Latest news with #PublicServiceCommissioner
Scoop
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Have Your Say On The Public Service Amendment Bill
Press Release: Governance and Administration Committee The Governance and Administration Committee is seeking public submissions on the Public Service Amendment Bill. The Bill includes provisions relating to: the purpose and role of the public service responsibilities of public service chief executives performance review and conduct oversight functions of the Public Service Commissioner long-term planning and continuity requirements for public service agencies Tell the Governance and Administration Committee what you think Make a submission on the bill by midnight on 31 August 2025. For more details about the bill:
RNZ News
24-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Secondary teachers union rejects one of lowest pay offers ever
Photo: 123RF The secondary teachers union has rejected a pay offer of 1 percent a year for three years. RNZ understands it is one of the lowest offers ever made to secondary teachers. The offer to members of the Post Primary Teachers Association amounts to a three percent pay rise over three years. That is well below the 14.5 percent over three years won through arbitration in 2023 and the average 10 percent over three years the union's members grudgingly accepted in 2019. Both of those settlements also included lump sum payments. The government's offer this year also sought to increase the number of days outside term time that schools can require teachers to come to work from 10 to 20 each year. The Public Service Commissioner, Sir Brian Roche, was overseeing this year's negotiations. In May he announced he would retain the responsibility usually delegated to the Education Ministry. "My rationale for this decision is influenced by the wider objective of overseeing collective bargaining and managing fiscal pressures across the public sector," he said at the time. Sir Brian was disappointed the PPTA had rejected the pay offer and urged the union to reconsider. He said the offer was carefully crafted to recognise the contribution teachers make while ensuring it was affordable for taxpayers in a difficult economic times. "The offer on the table represented a 3 percent increase over three years, on top of annual pay progression of between 4.5 percent and 7.5 percent," he said. "For many secondary teachers, this equates to pay increases between $3100 and $8000 a year, with regular annual progression included. Over three years the offer provides increases of between $1850 to $3123, or between $7275 and $15250 with annual pay progression. "The economic environment and the government's fiscal position are very difficult. Every additional dollar spent must be weighed against what is sustainable and fair to all New Zealanders. "I am open to continued dialogue and am committed to reaching a settlement that supports teachers, students, and our public school system." Post Primary Teachers Association President Chris Abercrombie, told Morning Report , he believed teachers deserved an agreement that reflected their skills. "We've got immense change in our sector right now and we need a qualified suitable workforce to implement that change." Abercrombie said it had been 30 years since they had seen this happen. Education Minister Erica Stanford said she was disappointed the offer was not put to members. Education Minister Erica Stanford on a school visit in May. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown "I was surprised that the offer wasn't put to their members. That was disappointing ... it wasn't unexpected because they don't often make that first offer available to their members. I thought it was a reasonable offer. It should have been put to the members, and it was disappointing that it wasn't." She said it was not unusual for the Public Service Commissioner to be involved in negotiations, and entirely appropriate. "The education team at the moment, as you know, are undertaking an enormous reform package that is bigger than anything we've seen in a long time, and we are focused on that, and having the Public Service Commissioner do the bargaining means that we are free to continue to undertake our huge reform package, and he's the right man for the job. "It was just a discussion that we all had: who is best for doing the job, given the amount of work we've got underway at the moment." She said provisional figures showed the largest increase in teacher numbers in 20 years. "We've had 27 percent increase in those who are training at initial teacher education this year, last year, it was 6 percent ... we are world leading in our reforms and if you take a look at the numbers in terms of retention it shows you that yes some people are moving to Australia but not on the numbers that people are saying." The Educational Institute Te Riu Roa (NZEI) started negotiation of the primary teachers collective agreement last month. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
24-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Secondary teachers union rejects one of lowest pay offer ever
