Govt to cut 8700 public service jobs
Finance Minister wants to save $2.4b through merging departments and AI efficiencies. Union calls it ‘wilful destruction’.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis.
Simon Shepherd
Tue, 19 May 2026
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Key points
- What's at stake: Govt to cut 8700 public service roles by July 2029, with 39 departments to be streamlined or merged.
- Background: Finance Minister laid out plans to save $2.4 billion over the next four years, in a pre-Budget speech.
- Key players: Nicola Willis, coalition Government, public servants.
Public service job cuts, merged departments and AI efficiencies are all part of the Government’s plan to save $2.4 billion over the next four years.
At a pre-budget speech to Business North Harbour in Auckland’s northern suburbs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis outlined three goals to
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Simon Shepherd
Tue, 19 May 2026
Contact the Writer: simon@nbr.co.nz
News tip? Question? Typo? Let us know: editor@nbr.co.nz
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
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Key points
- What's at stake: Govt to cut 8700 public service roles by July 2029, with 39 departments to be streamlined or merged.
- Background: Finance Minister laid out plans to save $2.4 billion over the next four years, in a pre-Budget speech.
- Key players: Nicola Willis, coalition Government, public servants.
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