Public Service Cuts in NZ Already Costing the Government $6 Million

It has cost the New Zealand government $6 million in redundancy payouts to slim down the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). The cuts are part of an across-the-board reduction in numbers ordered by the tri-coalition government of the National Party, NZ First, and ACT, and is a particular focus of ACT leader David Seymour. MBIE is one of the largest government departments, employing more than 6,500 staff. It has so far cut 286 jobs, with more expected. To date it has paid 138 employees redundancy, totalling around $6.3 million. So far, almost 2,000 jobs across 19 departments have already gone, or will soon be. The final cost is unknown, and Finance Minister Nicola Willis has not asked for an estimate....