The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Maf) and the Ministry of Fisheries, which merged on July 1, yesterday informed staff that 241 jobs including 97 vacant positions, 80% of which were Wellington-based, would be lost throughout New Zealand as a result.
It was possible further jobs might be lost to Dunedin as the final location of the positions in the compliance and response and verification and systems branches were yet to the determined, a department spokesman said.
"It is possible some of those positions could be located in Otago."
Up to six "net positions" to be lost were in the compliance and response, Office of the Director-general, policy, and verification and systems branches of the merged organisation.
Director-general of the merged structure Wayne McNee said yesterday this stage of the consultation considered the remaining structural changes needed to complete the merger and if implemented could save $18 million in 2012-13.
The proposals included combining and streamlining financial management, policy advice, information technology and communications but would not reduce front-line staff such as fisheries officers or animal welfare, or quarantine inspectors.
However, there were plans to "align" the inspection and compliance functions of both ministries, which meant the management structures of those functions would be reviewed.
The proposal could reduce Wellington-based positions by 189 and Auckland by more than 10. A further 706 positions would face minor change.
There were no plans to close branch offices as part of this proposal, but it would be considered in the future when leases expired, Mr McNee said.
Consultation with staff would run until September 13 and the final structure would be announced in mid-October, he said.
Public Service Association (PSA) national secretary Richard Wagstaff said many of the people affected provided the analysis for sound practice on the ground that protected New Zealand's forestry, fisheries and agriculture industries.
"These industries are critical to our economy and we shouldn't be putting them at risk.
"We're in danger of repeating the experience of the 1990s, when the loss of knowledge, expertise and adequate staffing levels in the public service led to disasters, and economic costs for the whole country."
The PSA would work with members to get the best results for them and ensure that whatever was done was done so in a fair and transparent way, Mr Flagstaff said.
