The Environment Ministry is the next government department to move to cut staff, today inviting voluntary redundancies from any permanent staff.
The news was confirmed in a statement by the ministry's business transformation and services deputy secretary Laura Dixon.
The Public Service Association said it shows the Government is prioritising tax cuts over the environment.
The Prime Minister says "dumb stuff" that is driving inefficiencies in the public service needs to be culled.
The Government has directed the public service to find $1.5 billion each year in a move to reduce state spending. Like other government departments, the Ministry for the Environment was responding, the statement said.
“While the impact of the savings exercise on our work programme and jobs won’t be clear until after Budget 2024 on 30 May, we know our organisation will need to reduce in size. Staff have been told redundancies are likely."
She said the ministry began an operating model review in June last year, in part to prepare for a predicted decline in its baseline as time-limited funding for a range of reforms ended.
That included prioritising "core functions" and finding new ways of working, systems and processes, as well as "recruitment controls" and reducing some parts of its workforce by more than 20%.
“From today, staff will have the opportunity to submit an expression of interest (EOI) for voluntary redundancy, before a likely formal change proposal and consultation process later this year.
There was no target for job reductions.
She said ministry leadership acknowledged it was a "challenging time" for its people and its goal was to "keep them informed and supported throughout the upcoming change".
Public Service Association (PSA) national secretary Duane Leo said the Government's cost-cutting put New Zealand's ability to manage environmental challenges at risk.
Alongside unfilled vacancies and "possible forced redundancies" the voluntary redundancies could mean hundreds of workers left the ministry with the Government requiring it to cut spending by 7.5%.
"Every day the Government’s priorities are becoming clearer and clearer - today it’s decided to put tax cuts ahead of the environment," Leo said.
"Climate change is with us. Our freshwater is being degraded and our unique biodiversity is under threat, yet the Government thinks it makes sense to cut jobs and funding for this Ministry?"
He said the PSA supported voluntary redundancies as it allowed members to "control their own futures and leave if it suits".
"Our members asked for this knowing cuts were coming and we are pleased the Ministry’s agreed that it be available for all permanent employees.
"But we do not support this cost cutting drive. At a time of unprecedented environmental challenges, it should be a priority to keep investing in the very agency dealing with these."
He said the Ministry provided advice on environmental and climate issues, ensures policies and regulations were fit for purpose, and monitored and reported on the state of the environment.
"This is just another example of the short sighted and shallow thinking of this Government, again showing how poorly it is grappling with the serious and complex challenges we face.
"This random and rushed cost cutting crusade will have very real consequences for the environment we all love, and for future generations of Kiwis who are relying on us to wisely manage our environment today."
Green Party public services spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March said the voluntary redundancies were only being offered by the Ministry due to the Government "forcing such drastic cuts right across the public service".
He said the cuts would ultimately means New Zealand's capacity to respond to its biggest challenges diminish.
“The Ministry for the Environment is critical to the preserving the health and prosperity of the flora and fauna that make Aotearoa unique. Stripping this Ministry of its resources will leave those losing their jobs, their families and critical work in a state of disarray.”
Labour spokesperson for environment Rachel Brooking said the move was "the price of National's tax cuts".
"Cutting jobs at the Ministry for the Environment and introducing the Fast Track Approvals Bill shows that this Government is happy to undermine decades of environmental protections for short term gain.
"The Government is undoing all Labour’s good work to have a planning system for the long term, that better protects the environment and is much more efficient for enabling development."
Environment Minister Penny Simmonds was invited to comment.
A staff member replied:
"Minister Simmonds was advised last week of plans by the Ministry for the Environment to invite expressions of interest from staff for voluntary redundancy.
"This is an operational matter and the Minister has no expectations on how many staff will take up this option."
Luxon said any job losses, in the private sector or public sector, were "incredibly difficult" for those affected.
"We need our public sector CEOs and agencies to deliver savings. We believe that there are inefficiencies in the back office of these government agencies, we want them to prioritise the protection of frontline services, and we also want them to be able to make sure that they are delivering against these goals that we're setting.
"If that means stop the dumb stuff, stop working on projects that actually aren't leading to the improvement of these outcomes or these results, let's move the money and the resources from the back office to the frontline, so be it."
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