Colinxy: Who Actually Governs NZ?

A Genealogy of Bureaucratic Power in a Country That Pretends Ministers Are in Charge

Every few years, New Zealanders rediscover the same uncomfortable truth: the people they elect do not actually run the country. Ministers announce, promise, and posture. Bureaucrats decide, delay, and deny. The public service is the permanent government; ministers are the temporary decoration.

David Lillis: Holding Chief Executives and Boards to Account

An Article in Stuff

An article in Stuff of 4 September makes compelling reading (Penfold, 2026). So, one Chief Executive has gone, following a suspension. I will refrain from comment here, as I know former and/or current staff at the relevant place of work and I must be discreet. Simply, the public should note that an investigation will examine allegations of bullying, sexual and other harassment and retaliation; a culture of fear and retribution that suppressed staff from raising concerns; the handling of complaints; confidentiality and privacy practices; the use of non-disclosure agreements; and the adequacy of oversight of board and management.

Yvonne Van Dongen: Introducing The Clap-O-Meter

An unscientific gauge of public opinion at campaign meetings

After Quilae Wong was enthusiastically clapped at the Opportunity Party gathering for dismissing my concerns about women’s sex-based rights, I realised that spontaneous clapping was as good a gauge as any of audience sentiment - although in my case, it was the equivalent of being booed. Rude.

Since I plan to attend more random political party campaign meetings I decided to largely ignore what the aspirants say (it’s all hot air until they’re in power anyway) and listen for the claps. If nothing else, it would tell me something about the audience and their concerns.

Mike's Minute: There are no punishments if you work in the public service

For those who don’t work in the public service, if you ever want a lesson into why it's completely different to the way the rest of us work, just look at yesterday's decision by the Privileges Committee when it came to Alison McDonald and Nic Blakeley and their misleading of ministers and an IT project at immigration.

They deliberately misled MPs. That's what the committee found.

David Lillis: Are Public Service Whistleblowers Safe from Retribution?

Punishment for Speaking Out

The Hāpai Public Newsletter of 25 August discusses the very real dangers of whistleblowing in New Zealand’s public service (Hāpai Public, 2026). The newsletter quotes research from the Office of the Ombudsman, showing that of public servants who made a protected disclosure, 40% claimed to have been bullied or harassed, 29% claimed that they had lost their job, and about 20% claimed to have been demoted (Office of the Ombudsman, 2026).

Steven Gaskell: Public Service Expansion

Labour’s expansion of the public service between 2017 and 2023 saw the biggest staffing growth concentrated in a relatively small number of departments and administrative functions. According to figures from New Zealand’s Public Service Commission and reporting compiled from departmental data, the biggest increases came from:

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: AI is just a distraction in the public service discussion

I’ve got to tell you something – I’m embarrassed.

Watching this public debate about how many public servant jobs are going to be cut in order to make way for AI is just embarrassing.