The Department of Conservation (DoC) appears to be trying to plug the hole in its budget, proposing a raft of changes to its structure.

It comes after it was revealed following May’s Budget that the department had been left with insufficient funding to meet its basic running costs.

At the time, the hole in its operating Budget was thought to be between $25m to $40m, which was projected to blow out to at least $85m within three years.

Chief executive Penny Nelson rejected that job cuts were inevitable saying, in an email following the budget, “this is not true. We’re not laying people off.”

However, five months on, DoC has gone into consultation with staff this week after proposing significant changes.

The department wouldn’t comment on the changes, but Newstalk ZB PLUS has obtained an internal email outlining what’s on the block.

While it only identifies six specific jobs, multiple areas of the department look set to be moved round.

For example, it wants to disestablish the National Operations and Regulatory Services Group and the functions sitting in it would be moved to other units.

Operation Support would be moved to Regional Operations, with planning relating to asset management would move to Organisational Support in line with its new Enterprise Asset Management directorate.

Under the proposed change, the Office of Regulatory Services would be moved to Strategy and Policy with Strategic Partnerships and Investments shifted to Public Affairs.

Multiple other changes are outlined in the leaked email.

It has previously been reported that PwC spent time in the department conducting an independent review of the baseline costs and funding with Nimbl Consulting undertaking a review of the asset management plan.

Newstalk ZB PLUS asked DoC to comment on the proposal, but “we won’t be commenting to media until we’ve completed the process with staff.”

If there is a change of Government after next Saturday’s election, DoC is unlikely to be the only department looking to cut back.

National have said they want to see 6.5% savings across most public services agencies. ACT are also keen on public sector cuts.

According to the latest Crown Accounts, the government paid out a total of $36b in total personnel expenses, up from $32.6b the year prior.