A new survey has found that New Zealanders trust their Public Service more than ever after their experience in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The latest Kiwis Count Survey, released by Te Kawa Mataaho, the Public Service Commission, reveals that 69 per cent of New Zealanders trust the Public Service, up from 51 per cent in the previous year and the highest result since the survey began in 2007.
The result was welcomed by the country’s main Public Service union, the Public Service Association (PSA).
“New Zealand’s Public Servants deserve to feel proud. They are the least corrupt and most resilient Government workforce on the planet, and their fellow citizens place well-deserved faith in them,” National Secretary of the PSA, Kerry Davies said.
“You learn who your friends are during a crisis, and 2020 taught us all how much we rely on well-funded, well-organised public and community services,” she said.
Ms Davies said the people of New Zealand had been protected from the pandemic by border workers, health workers and many other Public Servants all over the country.
The Kiwis Count Survey has consistently revealed very high levels of public approval for their interactions with Local Councils and Government Agencies.
“Whether applying for a passport, filing a personal tax return or visiting the public library, New Zealanders are overwhelmingly satisfied with the service they receive,” she said.
“Public Servants are sometimes unfairly attacked by unscrupulous employers or cynical politicians, so it’s great to see a vote of confidence from the people who really matter.”
Ms Davies said New Zealanders did not want their public services cut or their public assets privatised; they trusted their Public Servants to get on with the job and help the country thrive.
Wellington, 23 February 2021
