Department of Conservation CE advises staff of significant cuts and job losses

Author: Philip Crump,
Publish Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2024, 12:02pm

Department of Conservation staff are understood to be less than impressed after a staff meeting yesterday where chief executive, Penny Nelson signalled significant downsizing and job losses.

The cash-strapped Government agency has been trying to cut costs for months. It recently moved to “phase two” of a cost-cutting review and restructure that involves an anticipated $1.76m bill for consultants who are advising the department on the restructuring.

Mike Tully, the deputy director-general of organisational support for DoC, told ZB Plus yesterday a programme was in place to address cost pressures and identify where savings could be made.

Tully said there was still work to be done before decisions would be made and options would be provided to Government ministers "in due course".

However, ZB Plus understands that Nelson’s presentation to staff yesterday signalled that significant downsizing would be expected as well as job losses.

During the same presentation, Nelson is also understood to have announced two new senior-level "change management" leadership positions.

ZB Plus sources described this announcement as "tone-deaf".

A further announcement is expected next month, ZB Plus understands.

When approached by ZB Plus with details of Wednesday's meeting, DoC was not willing to comment further but said the claims made appear to be "a misinterpretation of what was discussed in the meeting".

Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka said he had no further comment, except to confirm that the department has been asked to make savings.

In September, DoC hired Nimbl Consulting for an estimated cost of $1.3m, to review its systems and processes and to seek efficiencies. The work will take place within the current fiscal year and any implementation of recommendations is expected by July 1, 2024.

The consultants are expected to identify areas where current work programmes and operating expenses can be curtailed.

Tully said at the time that the review would look at what programmes the department might need to “stop, pause or slow down”.

He said the department hired consultants because “this type of change needs capability that is not present in the department”.

He also said many of DOC’s administrative processes are manual and time consuming, and Nimbl’s work will help simplify and modernise these.

The agency’s most recent annual review figures show that staff positions (FTEs) rose from 2193 in 2017/18 to 2854 in 2021/22, an increase of 30 per cent. The proportion of “front line” staff declined in that time from 60 per cent of staff to 52 per cent.

DOC’s responsibilities cover a third of the country’s land as well as protected marine areas, the backbone of the tourism industry including thousands of assets such as visitor centres, huts, trails, roads and bridges. It is also responsible for threatened biodiversity.

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