Source: PSA
The Department of Conservation is proposing a major restructure of its information systems function, driven by budget pressure and plans to embed artificial intelligence across its operations.
Under the proposal, unveiled to staff today, 65 roles are being disestablished in DOC’s Information Systems and Services group. With 17 roles currently vacant, this directly impacts 48 staff, many of whom are long serving. They will be left competing for 40 new positions, with no guarantee of a job at the end of the process.
“This isn’t more with less. This is less with less at a time when the conservation estate, the jewel in New Zealand’s crown, is under more pressure than ever,” said Duane Leo, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
DOC told staff the changes were driven by several factors, including the need to find ‘genuine savings’, to embed AI across all its work and the need to take on more commercial activity.
“DOC’s IT team is the backbone of conservation work in the field. Rangers rely on it to monitor pest traps and cameras, track bird breeding programmes, and stay connected in remote areas.
“There’s no doubt AI can be a valuable tool to strengthen conservation efforts and free up staff time in the field. It’s being used now with an AI trap network on the Heaphy Track, and used to process live camera data, all saving ranger time.
“But you can’t build a smarter, more capable technology function by cutting so many experienced people. These are workers who understand DOC’s systems, its environment, and its mission. That knowledge doesn’t transfer to a new position description. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
The PSA is concerned the restructure is being driven by the need to find savings rather than what is best for conservation.
“A government serious about conservation would be investing more in technology, not less. This is cutting the cloth to fit a slimmer budget while hoping the public doesn’t notice the consequences.
“And the Government clearly wants DOC to find more of its own money. The Conservation Amendment Bill is proposing shifting its focus from strict preservation to enabling commercial activity and economic development ‘to the greatest extent practicable’. These priorities are all wrong.
“This is why we need a new government come November, one that properly values the public service and in this case, sees the huge value DOC provides New Zealanders and overseas visitors.”
Staff only have until 13 July to provide feedback, just eight working days. The PSA is calling on DOC to reconsider the scale and pace of the proposal, and to explore retraining and redeployment options before experienced staff are shown the door.
“There’s an opportunity here to do something genuinely forward-looking: invest in your people, build capability, and use technology to deepen conservation outcomes. This proposal risks squandering that opportunity.”
Background – DOC cuts to date
On top of these cuts DOC, like many government agencies, has to reduce its workforce by 14% or around 370 roles over the next three years to meet the Government’s target to reducing the public sector workforce by nearly 9000 jobs.
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 boards and community groups.