Job cuts at Oranga Tamariki hit more than 400 roles

Oranga Tamariki has confirmed 447 jobs will be cut, thereby reducing its workforce by 9 percent.

It said on Wednesday that 632 roles would be disestablished including 70 vacant roles, and 185 new roles would be created.

About 1900 roles would be affected overall – either changed or disestablished – in the “scope of restructuring work” out of 5100 permanent and fixed-term staff – 37 percent of its staff.

‘Horrific’ impact on staff

An Oranga Tamariki staff member described Wednesday’s meeting on the job cuts proposal as gut-wrenching.

She said all business units within the ministry appeared to be affected, with some facing cuts of up to 50 percent.

“Everything from HR to system leadership to policy to the evidence centre. Everything’s been impacted really in one way or another.”

The worker said her job was set to be disestablished and she would have to apply for a reduced number of roles.

She said leaders at Oranga Tamariki reiterated that the cuts were not a reflection of work ethic.

“It’s just purely numbers, which is such a terrible way to look at it because I work alongside some of the most dedicated, hard hard-working, passionate people I’ve ever met. And seeing the impact that will have on some of them is horrific.”

She said it was short-sighted for the agency to say the changes would improve things for tamariki and rangatahi.

“When they’re slashing jobs of people who work tirelessly to improve outcomes for them, it’s hard to see how this will be a positive impact on any of the work that we do.”

The worker said all staff were feeling shocked and uneasy but managers had been supportive.

*If you have information, including documents, about public sector job losses please contact: jemima.huston@rnz.co.nz

Roles affected

Likely to be significantly impacted is the evidence centre which produces research evaluation, analytics and insights about tamariki, rangatahi, their whānau and the work of Oranga Tamariki.

Of the 632 roles slated to be disestablished, 24 percent are broadly manager roles and a third (34 percent) are advisory roles, slides as part of the job loss announcement show.

About 29 percent are from “enabling services functions”.

Oranga Tamariki’s leadership would be disestablished and consolidated going from eight roles to six, and advice and management support for the chief executive is being downsized.

The office of the chief social worker is being merged with the professional practice group, where 92 roles are proposed to be disestablished and 44 new ones created.

There would be a 19 percent reduction in total number of roles in those teams “from current to future state”.

The ministry is also disestablishing the Treaty Response Unit and shifting current responsibilities to other areas.

The aim is to create clear lines of accountability, simplify the structure and enable faster decision making and empower frontline staff to work together more effectively, according to the ministry.

In a statement, Oranga Tamariki chief executive Chappie Te Kani said frontline staff were not part of these changes.

“This 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.”

For the 632 people who may be affected, he said this proposal would be a “hard read”.

“The change also delivers on the savings targets set by the government,” he said.

“At this stage, these are proposed changes, once consultation with staff is completed, final decisions will be made.”

Likely to be significantly impacted is the evidence centre which produces research evaluation, analytics and insights about tamariki, rangatahi, their whānau and the work of Oranga Tamariki.

More than 2000 jobs have been cut from the public service so far as ministries try to achieve budget savings of up to 7.5 percent.

Minister for Regulation David Seymour previously indicated that figure could hit 7500.

The Ministry of Education is also expected to announce proposed job cuts on Wednesday.

It is understood many of the jobs on the line are in the Ka Ora, Ka Ako school lunches programme.

The programme was introduced in 2019 by the previous Labour government, and currently offers meals to 230,000 students in about 1000 disadvantaged schools.

Associate Education Minister David Seymour has previously confirmed the programme itself is under review and is likely to be cut in the Budget.

Jobs being disestablished are understood to include nutritionists, those who monitor and evaluate the programme, sustainability and waste, and people who work in regional branches of the team.

One person close to the matter said the team was set to be “decimated”.