10/05/12 - Changes to immigration family policies confirmed

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New immigration family policies will help New Zealand attract and retain skilled migrants, and ensure that their family members can settle well and are self-sufficient, says Immigration Minister Nathan Guy.

"We are making changes to give priority to migrants who can make a real contribution to New Zealand. Overall we expect these changes will eventually save the taxpayer around $40 million a year.

"There will be a new two-tier process for the parents of New Zealand citizens and residents who want to migrate here. Applications from parents who have higher income sponsors, or who bring a guaranteed income or funds, will be processed faster than other applications.

"Parents whose English is poor will need to pre-purchase tuition, and the period during which sponsors are required to meet certain obligations for their parents’ support will extend from five to 10 years.

"As a result of these policy changes, many skilled migrants who have residence here can sponsor their parents and will receive a quicker decision with less red tape.

"The Sibling and Adult Child Category for new migrants will close on 15 May, which will reduce the number of unskilled migrants who find it more difficult to get jobs and are more likely to end up on a benefit.  Research has shown that only 66% of people who gain residence as siblings and adult children had a job after 18 months, despite a job offer being required for residence."

The existing Parent category will close on 15 May and the new two tier category will be available from late July.

(Source Beehive, Nathan Guy)

02/05/12 - Agreement signed to combat human trafficking in the Pacific

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The New Zealand and the United States governments have signed an agreement to do all they can to stop human trafficking in the Pacific.

The agreement was signed in Wellington by the Minister of Immigration, Nathan Guy, and the visiting Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano.

Under the agreement the two countries have stated their intention to continue working together to detect, disrupt, dismantle and deter criminal enterprises which seek to profit from the exploitation of others in the Pacific region.

“As countries with a shared interest in the Pacific region, it is in our interest to protect all communities from falling victim to the horrific crime of trafficking in persons. We want to do everything we can to support the Pacific,” says Mr Guy.

The two governments have agreed to further develop Pacific Island regional partnerships and to enhance cooperation among enforcement agencies to target, disrupt, dismantle and deter criminal enterprises across international borders.

“We will work together to protect people in the Pacific so that they are better equipped to detect and identify victims of trafficking.

“We recognise that we need to strengthen support infrastructures in the Pacific so that countries are better equipped to rescue victims of trafficking and help them to recover. This agreement is an important step forward.”

(Source Beehive, Nathan Guy)

30/04/12 - New measures to deter people smugglers announced

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Measures are being introduced to deter a mass arrival of potentially illegal migrants into New Zealand, Immigration Minister Nathan Guy has announced today.

“An amendment to the Immigration Act introduced into Parliament today contains strong measures to deter people smuggling, making New Zealand a less desirable target,” says Mr Guy.

“The amendments will enable a mass arrival to be detained under a group warrant, rather than under individual warrants as currently happens with asylum seekers.

“This means Immigration New Zealand will be able to focus on managing immediate risks, rather than being tied up in paperwork and clogging up the courts.

“A mass arrival would likely include people whose identities are unknown or in doubt, so it is necessary to use detention to manage the security risks.

“The recent events in Darwin show that New Zealand is a target for dangerous and illegal mass arrivals by boat. We need to be prepared.”

Other policy changes meant that a claimant’s refugee status will be reassessed three years after it is first determined, with permanent residence not granted unless this reassessment is approved.

Family reunification rules will also be restricted, so that those who do gain residence after three years can sponsor their immediate family members to join them in New Zealand, but not their extended family members.

“There are appropriate channels for genuine refugees to use. We cannot start accepting boat loads of people – we need to deter them before they take to sea.

“This legislation is not about punishing people with a genuine claim for refugee status. It’s about sending a strong message that queue jumpers won’t be tolerated, and people smugglers will not be rewarded.”

Mr Guy says New Zealand remains committed to fulfilling its international good citizen obligations by accepting an annual quota of up to 750 UNHCR-mandated refugees.

Source Beehive, Nathan Guy

30/04/12 - Joint exercise to prepare for possible mass arrival

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A major exercise to test New Zealand’s preparations for a mass arrival of asylum seekers by boat is starting tomorrow, the Immigration Minister Nathan Guy has announced.

“The aim is to make sure New Zealand is fully prepared to respond to a mass arrival by sea of potentially illegal immigrants. We know that New Zealand has been a target in the past for people smugglers, and we need to be prepared for future attempts.

