Every Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade staff
member except heads of mission will have to reapply for their positions
under a Government cost-cutting exercise, a former foreign minister
says.
Phil Goff, Foreign Minister for six years in the previous
Labour government, says ministry sources told him several weeks ago that
260 jobs could be cut as the government trims its $400 million a year
budget.
The Dominion Post reported on Tuesday staff will be told
on Thursday about a massive shake-up which includes proposals to cull up
to 40 diplomatic positions by downsizing some embassies and closing
others in cities including Stockholm and Warsaw.
"The bottom line
is they're trying to cut costs, they've already run down the number of
people doing policy analysis work and 20 or 30 positions have gone," Mr
Goff told NZ Newswire.
"I've been told from within the ministry
that everyone except heads of mission will have to reapply for their
jobs and 260 may be going - that includes a significant number of staff
representing New Zealand overseas."
Mr Goff is scathing about the Government's intentions and says the ministry's ability to represent New
Zealand's interests overseas is being undermined.
"They're even
considering telling a New Zealander sick overseas they won't get
consular assistance from a ministry representative - it might be
contracted out to some private firm," he said.
Mr Goff says one of
the reported reasons for the shake-up - that the ministry awards
promotions based on pecking order and seniority - is completely wrong.
"You don't get an ambassadorial post simply because you've been there long enough, you get one because of competence," he said.
Foreign
Minister Murray McCully hasn't commented other than to say the ministry
is making "an honest attempt" to create an agency that meets New
Zealand's needs.
NZ Newswire's calls to Mr McCully's office weren't replied to on Tuesday morning.
NZN