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Ongoing restraint in the public sector and a focus on better frontline services has seen a further reduction in the number of core Government employees, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

The June 2015 update of the Core Government Administration shows 35,632 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff, a reduction of 474 from December 2014. This latest result is 843 under the cap set by the Government in 2012, and the lowest since it was introduced. 

The first meeting of the Pay Equity Working Group is an important milestone in the work to deal with equal pay claims, Ministers Paula Bennett and Michael Woodhouse say.

Ministers announced the formation of the Group in October to develop principles for dealing with claims of pay equity under the Equal Pay Act.

“Pay equity is a serious issue, and I am very pleased that representatives of employers, unions and Government agencies are getting together to discuss how progress can be made,” State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

State Services Minister Paula Bennett is in Finland and Sweden this week to attend meetings with Ministerial counterparts and present New Zealand’s perspective on providing better public services.

Mrs Bennett will deliver one of the keynote addresses at the OECD Public Governance Ministerial meeting in Helsinki, Finland.

Employers and unions have agreed to a Government proposal to set up a Joint Working Group to develop principles for dealing with claims of pay equity under the Equal Pay Act.

Minister of State Services Paula Bennett and Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Michael Woodhouse say the group will recommend agreed principles on pay equity that could be applied in all sectors of the economy.

The Inquiry report into Phillip John Smith / Traynor’s escape is being released alongside the Government’s response to its findings, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

A Government Inquiry was launched in December 2014, following Mr Smith / Traynor’s abscondment while on temporary release from prison.

“I am confident that this review provides information needed by agencies to assist with their response to vulnerabilities identified through Mr Smith / Traynor’s departure from New Zealand,” says Mrs Bennett.

The Productivity Commission’s latest report on social services in New Zealand will be a valued input into the Government’s ongoing programme of public sector reform, Finance Minister Bill English and State Services Minister Paula Bennett say.

The Commission found there are significant opportunities to improve the support given to the most vulnerable New Zealanders.

“The Government agrees with the Commission’s analysis of the weakness in our current social delivery systems,” Mr English says.

Putting citizens at the centre of policy and using information to deliver results will be key themes of a Trans-Tasman conference on Government, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

Mrs Bennett travels to Melbourne today to attend The Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) Annual Conference, where she will be a keynote speaker.

“I’m pleased to have the opportunity to offer New Zealand’s perspective on the Conference’s theme of Government engagement with the public in the information age,” says Mrs Bennett.

Greater collaboration and strategic thinking by the public sector is delivering real benefits for the public, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

Close to 400 public servants from across New Zealand attended the 2015 Deloitte Fujitsu Public Service Excellence Awards in Wellington last night.

“I was thrilled to be able to celebrate with all the winners, and recognise the talented and hard-working New Zealanders who have dedicated themselves to providing outstanding public services for their communities,” Mrs Bennett says.

More young people are achieving higher qualifications, welfare dependency continues to fall and Kiwis are doing more of their government transactions digitally, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and State Services Minister Paula Bennett say.

The Government today published the latest update of progress against the ten challenging targets set three years ago by the Prime Minister.

Strategic thinking about property needs for Government agencies in Wellington will deliver savings for taxpayers, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Property Management Centre of Expertise (PMCoE) today moves into the second phase of the Wellington Accommodation Project – Tranche Two (WAP2).

“WAP2 outlines a plan to optimise leased office space in Wellington so that agencies can continue to deliver outstanding public services and save taxpayer dollars,” Mrs Bennett says.

The Government Inquiry into the escape of Phillip John Smith / Traynor has been extended by two months, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

“When the inquiry was announced in November 2014 I made it clear the six month period proposed for its completion might be extended because it is important New Zealanders get answers to the many questions around the escape,” Mrs Bennett says.

The latest public sector staff capping report shows the Government’s commitment to providing better front-line services and keeping back-office numbers down is paying off, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

“Across the board, the Government has set out a plan for a public service that puts New Zealanders first, ensuring taxpayers’ dollars are being spent on services that deliver real results for those most in need.

Coordination between agencies has seen the Crown continue to reduce its property footprint and pay less for office space, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Property Management Centre of Expertise (PMCoE) today released the fourth Crown Office Estate Report showing the Government is making good progress creating more effective, flexible and agile workplaces.

State Services Minister Paula Bennett leaves today to represent the Government at World War One commemorations being held at sites significant to New Zealand on the Western Front in France.

“Our two nations share a special bond because of the immense sacrifice our troops made so far from their home and loved ones,” says Mrs Bennett.

“It’s an honour to make this journey and pay tribute to the memories of the brave men and women who gave their lives for their nation.”

The Government is continuing to back the recovery of central Christchurch, with about 350 public servants to relocate into a major new development, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and State Services Minister Paula Bennett have announced.

A new 8500 square metre office building to be constructed on the corner of Hereford Street and Cambridge Terrace – the site of the former central police station – will be tenanted by staff from the Ministry of Education, Housing New Zealand Corporation and the Ministry of Health.

Good morning. It’s great to be here to talk to you all.

I know your days are busy and it feels like we are all working harder than ever before. So thank you for taking time to come along.

We are all in our jobs for the same reason – to make a difference for New Zealanders.

Whether that’s developing new policies, implementing services, writing new legislation, working on the frontline.

We are all here to serve New Zealanders.  And I think we can do a better job than we are now if we are prepared to do things differently.

The Government has set itself ambitious new targets including 75,000 fewer New Zealanders being on benefits by June 2018 as part of its Better Public Services drive, Finance Minister Bill English and State Services Minister Paula Bennett say.

State Services Minister Paula Bennett is calling on Government agencies to put forward their nominations for the Deloitte Fujitsu Public Sector Excellence Awards 2015.   

The awards, organised by the Institute of Public Administration New Zealand (IPANZ), recognise outstanding achievements and innovations by organisations and teams across the public sector.