Ah well, Westerly - maybe you should do your homework before you spread cheap Labour propaganda and untruths to discredit other peoples posts. Shame on you.
The 2008 HCRS counts 45934 public servants - check here:
www.ssc.govt.nz/media-hrcs-2008
The 2011 HCRS counts 43595 public servants - check here:
http://www.ssc.govt.nz/hrc-survey-2011 and
the 2014 survey lists 45280 employees, check here:
http://www.ssc.govt.nz/sites/all/fil...-report-14.pdf
In my books 45280 (in June 2014) are less than 45934 (in June 2008). Just enlighten us - what is the "Labour" correction factor to make it look different?
Couple of additional points ...
The number of policemen (and women) on the road, the number of teachers and the number of health staff grew since National took office. Still - they are less public servants than in 2008, but more than in 2011 - but I wouldn't call the increase bureaucrats. Much more useful than the clowns Helen Clark pulled as senior policy analysts into her bureaucratic waterhead.
The NZ population grew since National took office (I am not saying that this was National's achievement :)). This means that even if the number of state employees would have grown (it did not, as even cursory research shows) it would not mean that the ratio worsened.
Now Westerly - here is your opportunity to show whether you are a remote controlled Labour propaganda robot, or whether you are still able to think and act by yourself (even if it looks like you need a bit of help to do so). How about an apology for unjustified discreditation of a fellow poster and a bit of praise for the National government :p?