Public service jobs disappear in the South

Paula Bennett
Paula Bennett
One in five public service jobs in Otago and Southland have gone since National came to power.

Figures released under the Official Information Act show a headcount of public service employees across Otago and Southland has gone from 2403 in 2008, to 1941 this year Nationwide, the number of public service employees had increased by 1711 over the same period.

Dunedin North MP David Clark said he was particularly concerned the percentage of public service employees in Otago and Southland had dropped nationally.

''That means there is more jobs being centralised and that is a clear trend across the time period ... one in five [jobs] going across Otago and Southland is pretty significant.''

David Clark
David Clark
He argued public service jobs in the South were cost-effective, and if any valid cases for efficiencies were identified, they should be spread evenly across the country.

''It is the public service not the Wellington service ... and people in the regions have a better picture of what is going on around their area.''

State Services Minister Paula Bennett told the Otago Daily Times the Government was ''committed to providing better public services for all New Zealanders, no matter where they live or what they need''.

''Our public service workforce do a fantastic job, and as the latest Kiwis Count survey shows, the levels of trust and satisfaction New Zealanders have in our public services continues to increase.''

Dr Clark said he would like public service numbers in the South retained and believed ''there was a strong case for having the Ministry of Science and Innovation located close to Otago University''.

''Having that aspect of the public service based in Dunedin would be where the action's happening, likely to be more cost-effective, and have a ready access to qualified people.''

The number of full-time equivalent roles in Otago and Southland had fallen from 2206 in 2008 to 1799 this year, a drop of 407 jobs.

For Otago, 2014 was the only year with an increase in public sector jobs for the period, while Southland recorded an increase in 2010.

-hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz

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