“The ministry is proposing to reduce in size by 63 roles, 31 of which are vacant roles. We are currently consulting with staff on these proposed changes to our structure ... and will be offering the option of voluntary redundancy. Recruitment is paused while this process is underway.”
Final decisions will be made at the end of April and will be implemented by July 1.
“We remain committed to championing the voices of Pacific communities, and maintaining programmes that help to empower Pacific peoples to thrive is our priority,” the spokesperson said. “We are confident that the proposed changes to our structure will enable us to remain closely connected to and support Pacific communities throughout the country.”
An Internal Affairs spokesman has also confirmed its proposed changes.
“We can confirm that we are proposing organisational change in six of our eight branches in a staged approach,” the spokesman said this afternoon.
“This is part of our response to the Government’s ongoing Fiscal Sustainability Programme to embed a culture of responsible spending across government. We are required to save 6.5 per cent of our baseline.”
So far, the proposed organisational changes would happen in the indexing team of the National Library, potentially affecting eight staff, and the Māori, Strategy and Performance branch, potentially affecting 20 staff.
“People changes account for less than half of the savings we have identified, with 60 per cent of the required savings found in efficiencies and curtailing expenditure.
“Changes within other branches are due to be announced by mid-May.”
The PSA said the proposed DIA cuts are in its Te Urungi, Māori, strategy and performance branch, which will see 18 roles disestablished in the legal team, with five net roles disestablished, 2 of which are vacant.
Other cuts are to the enterprise portfolio management office, where nine net roles would be disestablished, of which five are vacant. And the communications team, where four net roles would be disestablished.
The PSA said six roles are also proposed to be disestablished in the legal team - five in the commercial and corporate team - and one new role created.
The DIA is proposing to fully outsource the commercial work, the union said, adding this includes contracts for goods and services, procurement documents, licensing, funding arrangements, intellectual property and copyright issues, and confidentiality agreements.
Some commercial and corporate work is already outsourced, and the department has standardised contracts.
“Our view is that this legal work is clearly needed and should be retained in-house. The Government promised to clamp down on contractor spending so how does this make sense? This is spending more on contractors and consultants, not less,” Leo said.
DIA has previously announced it is proposing to disestablish nine roles in the National Library. Other announcements for other DIA branches are expected over the next few weeks to meet the Government’s requirement that the DIA reduce spending of its Crown funded activities by 6.5 per cent.
“Changes like these hollow out the core capability of the public service and its ability to deliver for New Zealanders because of the Government’s choice to fund tax relief for landlords and others,” Leo said.
The DIA is the latest in a string of government agencies to announce job cuts and slash spending to find $1.5 billion in savings across the public service.
The Herald earlier reported more than 1300 job cuts have been announced to meet the Government directive.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) earlier confirmed 286 full-time equivalent roles (FTEs) have been removed in the past few months and has not ruled out more cuts.
The ministry is looking at 7.5 per cent cost savings.
Earlier this week, cost-saving proposals were announced at the Ministry for the Environment, Callaghan Innovation and Crown researcher Niwa.
Also this week, the Department of Conservation (DoC) joined the growing list of public service agencies confirming spending cuts and potentially showing employees the door.
DoC has been directed to find 6.5 per cent savings from its budget.
In a statement to NZME, DoC confirmed it had been “identifying areas where we could cut back” and was consulting staff.
The Ministry of Health is proposing to slash 134 roles. It has been searching for 6.5 per cent cost savings, with the final signoff to be made by Public Service and Finance Minister Nicola Willis.
The Treasury is proposing to axe 50 roles and proposals at the Ministry for Primary Industries suggest 384 roles could be cut. There has been a net reduction of 24 jobs at the Ministry of Transport, though many were vacant roles.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon earlier told Newstalk ZB that voluntary redundancies, job losses and attrition were all pieces of the cost-saving drive, alongside reductions in spending on contractors and consultants.
Azaria Howell is a Wellington-based multimedia reporter with an eye across the region. She joined NZME in 2022 and has a keen interest in city council decisions, public service agency reform and transport.
Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years.