“It will start from first notification that a vessel is on the way, through to processing and accommodating these asylum seekers while their claims are determined.”

Exercise Barrier 2012 will take place over eight weeks, running until late June 2012.

The exercise will include several planning exercises and a simulated mass arrival at Devonport Naval Base in June.

The New Zealand Customs Service and Immigration New Zealand are the lead agencies for the exercise, given their responsibilities for New Zealand’s border security and immigration laws.

Other agencies involved include Defence, Police, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Education, Health, MAF, Foreign Affairs and Trade, Corrections and Social Development.

“A freighter with 500 asylum seekers was intercepted off the coast of Canada two years ago, so if they can get to Canada they can certainly get to New Zealand and we need to be prepared,” says Mr Guy.

“Agencies continually monitor the risk of a mass arrival and ensure plans to respond to such a threat are up to date. This exercise will help agencies test their planning at a practical level.

“Together with the new legislation we are introducing, this sends a strong message that queue jumpers and people smugglers won’t be tolerated,” says Mr Guy.

Source Beehive, Nathan Guy

02/04/12 - Rules for international students relaxed

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International students will no longer have to undergo a full medical assessment under changes to health screening rules.

Immigration Minister Nathan Guy announced the changes today, designed to cut red tape around international education.

The changes come after the Government revealed international student numbers in Christchurch dropped 37 per cent following the February 2011 earthquake.

The Government has pledged $5 million to help revive the Christchurch sector over the next four years and is considering including the right to work on visas for short-term language students.

International students will no longer need to supply full medical assessments from July this year. ''Unless they have other health conditions, they will only need to be screened for tuberculosis,'' Guy said.

''This will greatly reduce the cost and hassle for around 62,800 students who will save around $17 million a year in medical costs.''

International students will also be required to have health insurance, as a condition of their visa.

Other changes include: previously submitted medical records less than 36 months old will be able to be reused, and screening for partners and dependent children of New Zealand citizens will be limited to serious conditions.

(Source Christchurch Press, Fairfax NZ News)

02/04/12 - Red tape cut for international students

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Minister of Immigration Nathan Guy has announced changes to health screening rules which will reduce red tape for international students and other migrants, while protecting the public health system.

“From July this year, international students will no longer need to supply full medicals. Unless they have other health conditions, they will only need to be screened for tuberculosis.

“This will greatly reduce the cost and hassle for around 62,800 students who will save around $17 million a year in medical costs.

“We are also requiring international students to hold health insurance as a condition of their visa. This will not be an issue for most students, as they are ineligible for health services in New Zealand and education providers are required to ensure they hold insurance.

“International education is worth $2.3 billion to the economy a year, and indirectly supports around 32,000 jobs. These changes will make it easier for low-risk, high-value students to come to New Zealand.”

Changes to health screening for other visa categories include:

• Previously submitted medical records will be able to be re-used, provided they are less than 36 months old and there are no clear risk factors.
• For the partners and dependent children of New Zealand citizens and residents, screening will be limited to serious conditions which could disqualify them.
• Tests and requirements will also be updated to ensure that the latest developments in high-cost health conditions are taken into account.

“These changes show that the Government is serious about tackling red-tape and attracting migrants who can make a contribution to New Zealand. At the same time, we are making sure that applicants have an acceptable standard of health,” says Mr Guy.

(Source Beehive, N Guy)

22/03/12 - Speech to the 2012 Dairy Women's Network Annual Conference

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Good morning - I’ve been asked to talk to you about my role and where I see the dairy industry heading in the future.

As the Associate Minister I’ll be working closely with my colleague David Carter, and in particular on forestry issues which will be a challenge I’m looking forward to.

I’m also the Minister of Immigration, Racing, and Veterans Affairs. Immigration has some important connections with the Dairy industry, which I’ll say a few words about later.

Given my background, I know much hard work Dairying can be. And I especially know just how hard women in Dairying work.

I know that you fill a variety of roles on the farm – everything from Human Resources, accounts, to strategic planning and upskilling your staff.

And of course, the farm is one part of rural life – with family and community the other major, inter-connected responsibilities you have.

Global Opportunities

When it comes to producing dairy products, we know that New Zealand is a world leader. We have one of the most efficient and competitive industries in the world.

Our dairy industry is huge. It’s New Zealand’s biggest export earner accounting for around 30% of our export revenue.

