Oranga Tamariki calls in help with cuts

Oranga Tamariki has confirmed it is working with two consultancy agencies on its restructure and change proposal, which has 447 net jobs in the firing line.

The proposal, being slammed by the Public Service Association, comes amid top-down calls to reduce dependency on the use of contractors and consultants across the sector.

Other agencies have vowed to cut their use of contractors and consultants in their cost-saving efforts, with many ministries also taking a closer look at travel expenses and catering — in response to the Government’s order to find savings and efficiencies.

Oranga Tamariki deputy chief of people, culture, and enabling services, Caz Anderson, confirmed the two consulting firms were giving the agency “specialist independent organisational redesign advice” that was not available internally.

The Public Service Association (PSA) fears the use of consulting firms will add extra costs to a proposal that aims to find efficiencies.

“The Minister for Children maintains the restructure at Oranga Tamariki is all about putting children at the centre of decision-making,” said PSA national secretary Kerry Davies.

“It beggars belief that outside consultants, far removed from the expertise of care and protection of children and the challenges Oranga Tamariki manages every day, can develop a more effective structure for the agency.”

“All this is doing is fattening the profits of high-price consultants and adding to the expense of this rushed and reckless cost-cutting drive.

“It’s just not appropriate, and flies in the face of the Government’s determination to crack down on spending on consultants,” Davies said.

In the year to June, the agency spent $35.8 million on contractors and consultants, according to data from the Public Service Commission.

In the same period the year before, the agency footed a $37.1m bill for contractor and consultant spending.

OT boss Chappie Te Kani had previously acknowledged the proposal would be “a hard read” for those affected/ He said the change “goes to our core” as a ministry. “It fundamentally moves us away from where we are, towards the kind of ministry we need to be. A ministry that puts children at the centre of all we do.”

Recent job-cutting proposals at Oranga Tamariki and the Ministry of Education have come under fire for the predicted impacts they could have on vulnerable children, teachers and learners.

All this is doing is fattening the profits of high-price consultants and adding to the expense of this rushed and reckless cost-cutting drive. Kerry Davies, PSA