It's possibly the most divisive topic in the public sector right now: the push to merge several government agencies and ministries. We have been hearing thoughts and suggestions around the topic for some time, but this is the first time we've heard an official announcement from the Government.

Radio New Zealand has reported that the Government proposes "...to merge the National Library and National Archives into the Department of Internal Affairs; and combine the Foundation for Research, Science & Technology and the Ministry of Research, Science & Technology. A third merger would move the Food Safety Authority into the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry." Smaller Ministries such as Women's Affairs and Pacific Island Affairs are unlikely to be affected.

Most reports and articles recognise that these changes will almost certainly lead to further job losses within the public sector.

In the Otago Daily Times article, Labour critical of merger plans, Key explains that the focus of the merger is on improved efficiency: "It's not just sacking people, what you want to do is deliver efficiency... We have more ministries than most other countries. In my view you can merge them, part of it is cost saving and part of it is about efficiency."

However, the PSA is critical of the Government's strategy. From their media release, Government must come clean on its plan for public sector: “If the government has a plan to redraw the map of public sector it should put the plan on the table and let everyone know what it is... It should also tell us what the problem is that it’s trying to fix.”

Related articles

• Shearer: We Need A Plan, Not A Merger
• Archives, Library Merger Turning Back The Clock
• Ministry merger decisions expected next week