In fact, New Zealand dairy exports account for around a third of all international dairy trade.

We also know that the world’s population is growing, and that the economies of countries like China and India are growing strongly. With this, demand for high quality, safe, pastoral product is growing.

For these reasons, I think our industry has a strong future.

I don’t agree with those who claim that agriculture is a “sunset industry”, on its way out. Critics have been saying that for decades. Meanwhile, commodity demand and prices have been growing while New Zealand farmers have continued to innovate and prosper.

However, with opportunity comes challenges.

• We can’t rest on our laurels. To continue to be a world leader, we must keep aiming higher.
• We need to be innovative, build on our strengths and continue to earn our reputation for safe, high-quality food, produced in a sustainable manner.
• Animal welfare and water quality will continue to be big issues.

The message I want to give you is that the Government is committed to supporting the Dairy industry, and the wider primary industries.

Government supporting the productive economy

This is why we’ve reformed our Crown Research Institutes to ensure they are better connected to business, and deliver practical research.

We’ve also established an Advisory Group on green growth to look at how we can achieve greater economic growth and development while protecting our environment.

And we are prioritising rural broadband, sustainable water storage and irrigation programmes – all of which will give a real boost to the productivity of the primary sector.

In last year’s Budget we announced the $35 million Irrigation Acceleration Fund to help the development of irrigation proposals.

Recently, the Irrigation Acceleration Fund and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council announced a jointly funded $3.3million full feasibility study of the Ruataniwha Water Storage Project.

This proposal could unlock enormous potential in the region, with the amount of irrigable land likely to increase from 6000ha to around 22,000ha.

We also have the Primary Growth Fund, which is providing $70 million in the next financial year to support new, innovative projects.

Just to give you a couple of examples of projects that have come from this. The Balance Agri-Nutrients project will improve the efficiency of nitrogen and phosphate use, and reduce nitrate leaching (or run off) on dairy farms. A range of biological products will be developed that improve nutrient and pest management.

Government-industry funding of $170 million is going towards transforming the Dairy Value Chain, through investment into new people, capability and knowledge.

The aim is to improve efficiency and agricultural information, drive new products, and boost research into food science.

We’re also proud of the tax cuts we brought in for both income and company tax, and RMA and local government reforms.

Quad bike safety

Another important programme is the quad bike safety campaign being run by the Department of Labour.

Around 400 farmers across New Zealand will get a visit from a Health and Safety inspector between now and May to check they are keeping workers safe.

It’s critical for farmers is to make sure workers are competent, have the right training, wear a helmet and never let kids ride an adult bike.

The aim is not to be heavy-handed, but to make our farms safer. An average of 850 people are seriously injured each year and five people killed. This is still too high.

Trade

Trade agreements are another important priority for this Government.

The Free Trade Agreement with China has created a favourable environment for our exporters, as the Chinese market has grown.  China is now our second largest trading partner.

The Prime Minister’s ambition, shared by China’s leaders, is to double bilateral trade to NZ $20 billion by 2015.

Over the past three years, we’ve worked on an ambitious trade agenda, and we’re not taking our foot off the pedal.

We are currently in talks with India and hope to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement.  The Prime Minister’s visit there earlier this year clearly demonstrated that good progress can be made.

As a nation, we rely on trade with the rest of the world to make a living.

On that note, I’d like to say a few words about a couple of other issues in the news that impact on the Dairying industry.

Foreign investment

Carefully managed, I believe both foreign investment and immigration can deliver real benefits for New Zealand.

Overseas investors and migrants can also bring in knowledge, skills and technology, and help develop global networks, leading to improvements in productivity and further economic growth.

Many New Zealand companies would struggle to find the capital needed to expand and grow without overseas investment.

It’s a two-way street. Many New Zealand firms have also looked abroad and purchased farmland to expand their own business activity.

The Government believes that careful, balanced foreign investment has a major role to play in New Zealand’s economic development.

Immigration – Rural workers

The same applies to Immigration – my other big Ministerial portfolio.

My aim as Minister is to boost the contribution the immigration makes to our economy.

It already is big business:

• New migrants contribute around $1.9 billion to our economy each year.
• International students coming here to study are worth $2.3 billion
• And tourism is worth around $9 billion.

Migrant workers also make a real contribution to the agricultural sector, filling the gap where there are not enough suitable workers.

