7857 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Agriculture

7857 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Agriculture: What financial modelling, if any, have the Minister’s departments, ministries and agencies undertaken to measure the total cost of redundancies (voluntary or not), if any, resulting from the Government’s directive to reduce expenditure in the public service?

Hon Todd McClay: As part of the Budget 2024/25 programme, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) was asked by the Government to find savings of 7.5 percent for the financial year starting 1 July 2024. MPI’s cost savings work will include a mix of programme reductions and staffing proposals. MPI has completed consultation with staff on change proposals and feedback is being taken into account in determining final decisions. Any costs associated with implementing staff changes will be determined once final decisions on cost savings are made.