Photo: 123RF The secondary teachers union has rejected a pay offer of 1 percent a year for three years. RNZ understands it is one of the lowest offers ever made to secondary teachers. The offer to members of the Post Primary Teachers Association amounts to a three percent pay rise over three years. That is well below the 14.5 percent over three years won through arbitration in 2023 and the average 10 percent over three years the union's members grudgingly accepted in 2019. Both of those settlements also included lump sum payments. The government's offer this year also sought to increase the number of days outside term time that schools can require teachers to come to work from 10 to 20 each year. The Public Service Commissioner, Sir Brian Roche, was overseeing this year's negotiations. In May he announced he would retain the responsibility usually delegated to the Education Ministry. "My rationale for this decision is influenced by the wider objective of overseeing collective bargaining and managing fiscal pressures across the public sector," he said at the time. Sir Brian was disappointed the PPTA had rejected the pay offer and urged the union to reconsider. He said the offer was carefully crafted to recognise the contribution teachers make while ensuring it was affordable for taxpayers in a difficult economic times. "The offer on the table represented a 3 percent increase over three years, on top of annual pay progression of between 4.5 percent and 7.5 percent," he said. "For many secondary teachers, this equates to pay increases between $3100 and $8000 a year, with regular annual progression included. Over three years the offer provides increases of between $1850 to $3123, or between $7275 and $15250 with annual pay progression. "The economic environment and the government's fiscal position are very difficult. Every additional dollar spent must be weighed against what is sustainable and fair to all New Zealanders. "I am open to continued dialogue and am committed to reaching a settlement that supports teachers, students, and our public school system." Post Primary Teachers Association President Chris Abercrombie, told Morning Report , he believed teachers deserved an agreement that reflected their skills. "We've got immense change in our sector right now and we need a qualified suitable workforce to implement that change." Abercrombie said it had been 30 years since they had seen this happen. Education Minister Erica Stanford said she was disappointed the offer was not put to members. Education Minister Erica Stanford on a school visit in May. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown "I was surprised that the offer wasn't put to their members. That was disappointing ... it wasn't unexpected because they don't often make that first offer available to their members. I thought it was a reasonable offer. It should have been put to the members, and it was disappointing that it wasn't." She said it was not unusual for the Public Service Commissioner to be involved in negotiations, and entirely appropriate. "The education team at the moment, as you know, are undertaking an enormous reform package that is bigger than anything we've seen in a long time, and we are focused on that, and having the Public Service Commissioner do the bargaining means that we are free to continue to undertake our huge reform package, and he's the right man for the job. "It was just a discussion that we all had: who is best for doing the job, given the amount of work we've got underway at the moment." She said provisional figures showed the largest increase in teacher numbers in 20 years. "We've had 27 percent increase in those who are training at initial teacher education this year, last year, it was 6 percent ... we are world leading in our reforms and if you take a look at the numbers in terms of retention it shows you that yes some people are moving to Australia but not on the numbers that people are saying." The Educational Institute Te Riu Roa (NZEI) started negotiation of the primary teachers collective agreement last month. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
23-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Secondary teachers union rejects lowest pay offer ever
Photo: 123RF The secondary teachers union has rejected a pay offer of one percent a year for three years. RNZ understands it is one of the lowest offers ever made to secondary teachers. The offer to members of the Post Primary Teachers Association amounts to a three percent pay rise over three years. That is well below the 14.5 percent over three years won through arbitration in 2023 and the average 10 percent over three years the union's members grudgingly accepted in 2019. Both of those settlements also included lump sum payments. The government's offer this year also sought to increase the number of days outside term time that schools can require teachers to come to work from 10 to 20 each year. The Public Service Commissioner, Sir Brian Roche, was overseeing this year's negotiations. In May he announced he would retain the responsibility usually delegated to the Education Ministry. "My rationale for this decision is influenced by the wider objective of overseeing collective bargaining and managing fiscal pressures across the public sector," he said at the time. Sir Brian was disappointed the PPTA had rejected the pay offer and urged the union to reconsider. He said the offer was carefully crafted to recognise the contribution teachers make while ensuring it was affordable for taxpayers in a difficult economic times. "The offer on the table represented a 3 percent increase over three years, on top of annual pay progression of between 4.5 percent and 7.5 percent," he said. "For many secondary teachers, this equates to pay increases between $3100 and $8000 a year, with regular annual progression included. Over three years the offer provides increases of between $1850 to $3123, or between $7275 and $15250 with annual pay progression. "The economic environment and the government's fiscal position are very difficult. Every additional dollar spent must be weighed against what is sustainable and fair to all New Zealanders. "I am open to continued dialogue and am committed to reaching a settlement that supports teachers, students, and our public school system." The Educational Institute Te Riu Roa (NZEI) started negotiation of the primary teachers collective agreement last month.