Today we are launching these two great little booklets, a guide to working on a dairy farm, and a guide for employers. These were both produced by Immigration New Zealand, along Federated Farmers, Dairy NZ, Rural Women New Zealand, and input from your organisation.

It contains great advice on dealing with things like:

• Our changeable weather
• Kiwi slang and expressions
• Working with animals
• Employment law
• Keeping safe; and
• Adapting to rural life.

We also have an employer guide, which is a step by step guide to what dairy farmers need to know and do if they are thinking about recruiting migrant workers.

There is also plenty of useful information and checklists in there if farmers are already employing migrant workers.

It explains why settling migrants is good for productivity, and provides tips on how to prepare for migrant workers, what to do when they arrive, how to relate to migrant staff, and where to go for more assistance.

It has been really important for my officials to work alongside the industry and with farmers who have experience in this area.

Well done to everyone who helped put the guides together. I understand that a number of Dairy Women have contributed to the guides including Michelle Wilson, Sarah Speight, Alex Thompson, Val Ellis, Wendy Shaw, and Sharron Davie-Martin.

The reality is that because the dairy industry is such a dominant economic player in New Zealand, it must be a leader and take responsibility.

It is in everyone’s interest that we help new workers settle here, so that they are properly looked after and can be happy and productive.

I know that when it comes to running a dairy business, many of you will here today will be – in effect - the human resource manager, amongst your many other roles.

Copies of these guides are here today, so please take a copy and some for your staff as well.

There are more than 1500 migrant dairy workers in the country, out of a total dairy workforce of around 24,000. Nearly half of these workers came from the Philippines, with Fiji, Chile and South Africa the next most common countries.

This is a good example of how we use immigration to grow the New Zealand economy.

Our first preference is always jobs for New Zealanders, but if there is a gap in the market that is holding us back, we will look to bring suitable people in from overseas.

We’re likely to see more of this in the future as the rebuild of Christchurch starts in earnest. Obviously this will be a busy time for local tradespeople, and there is no doubt that we will need extra help from overseas.

Conclusion

As you can tell – the government has a busy work programme. Obviously there are a lot of other big issues I haven’t even touched on, like welfare reform, the mixed ownership model, and public sector reform.

The one clear theme of all the work we are doing is to grow the economy, and make it work for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

In doing that, we need to support your industry, and help you to be as successful, sustainable and productive as you can be.

When you do well, New Zealand does well.

Thank you.

(Source, Beehive, Nathan Guy)

22/03/12 - New migrant dairy guides launched

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Immigration and Associate Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has launched two new guides today to help migrant dairy workers and their employers work together more successfully.

“Migrant workers make up a small but significant part of the dairy industry workforce, filling the gaps where there are not enough New Zealanders available.

“There are now around 1500 migrant dairy workers in the country, making up 6% of the workforce. The majority come from the Philippines and demand has increased in recent years as it has proved difficult to attract and retain local workers in some parts of rural New Zealand.

“The dairy industry is worth more than $13 billion in export value to New Zealand and is our largest single exporter. It’s in everyone’s interest that migrant workers fit easily into rural communities.”

The guides cover topics including employment and immigration law, keeping safe, working with animals, our changeable weather, Kiwi slang and expressions, and adapting to rural life.

“The guides have come out of the Migrant Dairy Workers Initiative, which was set up by Immigration New Zealand in February last year in response to concerns about the welfare of migrant dairy farm workers and their families.”

Industry partners such as Federated Farmers, Rural Women and DairyNZ have all contributed to these brochures.

Copies of the guides, Are you recruiting migrant workers? What do you need to know? and Living and working on a New Zealand dairy farm are available at www.ssnz.govt.nz/dairyfarming/

The guide for workers will also be available in Tagalog (for Filipino workers) and Spanish (for South American workers) in early April.

(Source Beehive, N Guy)

16/03/12 - The benefits of New Zealand

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New Zealand is an advanced country with a rich cultural background. Every year, a large number of overseas applicants apply for New Zealand immigration. There are a number of reasons why people choose to migrate to this nation. Some of the reasons may be as below...

Beautiful country with a great climate

New Zealand, also known as Aotearoa, Land of the Long While Cloud, and the land of the flightless Kiwi, is a beautiful country with a diversified geography. Its magnificent glaciers and mountains are adding more beauty to the landscape of the country. These mountains always remain covered with snow accentuating the beauty of the lakes and the rivers. Its amassing landscape and great climate has always been fascinating people visiting and living in New Zealand.

