Fisheries and MAF merger brought forward

Tony Ryall. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

The merger of the Ministry of Fisheries and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has been brought forward to July 1 this year.

The original date was February 1, 2012.

State Services Minister Tony Ryall said today creating a single entity at the start of the Government's financial year would reduce administrative duplication and costs.

He said MAF had recommended the earlier start date to give staff certainty about their future.

- NZPA