Minister orders pause on contract reviews amid potential impact on social support services
The Public Service Association (PSA) has called on the New Zealand government to reverse all its cuts on Oranga Tamariki after Children's Minister Karen Chhour intervened on the potential closure of a social support services provider.
Chhour ordered Oranga Tamariki to work with Barnardos, a social support services provider, after reports that the ministry's ongoing contract reviews could lead to the closure of the provider's youth telehealth counselling service.
"When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information I have received, Oranga Tamariki's handling of this process has not met my expectations," Chhour said in a statement.
"I met with Oranga Tamariki last night, and instructed them to work with Barnardos to ensure the service can continue to be delivered to families and children."
The minister also ordered the pause of its current review of social service provider contracts and extend them instead despite the government's cost-cutting drive.
"I have asked Oranga Tamariki to pause its current review and extend existing contracts for providers who do not have a current contract, or have a contract that will end shortly, until 31 December 2025," Chhour said.
"This will provide more certainty to providers and allow Oranga Tamariki to input into the wider work the Government is undertaking on social service contracting practices."
But the PSA urged Chhour to reverse all the damaging cuts to community service contracts, including reinstating the axed contracts and restoring funding to existing contracts that were cut.
"She must also reverse the cuts to Oranga Tamariki which has seen 419 jobs axed, nearly 10% of the workforce," said Duane Leo, National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi, in a statement.
"The government promised its cuts would not impact frontline services. The minister's u-turn over the Barnardos' contract shows the government slowly realising it can no longer get away with this spin."
Oranga Tamariki announced last year that it is cutting more than 400 jobs, including some specialist Māori roles, as part of the government's cost-cutting measure for the public service.
