The Green Party has joined Labour in warning job cuts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will have a serious impact on its ability to look after Kiwis abroad.
Staff are expected to be told on Thursday about a shake-up which includes proposals to cull up to 300 jobs including 40 diplomatic positions in a cost-saving move to trim the ministry's $400 million a year budget.
Labour's Phil Goff, a former foreign minister, says he's been told by ministry insiders that at least 260 positions will go.
"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 told NZ Newswire.
The Green's foreign affairs spokesman, Kennedy Graham, says Foreign Minister Murray McCully wants to bring the private sector into the ministry.
"Any cutbacks have the potential to impact on the ability of New Zealanders travelling overseas to receive consular assistance," he says.
Mr McCully's office says the minister won't be making any comment until staff consultations have started.
NZN