increase font size
MPI director general Ray Smith.
The Ministry for Primary Industries is facing the prospect of a 7.5% cut in its budget for the new financial year as part of the new government’s cost cutting exercise.
In an email to staff the Director General of MPI, Ray Smith, says his senior leadership team (SLT) has been working through the issue and have now produced a consultation document which would see staff numbers cut by 9%. He says this would be mix of not filling existing vacancies as well as the disestablishing other roles.
Smith says the proposals would see a net reduction of 384 positions, of which around 40% are currently vacant. He says they are not proposing any reductions to frontline services and statutory roles, such as veterinarians, animal welfare, fishery and food compliance officers, or our biosecurity teams at the border. But he says they are proposing changes to roles and reporting lines in other areas of MPI, including the disestablishment of some positions.
Smith says they will seek to place as many affected people as possible into alternative roles.
MPI has now put out a consultation document to staff and Smith and his SLT will immediately begin the consultation process with on-line and in person meetings. PSA and other union officials have also been notified.
The consultation period runs from 21 March until midnight, 9 April. Following consideration of consultation feedback, Smith and his leadership team will make final decisions by mid-May.
Scientists from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) are part of an international team working to develop a low-cost diagnostic tool that could significantly improve food crop production in developing countries.
A company growing and processing seaweed with known methane-busting properties at a facility in Bluff is expanding internationally but New Zealand cattle farmers won't be getting the product anytime soon.
Soon farmers and working dog breeders will be able to have a dog that best suits their needs thanks to a team of researchers at Massey University.
The Ministry for Primary Industries' (MP) head of their On-Farm Support Team, Dr John Roche, says the declaration of a drought or adverse event is a recognition that things are tough in a region such as Taranaki.
Ballance Agri-Nutrients fertiliser SustaiN – which contains a urease inhibitor that reduces the amount of ammonia released to the air – has now been registered by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI). It is the first fertiliser in New Zealand to achieve this status.
Sitting Beef + Lamb NZ farmer director Scott Gower has been voted out by farmers.
The New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) says it will be working alongside the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Animal and Plant Health New Zealand (APHANZ) as they attempt to improve access to veterinary medicines.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes a recent court decision which granted a stay on rules in the Southland Water and Land Plan until legislative changes can be made by government.
A holistic approach to sustainability sees Pukatea Dairy Farms take out the top award at this year's Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
Registrations are now open for the highly anticipated South Island Dairy Event (SIDE) 2025, taking place April 7-9 in Timaru.
Scientists from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) are part of an international team working to develop a low-cost diagnostic tool that could significantly improve food crop production in developing countries.
OPINION: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon sometimes can't escape his own corporate instinct for evasion, and in what should have been…
OPINION: Shane 'Matua' Jones, crusader against all things woke, including "woke banks", couldn't have scripted it better when his NZ…
