MPI goes ahead with cutting almost 400 roles

Thursday, 16 May 2024

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has confirmed it will disestablish almost 400 roles, slightly more than first proposed.

Meanwhile, the NZ Transport Agency confirmed 109 roles had already been disestablished.

The Post was told at the beginning of March of 110 full-time equivalent positions would be affected by the three programmes of work ending - the Clean Car Discount, Let’s Get Wellington Moving and the Climate Emergency Response Fund.

In April, NZTA told staff it had a working group to save costs, and “there are likely to be a number of job losses as a result of the reduced budget and new priorities“.

In March it was announced MPI was looking at a 9% cut to its workforce, equating to 384 roles. On Thursday, MPI director-general Ray Smith confirmed it would disestablish 391 roles.

“Total disestablished roles consist of 65 positions where people have left MPI since the consultation started owing to natural attrition or choosing early redundancy, 193 are vacant positions (we have had a policy of only replacing critical roles in recent months), and 133 current positions that are directly affected by final decisions,” he said.

“We have been able to reduce the impact on affected staff through holding vacancies, offering early redundancy, and retaining additional roles in some business units.”

Smith said those affected would be able to apply for roles “that have become available through the change process as well as existing vacancies that have been held during the change period”.

The changes will come into effect on July 1.