DOC re-structure brings big changes

The Rotorua office of the Department of Conservation will lose three permanent positions after the Government announced its final re-structure.

Department of Conservation (DOC) deputy director-general Doris Johnston said additional funding enabled DOC to build more than 60 additional frontline roles into its new structure.

However, since the Rotorua office currently has 20 full-time staff from a total roster of 26, it will be looking to fill three additional full-time positions to bring staffing numbers up to 23.

The department's Opotiki office will lose three of its 10 full-time staff, the Whakatane office will pick up three jobs, Murupara will lose four staff but Taupo, which will become a regional headquarters office, will go from 17 staff to 34.

Across the East Coast/Bay of Plenty region, DOC will drop a total of 14 full-time positions, from 111 to 97.

The Wellington national office will pick up 25 staff going from 22 to 47 full-time positions.

Ms Johnston said DOC had been consulting with its approximately 1800 staff since first proposing changes for its operational arm more than a month ago.

She said the simpler regional structure and strengthened field teams will enable DOC to continue with its own work and also develop new conservation partnerships with others.

"The new structure will streamline the department's current 11 conservancy districts into six new conservation delivery regions.

"It will also create two distinct teams across the country. One focused on delivering DOC's recreation, historic and biodiversity field work and another working to develop new conservation initiatives in partnership with other organisations."

She said the final structure had 72 fewer fulltime roles across the country.

"This is largely the result of changes to local management structures where two management layers are replaced by one, supported by senior rangers."

The new structure will take effect in September and DOC will be working with affected staff in the coming months on options such as redeployment, relocation or redundancy.