Source: PSA
A proposal to disestablish the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Team at Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission continues the Government’s attack on quality public services that properly represent New Zealand.
The proposed changes would result in a net loss of six roles. The team currently supports employee-led networks and DEI practitioners across public service organisations, building fair representation and closing gender and ethnic pay gaps in the workforce.
“Diversity, equity and inclusion in our workforce are not nice to haves,” said Duane Leo, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi. “They are essential to delivering fair and effective public services.”
Leo said the public service still has work to do to close diversity and equity gaps.
“We’ve come a long way towards closing gender and ethnic pay gaps in the public service, for example, but the gaps are still there. The public service needs a strong central team at Te Kawa Mataaho with specialist knowledge to keep building and maintaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce.”
The proposal follows the Government’s changes to the Public Service Act, which removed requirements on chief executives and the Public Service Commissioner to foster a public service that’s inclusive and representative of the communities it serves.
“We all benefit from a public service that’s informed by the expertise and experience of people from the diverse communities it serves,” said Leo. “The Government’s culture-war scaremongering has no basis in reality, and now it’s making it harder for public services to deliver for all New Zealanders.”
Previous:
- Previous media releases on Government’s push back on developing a public service that reflects and meets the needs of all New Zealanders:
- Reform of the Public Service Act: Disappointing Govt attack on diversity, inclusion in public service
- Removing WorkSafe’s dedicated function to reduce accident rates for Māori, Pasifika and migrant workers: Lowering Māori injury rates put at risk by Govt’s focus on culture wars – PSA
- Cuts to ACC Māori, Pasifika and disability roles: Govt cuts come for Māori, Pasifika, disability roles at ACC
- Removing references to Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in 19 laws: Removing Te Tiriti principles will do lasting damage to public services
- Cuts to Māori Public Health team: Ministry of Health proposes slashing top public health experts
- IR cuts Māori Research team: Disestablishing IR’s Māori research team will disadvantage whānau – PSA
- StatsNZ disestablish its Tangata Tiriti Learning Capability Team: Statistics NZ proposes axing Māori Learning Capability team in latest cull
- Pharmac removes Te Tiriti policy: PSA condemns Pharmac move to dismantle Te Tiriti policy and Māori protections.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health, and community groups.