“We would have a thought that Pacific people should be a priority given the fact that many of the challenges in New Zealand at the moment disproportionately affect Pacific people.”
The slash is the latest proposal by the Government to cut staff across the public sector. Within the last week alone, the ministries for Primary Industries and Health proposed cuts amounting to more than 400 positions.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the cuts were needed to “right size” the public service.
Staff cuts had long been promoted by Luxon to fund a tax cut package.
“What’s happened here is that we’ve actually hired 14,000 more public servants and then, on top of that, we’ve had a blowout of the consultants and contractor budget from $1.2 billion to $1.7 billion, and it’s gone up every year over the last five to six years,” Luxon said.
“And really what it speaks to is… we’re not getting good outcomes,” he added.
But critics said the cuts will only cause mass unemployment and undermine services needed across New Zealand. Public Sector Association national secretary Duane Leo said the cuts would have far-reaching consequences for the health and well-being of Pasifika families in Aotearoa.
“We know that Pasifika families are more likely to be in overcrowded unhealthy housing situations and challenging environments and they’re also suffering from the current cost of living,” Leo said. “The ministry plays an active role in supporting housing development, the creation of employment opportunities, supporting Pasifika languages cultures and identities, developing social enterprises – this all going to suffer.
“The Government is after these savings to finance $3 billion worth of tax cuts to support landlords… why are they prioritising that when they could be funding services that New Zealanders rely on?”
It will be revealed what the extent of the staff cuts are when the New Zealand Government is expected to announce its Budget on May 30.
Sepuloni said the massive cut indicated a move to get rid of the ministry, something that has long been promoted by Coalition partner – the ACT Party.