The Public Service Amendment Bill was introduced in July 2025. It proposes to (among other things):

• Change the purpose section of the Act to remove references to supporting future governments, pursuing the long-term interest and facilitating active citizenship
• Remove many of the requirements for public service chief executives and the Public Service Commissioner to promote diversity and inclusion in the public service
• Change the ‘good employer’ obligations in the Act to remove references to pay equity and reducing bias and discrimination
• Removes reappointments for CEs, meaning they need to go through a contestable application process for each term
• Gives the Public Service Commissioner more oversight and influence over matters of performance, integrity and conduct, and appointments to key positions in the public service
• Gives public service chief executives the ability to delegate their functions or powers to contractors or employees of contracted providers.

Submissions are open on the Bill until 11.59pm on Sunday, 31 August 2025 on the Parliament website.

The PSA’s submission

The PSA will be making a submission on the Bill, with involvement from our elected Public Service, State Sector and Te Whatu Ora sector committees. Our submission is likely to cover the following points, among other things:

• We oppose the removal of pay equity and diversity and inclusion requirements.
• We oppose the removal of changing the purpose section to remove the long-term public interest, supporting both current and future governments, and facilitating active citizenship
• We oppose public service chief executives having the ability to delegate their functions or powers to the private sector.

Our submission will be available here on the PSA website once it’s been submitted.

If you have any feedback you’d like to share about the Bill you can send it to andrew.mccauley@psa.org.nz by Monday 25 August.

Delegate committee submissions

National delegate committees are welcome to make their own submissions.  

If your delegate team is interested in making a submission on the Bill please send your draft to andrew.mccauley@psa.org.nz by Monday 25 August so we can review it to ensure it’s consistent with PSA policy before it’s submitted.
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Individual submissions

Individuals can make submissions on the Bill. If you’re unsure about how you can engage in political activity through making a submission without compromising your employer’s political neutrality obligations, check out Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission’s guidance on Political neutrality for public servants as individuals - Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission.

More information

Read our press release on the bill: Public Service Act changes ending long term planning, diversity and inclusion and pay equity

Read the bill on the Parliament website: Public Service Amendment Bill 190-1 (2025), Government Bill Contents – New Zealand Legislation

Submissions can be made on the Parliament website at: Public Service Amendment Bill - New Zealand Parliament

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