The Department of Internal Affairs has confirmed to 1News it is looking to disestablish 28 roles — with further changes yet to be announced.
The affected roles were proposed from the National Library and the Māori, Strategy and Performance Branch.
A spokesperson said the department was required to cut 6.5% from its baseline expenditure.
"People changes account for less than half of the savings we have identified, with 60% of the required savings found in efficiencies and curtailing expenditure."
Changes within other branches would be announced by mid-May 2024.
DIA was a large department, with services including issuing passports, enforcing censorship and gambling laws, registering births, deaths and marriages and civil unions, and running ministerial services.
Legal work to be outsourced, PSA says
The Public Service Association said commercial work undertaken by the DIA legal team would be fully outsourced to private law firms under proposed cuts.
PSA national secretary Duane Leo said the cuts were "short-sighted" and would end up costing taxpayers more in the long run.
"Our view is that this legal work is clearly needed and should be retained in-house. The Government promised to clamp down on contractor spending, so how does this make sense? This is spending more on contractors and consultants, not less."
Leo said changes such as this "hollow out" the capability of public service to deliver for Kiwis because of the Government's choice to fund tax relief for landlords and others.
"What we see here is that the Government’s rushed cost cutting drive will have real consequences down the track — a smart Government focused on efficiency would have taken the time to get it right. But we are now seeing the reality of this blunt approach and New Zealand will be worse off."
SHARE ME