The novopay debacle has astounded me on a number of levels, one that the employees continue to put up with it and the incompetence of the ministry in dealing with it.
If there is one thing that gets people angry, it's when you have issues around money especially when it is no fault of your own, money is the energy our lives run on, lack of it impacts across so many facets of our day to day lives. Typical of government departments they lack the nous to survive in the real world and believe everything they are told.
At the first hint of trouble the minister should have stepped up to the plate, advised talent 2 to pay all employees an average of their last three pays and continue to do so until all else resolved 100% right 100% of the time. Thus the supplier faces the hit, the inconvenience the penalties and the problems not the poor long suffering teachers.
But what beggars belief is the fact that the ministry advised they would not be paying for the extra hours expended by staff attempted to resolve the problem. Read ‘oops we never even considered there would be problems and didn't even factor such a contingency into the contract and guess what we really don't give a toss.'
As for the banks there will be Christmas bonuses all round profits will be through the roof with bank fees for insufficient funds, stopped cheques and thousands of automatic payments and direct debits defaulting.
The ongoing effect will impact everybody's credit rating as much of the banks processes are software driven - have you given that some thought your credit standing destroyed overnight.
My solution: class action for liquidated damages against the ministry that will focus their attention. Consider this, why the employee should be inconvenienced for the department's incompetence put the problem and onus where it belongs. Find a QC, spread the word. I'm completely serious.

Paul Evans-McLeod, Tauranga.