OT boss funds own flights in savings bid
Oranga Tamariki chief executive Chappie Te Kani is paying for work flights around the country out of his own pocket, in order to talk to staff in person about cost-saving proposals and changes, with job cuts not ruled out at the ministry tasked to care for vulnerable children.
Te Kani’s extraordinary move comes after Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children stopped all non-essential travel and put a freeze on “back-office” hiring.
Last week, Te Kani confirmed his department was required to “reduce spending by 6.5%”, with more changes needed to meet the target.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has said that any savings made by Oranga Tamariki will stay in the department to be used for frontline services.
An Oranga Tamariki spokesperson said Te Kani was “prioritising getting around the country to meet with staff personally to discuss proposed changes”.
“Because we currently have travel restrictions in place, he has decided to fund this travel personally.”
Children’s Minister Karen Chhour could not comment on the issue as it was an operational matter.
The Post understands that travel restrictions are being brought in and enforced across the public sector and Zoom meetings encouraged as a way to reduce costs.
Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran said last month that the Government’s belt-tightening was expected to flow through to its business.
Foran said about 40% of its domestic market involved business, government, and small to medium enterprise travel, and that when one-third of that percentage was looking to reduce travel, it would flow through to Air New Zealand “What we’re seeing is a tightening of spending.”
Te Kani had previously confirmed he told staff on Friday that changes needed to meet the Government’s cost-savings target could include a proposal to reduce staff numbers. Oranga Tamariki is already facing frontline staff issues – down 160 social workers.
Frontline staff and those reporting to them would not be part of the process.
Meanwhile, select committee grillings continue to revolve around the distinction between ‘‘back office’’ or ‘‘frontline’’ staff.
ACC, the country’s accident compensation scheme, which is also mulling job cuts, appeared before MPs yesterday, with its chief executive Megan Main describing the ‘‘back office’’, which makes up about 28% of staff, as “enabling”.
“I’ve heard it called the backbone ... I quite like that.”