This paper examines information and communications technologies use, work intensity, technology preference, respondent characteristics, pain and stress in 240 New Zealand public servants across six agencies. In particular, we find that four variables are the most consistent predictors of pain-hours using a cell phone, stress, female gender and one's salary.A large and growing body of research finds a link between computer use and musculoskeletal symptoms, stress and other discomfort. Many of the studies on computer use and symptoms have been on call operators, data entry and/or lower skill workers, however. Increasing penetration of computers into professional life has seen a shift in the focus of more recent studies, including towards academics (Kay, 2003). Professional and managerial staff are high users of information and communications technologies (ICT), with the vast majority using computers at work. This is compounded by the increasing use of ICT in of other aspects of life, the use of portable devices such as personal digital assistant (PDA) and cell phones and their integration with other devices, the shading of work and home life, and the use of Internet at home (Carayon, 2007). However, the impact of ICT on professionals, and most notably public servants, is still comparatively under-studied. The effects of ICT devices other than computers has been little studied in general.This paper aims to address this lacuna by examining the implications of ICT use for 240 New Zealand public servants across six agencies, particularly focusing on musculoskeletal symptoms and stress and their relationship to ICT use, reported work load and perceived work load, preference for technology, and job and personal characteristics. This is contextualised within a reform rhetoric seeing ICT as central to 'transforming' governments. This rhetoric shifts much of the focus on reform of government to often overblown claims for what is called 'e-government'-broadly the use of ICT in government-where e-government is seen as promoting more effective provision of 'high quality services . . . at a lower overall cost' (Executive Office, 2009); 'joined-up services' (Cabinet Office, 2005); even a 'transformation of government' (SSC, 2006);