NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER, Chris Hipkins has defended the increase in the number of Public Service communications staff, following attacks from the Opposition National Party.
Data compiled by National, and verified by Radio New Zealand, showed the number of communications staff in the core Public Service had risen to 532, spread over 31 Departments and Ministries.
This is an increase of 7.5 per cent on the previous year, and a 56.87 per cent increase since Labour took office.
Leader of the National Party, Christopher Luxon said the Government had become fixated on largesse, and had lost focus on getting things done.
National’s Public Service Spokesperson, Simeon Brown said the communication staff’s role was to "spin the Government's agenda", which Mr Hipkins (pictured) rejected.
The Prime Minister, who was Minister for the Public Service for the period covered in the report, said the number of staff working with the media had stayed "pretty much the same" since Labour became the Government.
“The growth had come in roles directly engaging with the public,” Mr Hipkins said.
"Citizens, members of the public, make much greater use of social media and online forums to interact with the Public Service. They want to know someone's on the other end, answering those questions they're posing."
National Secretary of the Public Service Association, Kerry Davies said National failed to understand the importance of the Government communicating with the public, and was undermining confidence in the Public Service.
"I don't think it's unreasonable to expect an increase in the numbers of people who are distributing information. What really concerns us is the language that's used to basically denigrate people who are doing what is really important work," Ms Davies said.
“These roles are critical in providing timely and factual information about people's entitlements, dealing with emergency situations, and broadcasting public health messages to a diverse audience, and in a digital age.”
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