Gerry Brownlee rejects claims of Defence Force job slash

"As you'd expect, when people hear their jobs are being axed, it's upsetting. But there are no such plans," says Gerry Brownlee. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said news stories suggesting that Defence Force was set to slash its numbers were wrong and had caused upset among staff.

"As you'd expect, when people hear their jobs are being axed, it's upsetting. But there are no such plans and the Defence Force has reassured all their people of that fact."

Mr Brownlee cited the staff planning projections over the next four years for both civilian and uniformed staff, although it is still subject to budget approval processes.

According to the figures, the current number of civilian employees of 2760 is projected to barely change over the next three year with 2763 by 2018 - 19.

The number of uniformed staff of 8850 is projected to increase by 422 to 9272 in 2018 - 19.

Alarm was raised by Labour defence spokesman Phil Goff who received a copy of the Establishment Review Report under the Official Information Act.

Mr Goff interpreted recommendations as firm plans and said that more than 700 will be affected.

The report recommended that 331 staff should go by 2018 - although 227 of those are already deemed temporary- and that civilian staff should be cut by 315 and the Air Force by 67.

Mr Brownlee said that information provided under the OIA release had categorically rules our significant civilian staff but that had been ignored.

"it is a positive time for our Defence Force, with growth matched to investment in new or upgraded capabilities as we head for our goal of enhanced combat capability by 2020.

"It is disappointing that such as inaccurate picture was presented."

There were currently many vacancies on the Defence career website and it was running new TV ads to attract new recruits.