Economy

New Zealand is known for its sound economic background, which has become a motivating factor for overseas applicants to immigrate. The economy of New Zealand has traditionally been based on exports from the agricultural sector. The main agricultural export goods of New Zealand include dairy products, fruit and vegetables, forest products, wool, meat and fish. Apart from these, New Zealand has substantial hydroelectric power and sizable reserves of natural gas. Its major manufacturing industries include metal fabrication, food processing, wood and paper industry.

Immigration instructions

Unlike other immigration destinations across the world, New Zealand has Immigration Instructions that allows all types of overseas applicants, such as skilled, business and investor etc. The immigration instructions have been improved over the years by making it more flexible and transparent. People with relevant qualifications and experiences can easily apply for New Zealand immigration.

Quality of life

Every individual who dreams of immigrating overseas would choose a destination where they can have a better quality of life. New Zealand is ranked number three among the best nations to live in across the world, climbing 17 destinations in the latest index of United Nations, based at measuring development. According to a survey done in the year of 2010, the majority of New Zealand residents living in the cities had a positive response regarding the quality of their life. With a healthy living atmosphere, housing, health and education facilities, it has become one of the best destination to migrate to.

Excellent education system

There are a number of people, who wish to immigrate to New Zealand with the purpose of attaining a higher education. The educational institutions of New Zealand offer a wide range of courses and thus are very welcoming to overseas students, who intend to pursue their higher studies. The Government of New Zealand has instated national quality assurance systems, designed to assist the educational institutions to maintain their quality and consistency of assessment and training programs. According to this system, all programs, courses and qualification offered by registered institutions should be approved by the quality assurance authority.

Safety and security

When it comes to safety and security, New Zealand is considered to be the safest place to live in, with family and children. Due to its safe living atmosphere, it has become the first choice for overseas applicants for migration with the purpose of obtaining permanent resident status in New Zealand.

Job and business opportunities

Many people wish to migrate to New Zealand with a purpose of obtaining jobs in the country. New Zealand provides several employment opportunities and a healthy environment to work in. At present, the country is providing a number of opportunities for those, who want to apply for New Zealand immigration under Skilled Migrant Category (SMC). New Zealand is the best option for you if you are looking for better career options, and great business opportunities (through the Long Term Business Visa (LTBV) or attractive pay packages. In fact, 73% women have found New Zealand, a better option regarding career opportunities.

If you need any kind of assistance regarding your immigration to New Zealand, then approach J Peter Hendrikx from Terra Nova Consultancy Ltd who can guide and assist you properly.

15/03/12 - New Ministry to drive business growth agenda

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The new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will help the Government’s business growth agenda by implementing integrated policies to build a more competitive and internationally-focused economy, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says.

Prime Minister John Key today announced that Cabinet had agreed in principle to establish the new Ministry, which will absorb the functions of the Ministry of Economic Development, the Department of Labour, the Ministry of Science and Innovation, and the Department of Building and Housing.

The intention is for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to come into effect on 1 July this year, with the current departments forming the initial functional business units of the new Ministry. This is subject to due diligence being completed for a report back to Cabinet in April.

"If we want more and better jobs for New Zealanders we need to encourage more businesses to be based here. That means making it easier for businesses and companies to access innovative ideas, markets, capital, skilled workers, resources, and the supporting public infrastructure. The Government has a comprehensive business growth agenda to assist business, and a single focused business-facing government ministry will further boost our momentum," Mr Joyce says.

"The new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will also ensure we have clear, co-ordinated and focused government policy leadership with a commitment to economic growth and innovation.

"The new Ministry will reduce the complexity involved in working between agencies, and between agencies and business. At present when businesses engage with government they work with multiple government agencies, which takes away valuable time, as well as incurring unnecessary duplication of effort. This is time that could better be served in allowing companies to work on their businesses rather than on their government relations.

"A more efficient and effective Ministry focused on lifting overall productivity and supporting the growth of competitive businesses is a crucial element in creating more jobs and higher wages, and boosting our standard of living," Mr Joyce says.

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Questions and Answers

What are the benefits of the creation of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment?

Principal benefits include:

• Stronger policy leadership of the Government’s business growth agenda.
• Making it easier for business to engage with Government.
• Strengthening Government’s ability to work on big cross-sector issues.
• Realising efficiency gains over time.

How will the change take place and over what time frame?