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Crackdown on public service leaks is leaked to RNZ
Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche's warning against leaks of information has been leaked. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER A crackdown on public servants leaking information has been revealed in an email leaked to RNZ. RNZ has seen a copy of the email sent by a department head to staff outlining Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche's warning against leaks of information. "He is reminding us all of our responsibility as public servants and that leaking information goes against the core values of the Public Service and must stop. "If individuals within our employment feel strongly on issues, there are mechanisms they can use but leaking of information isn't one of them," the message said. It urged staff who had concerns to take their worries to their boss, or someone they trusted. "If you have a concern about any work you are part of, or aware of something that is causing you concerns, please talk to your manager or someone within the ministry that you feel comfortable providing you with sound advice." Sir Brian confirmed to RNZ he was aiming to put a stop to leaks, and in some cases public servants should be fired for doing so. "I expect public service chief executives to take every possible action to ensure any leak is investigated and where appropriate those responsible are exited from our employment," he said. "Public servants who leak information are undermining the government of the day and are in breach of the code of conduct. We all ultimately pay the price for the unprofessional actions of a few. "This matter is really important to me." The Commissioner's email was sent at 11.35am on 22 May, just hours after an RNZ report about a confidential pre-Budget decision seen by RNZ was halted by court injunction at the government's request just last week. Other recent cases include documents seen by RNZ this month suggesting the government would shut down the $118 million Kāhui Ako programme; more than 100 pages of internal feedback in February over health data team cuts; leaks in December of a report from the Interislanders ferries advisory group ; and leaks relating to the Treaty Principles Bill in September. Green Party public service spokesperson Francisco Hernandez said it was a symptom of a public service that was seeing its advice and evidence ignored "in favour of evidence produced by the private sector and by the tobacco lobby" . "I don't condone it, but I understand ... they're like 'well, if they're going to do this, if they're going to punch down on us, then what recourse do we have other than to actually go to the fourth estate'. "When you ignore principles for good decision making, when you kind of rush through urgency, that leaves officials feeling frustrated and sidelined and obviously leaks aren't good but they are a manifestation of a deeper and unhealthy culture and contempt for democracy that this coalition has nurtured." He said the relationship between the coalition government and the public service was mixed, and pointed to reporting on two Official Information Act responses on the same matter as an example of ministerial "interference" which could contribute. "If public servants are sort of seeing that the ministers are trying to censor advice it's natural for them to feel frustrated and it's natural for them to actually see their advice which is evidence based, try and see the light of day." RNZ has sought a response from the Public Service Minister Judith Collins. Hernandez said the commissioner was just doing his job, but there needed to be balance - that he should also be ensuring ministers respected the neutrality of the public service. Sir Brian also provided a copy of the email he had sent to public sector chief executives, which did not include the suggestion for staff to approach a manager over their concerns. It reads: Hi there, You will have seen the media reports on the various leaks that are occurring in the system. Clearly this is unacceptable and we have to take every action possible to stop it. The unauthorised release of information to third parties goes to the very heart of confidence and trust in our systems and us as public servants. We all ultimately pay the price for the unprofessional actions of a few. Can I please ask you to reinforce within your respective agencies that this behaviour goes against the core values of the Public Service and must stop. If individuals within our employment feel strongly on issues there are mechanisms they can use but leaking of information isn't one of them. Please reinforce the messages and take every action possible to ensure any leak is investigated and where appropriate those responsible are exited from our employment.
