More public services tightening belts and slashing recruitment

More public service departments are tightening belts and slashing recruitment, as the clock starts ticking to deliver savings for the new Government.

Numerous agencies had already hit pause on recruitment in light of Labour’s August baseline squeeze of 1-2%, and National’s additional 6.5% average decrease, plus its pledge to cut contractor and consultant spend by $400 million a year. Stats NZ faced potential job cuts, while Crown entity WorkSafe, the workplace health and safety regulator, is cutting its staff by 113 roles, with the new structure to be implemented in February.

Ministry of Education (MoE): The Post reported in mid-November MoE had paused the majority of recruitment, halting the hire of almost 160 jobs. A spokesperson said yesterday, “the current pause on hiring is putting pressure on the organisation”.

Education Secretary Iona Holsted also sent a message to staff on Friday regarding “staff reductions in the Public Service”.

“Since the election there have been a range of comments from incoming Ministers about the size of the public service and the need to reduce it, to make savings.

Holsted said there were already a “number of actions” under way to respond to the fiscal pressure, including being “very cautious” about filling roles outside of specified delivery roles. “We have committed to ongoing reductions in consultancy and contracting spend including as projects come to an end.”

Holsted said she could not “rule out organisation changes in the future but if this becomes necessary we will consult with you and your representatives”. “I know that for some of you this will be unsettling; I can assure you that I will continue to provide regular and frank updates as we move forward.”

Asked what “organisation changes” meant, a spokesperson said it meant “nothing’s on the table, nothing’s off the table”, and it would be inaccurate to say it signalled potential redundancies.

Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI): MPI has 21 roles advertised, “compared with approximately 370 around the same time last year”, director of people and capability Kaye Ryan said. “We continue to advertise important frontline roles including for veterinarians, animal welfare and food compliance officers, and biosecurity work at the border.”

Ministry for the Environment: Deputy Secretary (Business Transformation) Laura Dixon said they were taking a prudent approach to recruitment “and are not recruiting for all vacancies at the moment”. “Our executive leadership group has oversight and approval of any vacancies we do recruit for. We have paused some programmes, including parts of the resource management reforms, in anticipation of the incoming Government’s policy and legislative agenda”.

Structural changes that came into force on Friday reduced the number of senior management positions by 25%.

Manatū TaongaMinistry for Culture and Heritage (MCH): MCH has paused recruitment while they work through an operating model change proposal, chief executive Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae said.

The first phase, in October and November, was focused on reshaping the ministry’s senior structure and resulted in the reduction of two full time equivalent roles.

“The second phase will start early next year and will focus on resizing the Ministry to fit within our budget.

It is too early to say what, if any, work programmes will be stopped and what, if any layoffs there could be as a result of this work.”

Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC): DPMC was taking a “considered approach, closely examining its finances and where opportunities for savings might sit” in regards to recruitment, a spokesperson said “As part of this we are actively managing vacancies.”

Asked what that meant, the spokesperson said, “we assess the ongoing business need”.