Public sector cuts: Hundreds of job cuts finalised at Oranga Tamariki and ACC

ACC chief executive Megan Main said the agency “took a whole-of-enterprise approach to the proposal, reviewing all non-client facing parts of the organisation to find opportunities to remove duplication, limit expenditure and stop work that isn’t closely connected to improved outcomes for our kiritaki (clients)”.

Main promised ACC was investing in about 250 extra frontline rehabilitation roles, with recruitment under way.

ACC said it has also created 66 new roles, separate to this, “that support the delivery of our services to New Zealanders.”

The Public Service Association (PSA) has been consulted on the change proposals and decisions at government departments. The PSA said roles being cut at Oranga Tamariki includes those supporting residential and youth justice facilities, and roles in the agency’s Māori, Partnerships and Communities team.

The final confirmation sees fewer jobs lost at Oranga Tamariki than originally proposed. Under the change proposal at the agency, 632 roles were proposed to be disestablished with 185 created – an overall net loss of 447 roles.

“As a result of the feedback, I have made a number of changes to the proposal document, with the number of disestablished roles being reduced from 447 to 419.

“These roles come from across the back-office structure of Oranga Tamariki and include a reduction in leadership team positions,” Te Kani said in a statement.

“I know my final decision will not magically fix the issues we face as an organisation. It will not automatically grow trust and confidence between our ministry and New Zealand. It will not be perfect. But change never is,” he said.

PSA assistant secretary Fleur Fitzsimons suggested the cuts would have an impact on the lives of young people.

“It’s particularly disappointing that specialist Māori roles are still being removed as these people have unique skills working with whānau and are critical to the success of Oranga Tamariki.

“At a time of rising need and increasing pressure on families, the last thing the Government should be doing is making deep cuts to the very agency that supports children and young people,” she said.

Public sector agencies have been undertaking cost-saving exercises, putting thousands of roles on the line across government departments, ministries and agencies.

The children’s ministry is expected to finish its transition to its new structure by September.

ACC expects its final structure to come into force on 12 September. Chief executive Megan Main said the new structure was “not just about savings”.

She added the changes will help the Crown Entity’s strategy, improving its rehabilitation performance, and creating investment capacity.

“I am mindful that the new structure means significant change for some of our people. We have several support pathways available and I encourage anyone to access it should they need to at any point,” Main said.

Cuts at the Ministry of Social Development are also expected to be announced today.

Azaria Howell is a Wellington-based multimedia reporter with an eye across the region. She joined NZME in 2022, and has a keen interest in city council decisions, public service agency reform, and transport.