41353 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Transport

41353 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Transport: In the Minister’s departments, ministries and agencies, if any, what savings have been identified, between 27 November 2023 and 10 July 2024?

Hon Simeon Brown: MoT: There has been a net reduction of 40 roles at the Ministry of Transport since October 2023. This comprises of the following; • 24 roles as part of an organisational change process completed late 2023 • 8 roles were disestablished as a result of the cancellation of the Auckland Light Rail Project • 6 roles as a result of the disestablishment of the Major Projects team • 2 roles were disestablished as a result of consolidation of groups. The Ministry has established a Baseline Savings programme which will ensure that we continue to operate within our budget in the future. Our Baseline Savings programme includes: • centralising recruitment, with every vacancy being reviewed before a role is filled overseen by a new Personnel Committee • consolidating groups/teams as opportunities arise • a programme of functional reviews, to support effective delivery and where we consider we can achieve further operating efficiencies and baseline savings • reviewing internal policies and practices, including our sensitive expenditure policy and guidance • a focus on enabling high performance, including managing poor performance • simplification of funding and appropriation arrangements, to support effective management decision making. CAA: Civil Aviation and Maritime Security Services appropriation has been reduced by $158k. The reduction was proportionally allocated to the policy advice, ministerial servicing, and international engagement components of the appropriation. NZTA: NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has identified savings from a range of activities, including, but not limited to: • Personnel • Operational cost reduction • Technology changes • Procurement changes • Stopping or reducing work to align with government priorities.