New Zealand News

NZ’s Public Service ranks first among most trusted in the world

Eliza Sayon Jan 27, 2022

2 min read

New Zealand’s public service has once again been ranked first, along with Denmark and Finland, in the recently released 2021 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index.

The Index, which measures how corrupt a country’s public sector and judiciary is perceived to be, is the most widely used indicator of corruption worldwide.

It was shown that New Zealand had ranked high once again in being the least corrupt, following the country’s consistency in being the first or second in the Index over the past decade.

“The integrity of the New Zealand Public Service and the judiciary has again kept us at the top of the Corruption Perceptions Index. This is a formidable achievement,” Transparency International New Zealand Chief Executive Julie Haggie said.

“New Zealand has an enviable international reputation for its neutral, trusted Public Service,” Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes said.

“To be named among the best in the world is a huge vote of trust and confidence in our Public Service.”

The latest Te Kawa Mataaho Kiwis Count quarterly survey asked New Zealanders about their views and experiences on the services they have received and their trust in the public and private sectors.

The survey found 81 per cent of New Zealanders trust public services based on their personal experience, while trust in the brand itself sits at 62 per cent – compared to 49 per cent in the private sector.

These numbers are slightly down from the previous quarter, but there has been a long-term gradual upward trend in public trust over time. In 2012, the survey found 72 per cent of New Zealanders trusted public services based on experience, while 41 per cent trusted in the brand.

“International rankings and our own research show that trust and confidence of New Zealanders in our Public Service are important to effectively operate in our communities. In COVID times, this is, even more, the case,” Commissioner Hughes said.

“Public servants work every day delivering vital services and work hard to earn the trust and confidence of New Zealanders. These results are a reflection of their hard work and integrity.”

Te Taunaki, the inaugural 2021 Public Service Census, gave insights into the perceptions and motivations of public servants.

It showed that 78 per cent of public servants have a high degree of trust in their colleagues to do what’s right – and that 84 per cent of participants were motivated to stay working because their work contributes positively to society.

“The challenge now is to maintain our excellent reputation,” Commissioner Hughes said.

“We will continue to work hard to do that.”

Transparency International published its Corruption Perceptions Index on 25 January 2022.

The Kiwis Count Survey is conducted via an online panel. The latest survey was conducted in December 2021.

Te Taunaki represents the views and experiences of about 40,000 public servants. New Zealand’s first Public Service Census took place in May and June 2021, with results published on Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission’s website.

Source: New Zealand Public Service Commission

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.