22292 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Conservation

22292 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Conservation: What consultations are the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, planning to open on the week beginning 12 May with employees around any changes to employment roles, employment numbers and any other employment conditions, and how many roles are affected?

Hon Tama Potaka: The Department of Conservation (DOC) advises me that it has released two proposals for organisational change in the week beginning 12 May 2025. The first is a proposal which was released on 12 May 2025 to make minor changes to roles in the Rakiura District of Regional Operations. There are no expected job losses from this proposal. The second is a proposal which was released on 15 May 2025 to make changes to the Leadership Teams in its Regional Operations Group. This proposal would reduce the number of roles in Regional and District Leadership Teams by 68 roles (29 of which are currently vacant), over several years. There would still be a position available within DOC for all impacted staff. DOC would retain a total of 39 roles within a transitional structure. As these positions become vacant over time through natural attrition, they would not be replaced. Consultation closes on 6 June 2025 and no final decisions have been made by DOC yet.