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A memo sent to the Government’s National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) bosses voiced concern about impacts of a cost-cutting GNS Science restructure on the hazard-watching GeoNet programme.
The memo said the restructuring and funding constraints presented “significant risks to the continued delivery of critical life safety services”.
The Public Service Association has meanwhile hit out at the Government over a drop in baseline GeoNet funding, calling it “irresponsible” and “reckless”.
Emergency management bosses were briefed about serious concerns over a cost-cutting restructure’s impact on a programme New Zealand relies on to watch life-threatening natural hazards like volcanoes and earthquakes.
The concerns, shared in internal memos obtained by the Herald, have alarmed the Public Service Association (PSA) and prompted fresh criticismof “reckless” Government funding cuts.
Among 41 science jobs cut were key roles within its National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) and GeoNet programmes – both directly focused on natural hazards – while several new positions were created.
The decision came not long after 85 top international scientists warned the cuts would “devastate” collaborative research efforts to understand New Zealand’s largest fault zone.
Now, the Herald can report that a panel within the Nema expressed a raft of concerns about the implications of the restructuring.
In an October memo to the agency’s executive leadership, released under the Official Information Act, Nema’s GeoNet steering group said cutting GeoNet’s fulltime programme lead posed a “significant risk” to GeoNet’s ability to manage its functions.
The memo – prepared ahead of a meeting of the joint-agency GeoNet Advisory Panel – noted the complexity and demands of running GeoNet in particular.
In an October memo to the agency’s executive leadership, released under the Official Information Act, Nema’s GeoNet steering group said cutting GeoNet’s fulltime programme lead posed a “significant risk” to GeoNet’s ability to manage its functions.
The steering group also flagged concerns regarding how its resources were shared with GNS, and expressed doubts about whether the restructured GeoNet would provide the “necessary leadership capability and capacity”.
“This is a particular concern given the complexities of managing life safety services under constrained funding and resource environments.”
The group said Nema should push for a “clear plan” and “realistic strategy” from GNS about how it would maintain its functions under budget constraints.
It concluded: “The challenges facing GeoNet, particularly the effects of GNS’s restructuring and ongoing funding constraints, present significant risks to the continued delivery of critical life safety services.”
Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell told the Herald Nema was now working with GeoNet and GNS Science to ensure those functions were “resourced appropriately”.
Civil Defence Emergency Management director John Price said in a statement that Nema’s priority was the “continued reception of rapid information that allows us to issue life safety warnings, such as for tsunamis”.
“This has been a challenging time for GNS Science and Nema remains committed to a close working relationship with one of our most important partners.”
In setting out its rationale for the restructure to staff, GNS has cited “inconsistent” financial results, not enough focus on generating profit and a projected decline in revenue as its rationale for its restructure – but also a drop in Government funding.
Pre-Budget briefing papers since made public show how officials advised the Government on setting GeoNet’s future baselined funding.
According to a March briefing, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Finance Minister David Seymour indicated they supported geohazard information services being scaled back to previous levels.
They asked options for two options for funding: $25 million per year, which would have contained most of GeoNet’s services but not all, and $12m per year, which Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment officials advised would “significantly compromise GeoNet, including as a geohazard warning system”.
While this year’s Budget ultimately included a multi-year funding allocation for GeoNet and the NSHM, it came with stepped reductions in funding levels through to 2028 and beyond.
GNS chief executive Chelydra Percy said in a statement to the Herald this represented a drop compared with earlier funding levels.
“While securing a multi-year allocation is a positive outcome, reflecting the critical value and impact of both services, $106.9m over four years is an overall decrease in funding for both programmes compared to 23/24 funding.”
GNS was continuing to work with GeoNet and NSHM funders and stakeholders to agree service levels and find “efficiencies” in line with the funding, she said.
Changes were being designed to protect essential services, like geohazards advice and critical infrastructure that delivered data for GNS’ experts.
Meanwhile, the PSA has taken aim at the Government, calling its decision to lower Budget funding to GeoNet and the NSHM “irresponsible”.
“The Government has made an explicit decision to reduce funding for these services, and the obvious consequence is that these services have to be degraded to meet the budget,” PSA acting national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said.
“This is reckless. The Government should fund GeoNet appropriately, rather than forcing the programme to degrade its services and introduce more risks to New Zealanders.”
Jamie Morton is a specialist in science and environmental reporting. He joined the Herald in 2011 and writes about everything from conservation and climate change to natural hazards and new technology.
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