2 J  uly 2021

Mr Kieran McLean
[FYI request #15368 email]

Dear Mr Kieran McLean

Official Information Request
Our Ref: OIA2021-0043
I refer to your official information request received on 5 May 2021 for:
“copies of any correspondence sent to public sector agencies regarding the public sector pay
freeze announcement of 5 May 2021. I am solely requesting any information sent prior to the
announcement”.

On 1 June 2021 we wrote to notify you of an extension of the time to make our decision, to 2 July
2021. The extension was necessary because your request captures a large quantity of information
and consultation with a number of parties was needed to make a decision on your request, therefore
a proper response could not reasonably meet the original time limit.
Information being released

On 5 May 2021 the Minister for the Public Service issued a Government Workforce Policy
Statement (Workforce Policy) setting out the Government's expectations of how it wants the Public
Service and most other public sector agencies to effectively manage employment relations.
The Workforce Policy sets out the Government’s expectation that the Public Service is an exemplar
employer, one which uses modern, progressive employment practices, and is a great place to work.
It also wants a productive unified workforce which is grounded in the spirit of service.
To achieve these goals, the Workforce Policy has four key workforce priorities:
•  Employ people fairly, equitably and in a way that al ows them to live good lives and
participate in the economy.
•  Work col aboratively with unions and other groups to achieve shared goals.
•  Create an inclusive environment for al  workers with the aim of achieving a diverse workforce.
•  Achieve the goals within the fiscal context of the Government.
The final priority is particularly important in the COVID-19 environment and the public sector needs
to be mindful of the fiscal context the Government is operating in.
With these fiscal conditions continuing, the Government has been clear that pay restraint needs to
continue to be exercised across the Public Service for the foreseeable future.
To help agencies to give effect to the Government’s expectation of pay restraint, the Public Service
Commissioner issued Public Service Pay Guidance to Public Service agencies on how he expects they
Level 10, RBNZ Building |   2 The Terrace | PO Box 329
Wel ington 6140 | New Zealand
Phone +64 4 495 6600

wil  approach these matters. He has asked other public sector organisations to take the same
approach.
Please find enclosed the documents listed in the table below, which is the correspondence the Public
Service Commissioner sent to Public Service Chief Executives, relating to the Government Workforce
Policy Statement announcements made by the Minister for the Public Service on the 5 May 2021.
All of the attachments that were sent with these documents are publicly available on the Te Kawa
Mataaho Public Service Commission’s website. Therefore, we have listed in the table the documents
that were included as attachments and provided you with the website link to where they are located.
Item
Date
Document Description
Decision
1
30 April 2021
Email  from the Public Service Commissioner to the  Released in part
Public Service Leadership Team
Subject: Government workforce policy statement and
pay guidance announcement
2
30 April 2021
Attachment: Government workforce policy statement  Publicly available here.
on the Government expectations for employment
relations in the public sector
3
30 April 2021
Attachment: Public Service Pay Guidance 2021
Publicly available here.
4
30 April 2021
Attachment: Communications for Departmental Released in full
Secretaries
5
4 May 2021
Email from the Public Service Commissioner to the  Released in part
Public Service Leadership Team
Subject: [IN-CONFIDENCE] RE: Government workforce
policy statement and pay guidance announcement
6
4 May 2021
Public Service Pay Guidance 2021
Publicly available here.
We have decided to release the documents listed above, subject to information being withheld under
section 9(2)(a) of the Official Information Act 1982, to protect the privacy of natural persons, including
deceased people.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
[email address].
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz  or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Please note that we intend to publish this letter (with your personal details removed) and enclosed
documents on the Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission’s website.
Yours sincerely
Nicky Dirks
Manager – Ministerial and Executive Services
Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission

Document Outline