Chris

HIPKINS

Education Spokesperson

19 August 2013 MEDIA STATEMENT
No excuses for Novopay nightmare

Tomorrow marks the first birthday of National’s Novopay system, but you won’t find teachers and school staff celebrating, says Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins.

“Teachers and schools have had to endure a full year of muddled pay cheques and the patience Novopay Minister Steven Joyce has asked for is wearing thin.

“This afternoon Steven Joyce released screeds of data in an attempt to explain the on-going underperformance of the payroll system.

“Downplaying the severity of the situation will be cold comfort for the 100 staff, from 76 schools, who are still dealing with Novopay’s botch ups.

“Whatever ‘progress’ Mr Joyce’s data represents, it is no consolation for teachers tired of triple-checking their own pay cheques, leave balances and entitlements to sick pay.

“Novopay has severely eroded schools’ trust in the Minister and the Ministry of Education. The fact is Labour would have never let this pay system go live.

“National signed Novopay off despite known and on-going errors. It was a bad decision made worse by a hasty implementation that left the Government little option but to drag teachers and school staff along to ride out the difficulties.

“With the total bill for the payroll system now well in excess of $14 million, Steven Joyce needs to do more than issue another status update.

“Teachers and taxpayers deserve some firm deadlines from the Government.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media