The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the Ministry of Health are planning to slash hundreds of roles as part of a cost-saving directive from the Government.

MPI has been asked to find 7.5 per cent savings as part of the Government’s push to streamline the public service, in a bid to find savings and efficiencies.

Ministries are urged to find savings between 6.5 and 7.5 per cent on average, based on their recent growth. Some cuts may be more or less significant than the indicated percentage.

In an email sent to all staff, obtained by NZME, director-general Ray Smith said around 40 per cent of the roles on the chopping block are “currently vacant”.

Consultation has begun on the proposals, aiming to “bring similar functions together to increase efficiency”, ensure work programmes are sustainable and deliver the Government’s priorities.

Smith confirmed in the email that the ministry is not proposing reducing frontline services or statutory roles, including veterinarians, animal welfare, fishery and food compliance officers, or biosecurity teams at the border. Other roles are proposed to see “changes” or be disestablished.

“We are focused on taking actions that ensure MPI continues to deliver our core functions effectively and with greater efficiency.”

Staff were told the ministry will seek to place as many impacted people into alternative positions.

No final decisions have been made.

MPI had earlier withheld an Official Information Act request from NZME for information about its cost-savings push, and was told information was Budget-sensitive.

Consultation on the matter is open until April 9, with Smith promising to listen to what workers say. “SLT [the Senior Leadership Team] and I remain open to considering additional ideas before making final decisions and look forward to seeing your submissions,” he said.

Final decisions are expected by mid-May.

Meanwhile, Budget Day is on May 30 and is expected to reveal the extent of the changes in the public service. NZME has revealed plans and communications for change at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Ministry of Transport, Statistics New Zealand, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence, Department of Conservation, Ministry for the Environment, Education Review Office, Kāinga Ora, Inland Revenue, Department of Internal Affairs, and Te Puni Kōkiri.

Smith is expected to meet with union delegates and officials from the Public Service Association in relation to the proposal.

‘A difficult and unsettling time for Ministry of Health staff’

Ministry of Health staff have also been told that a quarter of the jobs at the ministry were set to be cut under a proposed restructure.

That equates to about 180 jobs.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health has also confirmed that up to a quarter of the jobs at the ministry could be scrapped in its proposed restructure - up to 200 jobs - although no final decisions had been made.

The cuts are part of the coalition Government’s drive to cut public sector spending by requiring government departments to find 6.5 per cent of 7.5 per cent of savings - but to restrict staff cuts to back-office roles.

In a statement, Geoff Short, the Ministry of Health’s director of the Transformation Management Office, confirmed staff were updated this morning on the timing of the proposed changes.

Consultation would run from April 5-26, final decisions made by June 30 and the restructure set up in August.

“This is a difficult and unsettling time for Ministry of Health staff. The proposed changes could affect just over a quarter of the ministry’s positions - that would include removing vacancies as well as some positions being disestablished.”

He said the proposal would also create some new positions, which would be available for redeployment.

“A further group of positions may also be affected by proposals for a reporting line change or a change in job title. The full details of the proposed changes will be available to staff in the consultation document.”

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, social housing and transport.