The State Services Commission ran the survey, asking 6500 people what they thought of government services ranging across all the departments with which they were likely to have been in contact.
It had a 61% response rate - high by survey standards - and 68% said they were satisfied with their most recent experience of government services.
State Services Commissioner Mark Prebble said the results were encouraging.
"However, this is only the first survey. The value is in the improvements we make between this survey and the next in 2009,'' he said.
"These findings will provide government agencies with the information they need to focus on making the improvements that will have the greatest impact on New Zealanders' satisfaction with government service delivery".
The survey, called Kiwis Count, was based on the Canadian Government's Citizens First survey, a programme that has been running since 1998.
Health Minister David Cunliffe said he was pleased the survey showed the health service was one of the top performers when it came to competency of staff and being treated fairly.
He said health also scored about the average satisfaction figure of 68%.
"Importantly, it also shows that people believe their tax dollars are being spent wisely, with health receiving the highest rating of all public services for value for money,'' Mr Cunliffe said.
The Public Services Association said staff in the state sector were pleased with the results.
"The 68% satisfaction rating is equal to the rating for public services in Canada,'' PSA national secretary Brenda Pilott said.
"This survey shows our public services are world class".
