Public servants assess value of their work for taxpayers

Thousands of public servants in New Zealand participated in the 2025 Public Service Census. The survey aimed to find ways to cut costs across government agencies. It focused on various topics such as workload, the use of te reo Māori, and artificial intelligence tools. Public Service Minister Judith Collins stressed the importance of providing value for taxpayers. She emphasized that civil servants should respect the contributions made by taxpayers. The census ran until March 21 and sought feedback from employees about their work roles. Participants were asked if they worked directly with clients and about their workload. They also indicated whether they used flexible working arrangements. Additionally, the survey explored how often public servants utilized te reo Māori and AI tools in their jobs. Civil servants rated their managers on how much they cared about delivering good value for taxpayers. They used a scale that varied from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree." Employees were also asked to express if they believed their work provided value for taxpayers and the importance of careful spending of taxpayer money by their agencies.