Subject to the due diligence process and final Cabinet approval, the new Ministry will be established by 1 July 2012.

The integration will take place in two phases:

• The initial transition by 1 July 2012. This will involve putting in place the framework for the start-up of the new Ministry, including an acting CE and second tier arrangements.
• The current departments will form the initial functional business units of the new Ministry.
• From 1 July, the Acting Chief Executive will then be responsible for integrating the functions of the new Ministry.
• This will ensure we can achieve an integrated agency over time while also continuing to deliver on existing work programmes underway in each department.
• Clear priorities and a timetable will be set to guide internal integration and the concurrent delivery of economic growth objectives.

In the interim, individual Chief Executives will remain accountable for their Departments.

Is there any precedent internationally for this proposed change?

There are a number of precedents for the proposed change in international jurisdictions. The United Kingdom government (establishing the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in 2009) and the Australian government (establishing the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education in 2011) have recently reformed their economic advice agencies to ensure those agencies are able to respond effectively to the current global economic situation and to have established a strong platform for growth as the global economy improves.

While there are obvious difficulties in making international comparisons, both of these reforms have sought to integrate and strengthen policy capability around supporting innovation as the primary driver for improved productivity and competitiveness for business.

As part of the 2009 reforms, the United Kingdom government also moved to ensure its labour market and employment support functions were integrated with its broader economic advice agency. Australia and Canada maintain separate departments for labour market functions, as they have sought alignment for those functions closer to social development policy.

How many jobs will be lost?

It is our intention for current employees of the four departments to move across to the new Ministry on 1 July. It is not possible at this stage to identify how many jobs will be lost from the merger. Any changes will be identified through the detailed structural design process for the new agency, which will take place over time.

The key motivation for the merger is to achieve better coordination and a more integrated policy approach than has been possible with the four separate agencies. However, efficiencies will be sought over time where they are appropriate.

When will the staff in these departments know what is happening to their jobs?

Further analysis and planning is underway to help determine the structure of the agency pending a report back to Cabinet in April seeking a final decision.

It is intended the current departments will form the initial functional business units of the agency

Further integration will occur progressively over time and affected staff will be fully consulted as changes occur.

What are the financial implications?

We expect to see efficiencies through reducing duplication and overlaps, and to achieve integration within the existing baselines of the four current departments.

The State Services Commissioner will convene a Transition Group to undertake due diligence for a report back to Cabinet in April 2012. This report-back will include financial implications and scoping of efficiency gains.

How much is it expected to save in the longer term?

Given recent experience of the efficiency gains possible through bringing separate departments together (such as bringing Archives New Zealand and the National Library into DIA and the Ministry of Fisheries and the NZ Food Safety Authority into MAF), we expect to see a clear efficiency dividend. The actual amount won’t be known for some time.

What does this mean for the stakeholders of these agencies?

During the transition, stakeholders can expect business as usual from the four departments.

Over time it will be easier for stakeholders to interact and do business with the new Ministry, which will bring together a range of business-focused functions that previously businesses would have to go to multiple agencies to access.

What other agencies may be brought into the new Ministry?

We don’t expect any other agencies to be integrated into the new Ministry, but other functions may transfer in or out of the new Ministry depending on the due diligence process.

What will the process be for appointing the Chief Executive of the new Ministry?

This will be considered as part of the due diligence process for report back to Cabinet in April.

Are there plans to bring all business-facing government activities into the one agency?

No. There are no plans to bring further agencies into the merger.

However, we will be looking at how some Crown entity functions will report into the new Ministry.

Are there other mergers planned?

This merger is the only departmental merger the Government is planning. We are not ruling out further change in the future, but there is no plan for wholesale reorganisation of the public sector.

Isn’t this just a cost-cutting move?

No. The driving goal of this change is to develop a single dedicated business-facing Government department that can strengthen policy capability, improve the regulatory environment, bring together business-facing services and improve the Government’s own internal co-ordination.

However, given recent experience of the efficiency gains possible through bringing separate departments together ( such as bringing Archives New Zealand and the national library into DIA, and the Ministry of Fisheries and the NZ Food Safety Authority into MAF), we also expect to see a clear efficiency dividend as we eliminate duplication, overlaps and integrate back office functions.

Won’t this new Ministry be too big and unwieldy?

No. The new department would have around 3,200 employees at the outset, making it a similar size as the Ministry of Justice.