Several New Zealand employers announce job cuts: reports

More organisations in New Zealand's private and public sectors have announced job cuts within their workforce, further expanding the growing list of employers in the country that are laying off staff.

KPMG said it has made almost 50 employees redundant as part of its move to "reshape" its consulting operating model, Radio New Zealand reported.

"This aspect of our consulting transformation is by far the most difficult and we are focused on making sure that everyone impacted, and in our wider team, has the right support in place," said KPMG chief executive Jason Doherty.

Doherty stressed the need to reshape their business in the wake of "changing needs" of clients.

"Given the pace of change in our clients' requirements and buying behaviours, we need to accelerate our own change and reshape our consulting operating model to ensure we meet current client needs - and anticipate future demand," he said as quoted by RNZ.

GNS Science layoffs

GNS Science also revealed that it is “disestablishing” 96 positions in its organisation, including 28 that are currently vacant. Among the disestablished roles are 41 positions in their science group and 18 roles in their enabling functions.

GNS said they are "working closely" with impacted employees and noted that some of them may be redeployed to other positions.

Chelydra Percy, chief executive of GNS Science, said reductions were "necessary to help GNS become more financially sustainable in a challenging operating and economic environment."

"This is difficult news that impacts our people, particularly those whose positions have been disestablished," Percy said in a statement. "The decisions in no way reflect the capability or contribution of the people affected. Their hard work and dedication have made a difference to GNS and to our work for New Zealand."

The disestablishment at GNS follows a "comprehensive consultation process" in the organisation, which effectively retained seven roles that were initially proposed to be disestablished.

Some 37 new roles at GNS were also set to be established, according to the organisation.

"As we move forward from these decisions, we will continue to focus on improving our financial performance and our ability to deliver impactful science," Percy said.

Kāinga Ora job cuts

Meanwhile, Kāinga Ora also announced that it is proposing to cut 321 jobs, RNZ reported.

The job cuts would impact roles in the organisation's urban planning and design, commercial, construction and innovation, and investment management office teams.

Matt Crockett, chief executive of Kāinga Ora, said the proposal seeks to ensure that the social housing agency could deliver expectations in the "most efficient way possible in the coming years," according to RNZ's report.

Decisions on the job cuts will be confirmed in mid-November, RNZ reported, as a period of consultation on the proposal will still need to take place.

Voluntary redundancy at NZ Police

In New Zealand's police, 46% of its non-constabulary staff have expressed interest in voluntary redundancy, the New Zealand Herald reported.

Among those who are potentially interested in voluntary redundancy, 82% were most interested in what they would be financially entitled to if they picked the option, according to the report, citing deputy chief executive of strategy and performance Andrea Conlan.

The police's voluntary redundancy offer is a separate offer from the organisation after it initially confirmed that it is proposing to cut 248 roles.

Among these roles are 128 vacant positions, according to the Herald. The organisation is also proposing the creation of 78 positions, leaving an overall net reduction of 170 jobs.

"Final decisions are expected to be made in early October, and that process concludes at the end of November," the police told the Herald.

The news of job cuts comes as New Zealand's unemployment rate went up to 4.6% in the second quarter of 2024, according to Stats NZ.

Alongside rising unemployment is a decreasing trend in job ads across the country, SEEK NZ data revealed, with competition among talent tightening as applications per job postings continue to go up.