How the cuts will affect our environment

Our natural environment is taonga, a treasure that we’re all proud to cherish. And we know how at risk it is to climate change and our actions.

But the Government is prioritising short-term economic goals over a healthy, sustainable environment for us to live in.

Job are being cut at the Department of Conservation (DoC), the Ministry for the Environment (MfE), the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)

These workers are responsible for protecting our environment and combatting the effects of climate change. We should give them more support, not waste their valuable skills and knowledge.

“We’re undermining the architecture that is in place to look after the environment.” – Richard Capie, Forest & Bird, via Newsroom 

We’re losing expertise vital to protecting our environment

Losing our public service workers will have devastating consequences for us and our environment.

DoC is proposing to cut 130 positions and must find another $7.2 million to meet current costs. Scientists and technical advisors are set to go, affecting the Department’s ability to give evidence-based advice on initiatives to protect our environment and native species.

“We will likely lose species out of this.” – Jo Monks, Ecology lecturer and former DOC staffer, via RNZ 

MfE advises the Government on environmental and climate issues. In the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, the Ministry provided important advice on dealing with storm waste, contamination from flooding, and how regions can prepare to adapt to future events. The Government is forcing this critical agency to cut its spending by 7.5%, which could see hundreds of workers leave the Ministry.

Our environment relies on world-class biosecurity and disease control. Biosecurity is the biggest area to be cut at MPI, with 131 roles to go.

NIWA is proposing to cut some 13% of its workforce. These workers research climate and environmental issues to help us sustainably manage our natural resources.

These cuts are just one of the Government’s policies of environmental destruction and inaction on climate change. For example, this Government has scrapped safeguards for endangered sea lions while the population declines. It’s also making consenting for coal mining easier, ramping up use of the dirtiest fossil fuel when we need to move away from it.

Stand up for public services

We all want to enjoy our natural environment and preserve it for future generations. To do that, we need the skills, expertise, and dedication of our public service workers. The Government must stop these cuts and prove its dedication to protecting the environment we all share.