Hononga taimahi Employment relations

On 7 August 2024 the Minister for the Public Service issued a Government Workforce Policy Statement (the Statement) setting out the Government's expectations of how it wants the Public Service and most other public sector agencies to effectively manage employment relations.

Government Workforce Policy Statement(PDF, 109 KB)

The Statement outlines expectations for an effective employment relations environment in the public sector that will support the delivery of high performing, trusted, and efficient public services.

This Statement covers a range of workforce matters including remuneration, negotiation of employment agreements, capacity and composition of the workforce, pay equity, diversity, data and information. It does not predetermine the outcome of bargaining with unions but should influence employers’ bargaining strategies and proposed settlements.

The Government expectations relate to four priority areas:

• Employment outcomes are fiscally sustainable and respond to the current fiscal context and any current budget advice.
• Employment conditions and remuneration settings support a high performing public sector and delivery of effective, efficient, and responsive services.
• A diverse and inclusive Public Service workforce that is responsive to the needs of all New Zealanders.
• Agencies manage their workforce size and composition, including to reduce expenditure on consultants and contractors.

Application of Government Workforce Policy Statement 2024(PDF, 74 KB)

The Public Service Commissioner (Commissioner) is responsible for the negotiation of collective agreements, and pay equity claims in the Public Service. In practice the powers and functions associated with these roles are delegated to Public Service chief executives.

The Commissioner’s delegations to Public Service chief executives has been updated through a single delegation instrument for the functions and powers in respect of these two responsibilities.

Departments Workforce expectations and Delegations letter - Agency year 2024(PDF, 229 KB)

Pay equity Te utu ōrite

The Commissioner’s bargaining delegations instrument also delegates the Commissioner’s functions and powers to deal with pay equity claims subject to certain conditions. Agencies are to deal with pay equity claims in accordance with the Equal Pay Act 1972, Government policy and expectations (including the Statement), and within any guidelines and parameters which the Government may set from time to time. This includes any guidance set by the Commission or any guidance on the fiscal management of remuneration, bargaining or pay equity costs set by The Treasury.

If agencies have questions about pay equity claims, you can direct the question to:

• your usual employment relations contact at the Public Service Commission for bargaining matters, if your agency bargains under delegation from the Commissioner or refer to resources at Pay equity - Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
• your agency’s Treasury Vote Analyst for any Budget related questions (if relevant)
• Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Home | Employment New Zealand website for a link to the Equal Pay Act 1972 and for guidance and information on the provisions of the Act or Contact us | Employment New Zealand

The Commission reports quarterly on wage movements across the public sector and Public Service, as measured by the Labour Cost Index (LCI). 

Information on the Employment Relations Act 2000 and related legislation and on minimum employment rights in New Zealand can be accessed through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Employment New Zealand website. The site contains useful guides to key employment processes, including collective and individual bargaining and minimum holiday and other leave entitlements. This site also has a link to the employment law database where copies of decisions of the Employment Relations Authority and the Employment Court can be accessed.

Home — Employment New Zealand

Find the Employment Relations Act 2000 and all other New Zealand statutes on the New Zealand Legislation website.

Home — New Zealand Legislation

The Public Service Act 2020 requires the chief executive of each department and the board of each interdepartmental venture put in place a process for reviewing appointments within their agency that are the subject of a complaint by an employee.

Guidelines for public service agencies conducting a review of appointments(PDF, 243 KB)