Novopay 'fiasco' still not over, says Labour

The Labour Party is once again calling out the Government over Novopay, following news the Ministry of Education is considering debt collectors to recover millions of dollars in Novopay overpayments.

The opposition party says the news shows the 'fiasco' isn't over, and after three years the problems with the company are still not fixed.

"Novopay has been a fiasco from day one," says Labour's Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins.

"It never should've been given the go ahead and three years later school staff and teachers continue to suffer the consequences of that botched decision," he says.

"Steven Joyce was sent in to fix the problems, yet many teachers and school staff still can't get accurate information about what they've been paid, how much they owe or are owed, and how much leave they have accrued," Hipkins explains.

"Nobody I've spoken to thinks people who owe money should keep it forever, but in many cases who owes who and how much is hotly contested.

Hipkins says some of the people overpaid in one pay were underpaid in another. "The whole thing has been a shambles," he states.

"In other cases people were completely unaware they had been overpaid and spent the money in good faith. They never should've been put in that position.

Hipkins says that despite all the 'smooth talk' from Steven Joyce, schools still suffer under Novopay on a weekly basis.

"When it comes to fixing the mess, Joyce gets an 'N' for not achieved," he adds.