Politics Live Blog - April 15-21
Ministers say layoffs at education and children's ministries won't fund tax cuts
Finance Minister Nicola Willis. ROBERT KITCHIN/STUFF
Finance Minister Nicola Willis says more than 1000 roles being disestablished at the education ministry and Oranga Tamariki won't fund tax cuts.
Earlier today, the Ministry of Education announced plans to cull 565 roles. And Oranga Tamariki said it planned to disestablish a total of 447 positions.
Willis said none of those job cuts would save the Government any money, saying more money would be spent on both departments in May's Budget.
“We have ensured that Health, Education, Oranga Tamariki, Police and other critical frontline services will face an overall funding uplift in our Budget," she said.
Children's Minister Karen Chhour said work on restructuring Oranga Tamariki had started before she became minister. She said work started at the end of 2021, and she supported it.
Earlier today, the Ministry of Education announced plans to cull 565 roles. And Oranga Tamariki said it planned to disestablish a total of 447 positions.
Willis said none of those job cuts would save the Government any money, saying more money would be spent on both departments in May's Budget.
“We have ensured that Health, Education, Oranga Tamariki, Police and other critical frontline services will face an overall funding uplift in our Budget," she said.
Children's Minister Karen Chhour said work on restructuring Oranga Tamariki had started before she became minister. She said work started at the end of 2021, and she supported it.
“Ultimately Oranga Tamariki will come out of this consultation with a tighter focus on its core responsibilities and a stronger, more effective, frontline service," she said.
Education Minister Erica Stanford said the ministry's "back office" had grown too large.
"In 2017 around 2600 people were employed at the Ministry as of 2024 it is over 4300," she said.
The teachers' unions and education groups have raised major concerns about the scale of the layoffs at the ministry, saying it would likely impact the support teachers and children receive.
Stanford denied it would have any impact on children or schools, saying: "The Secretary of Education has been directed to ensure that services that support the education frontline or children will not be impacted."