Oranga Tamariki staff to wait until mid-April for proposed cuts updates
Staff will have to wait until after mid-April to find out how many jobs may be cut at Oranga Tamariki, the ministry has told The Post.
As more and more ministries reveal to workers the extent of job cuts they’re proposing ahead of May’s Budget, Oranga Tamariki, the children’s ministry, is among those admitting disestablishing roles is on the table as it looks for cost savings.
Last week, it was reported that hundreds of roles could be disestablished between the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ministry of Health.
The Post asked Oranga Tamariki what percentage of roles it was proposing to disestablish, and if any number or percentage had been told to staff.
Chief executive Chappie Te Kani said “no proposed job numbers or percentages have been communicated to staff as that work is still being undertaken”.
“Mid-April is when we have told staff that work will be completed.”
Te Kani said it will be “a tough time for staff and any proposal for change will also go through a detailed process, which we will discuss in depth with our team, the unions, our partners and providers”.
“However, we are still not at that point and no final proposal has been landed.”
Te Kani told staff earlier this month further changes were needed to meet its 6.5% savings target – which could include a reduction in staff numbers. It already put in place a temporary back office hiring freeze and stopping all non-essential travel.
The Post later revealed Te Kani was having to pay 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.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has said that any savings made by Oranga Tamariki will stay in the department to be used for front-line services.