The 2025 Workforce data also showed that 15.4% of Public Service leaders identified as Māori (this group is made up of our secretaries, chief executives, the Public Service Commissioner and Deputy Public Service Commissioners), and 17.3% of all senior managers (tiers 1 to 3) which is up from 12.4% in 2020.

Public Service Act 2020

The Public Service Act 2020 (the Act) section 14 explicitly recognises the role of the Public Service to support the Crown in its relationships with Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi | the Treaty of Waitangi. To this end, the new Act includes provisions that put explicit responsibilities on the Public Service Commissioner, when developing and implementing the public service leadership strategy, to recognise the aims, aspirations and employment requirements of Māori, and the need for greater involvement of Māori in the Public Service.

The new Act also carries over the current requirements on Public Service employers to operate an employment policy that recognises the aims, aspirations and employment requirements of Māori, and the need for greater involvement of Māori in the Public Service.

Māori Emerging Leaders Programme

This programme is for emerging Māori leaders from across the Public Service who are wanting to grow and develop their skills and confidence to move into leadership and governance roles. Each cohort is made up of 30 rangatahi Māori who are supported through a series of wānanga around New Zealand and mentored by a senior Public Service leader. Learn more on the Leadership Development Centre's website.

Māori Emerging Leaders

Ngā Ara Whakatupuranga 
New Frontiers programme

Ngā Ara Whakatupuranga is led by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) in partnership with Te Puni Kōkiri and Te Kawa Mataaho as a pathway for NZDF Māori leaders into the Public Service. 

New Frontier for Māori leadership in the public service — Te Puni Kōkiri

Kia Toipoto — Public Service Pay Gaps Action Plan 2021–24

Kia Toipoto builds on the Public Service Pay Gap Action Plan 2018–20 and will help agencies and entities to close pay gaps with specific actions to address workplace drivers of gender, Māori, Pacific, Asian and ethnic pay gaps. Guidance includes actions for agencies to measure and analyse Māori representation data and use existing guidance to begin to address Māori pay gaps in Public Service agencies.

Kia Toipoto — Public Service Pay Gaps Action Plan 2021–24