Claims the Government's top chief executives have been asked to tighten their belts.

Our newsroom confirmed the heads of major Government departments met the Finance Minister, and it's understood spending restraint was discussed.

Grant Robertson warned the Government had hard choices ahead.

ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says those choices need to start with wasteful spending.

"The public sector spending has been a big worry for this Government. Not just because they've bloated the public services in terms of numbers."

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