The Treasury says it has found $236 million of possible back office savings across government agencies.
The possible savings were found in a second annual stock-take of spending on administrative and support services by 33 government agencies.
The Treasury, which describes the exercise as the most comprehensive of its kind ever undertaken, says it found wide variation in spending across agencies.
It says by bringing spending into line with the state sector median, savings of $124 million are possible in information technology, $43 million in property management, and $33 million in human resources, $21 million in corporate and executive services and $15 million in finance services.
The Treasury says the information is a basis for improving efficiency, rather than indicating neccesarily where spending should be cut.
Finance Minister Bill English says the report shows there is room for further savings across the state sector.
