National vows to halt growth in bureaucracy

The National Party has pledged to halt growth in core bureaucracy during its first term if it is elected to Government.

Leader John Key has revealed the party's state sector policy in a speech to the National Press Club in Wellington.

Mr Key told the audience the fastest growing sector since 2000 has been government administration, with the number of public servants increasing from more than 26,000 to 36,000.

John Key says it is time to stop the growth in bureaucracy experienced under the Labour Government over the past eight years, and a cap on the number of public servants will save $500m.

However he says National will not reduce the number of front line staff, and promised the numbers of doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers and police will grow.