3 mins to read Govt to cut 8700 public service jobs Finance Minister wants to save $2.4b through merging departments and AI efficiencies. Finance Minister Nicola Willis. Simon Shepherd Tue, 19 May 2026 © All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription. Public service job cuts, merged departments and AI efficiencies are all part of the Government’s plan to save $2.4 billion over the next four years. At a pre-budget speech to Business North
Harbour in Auckland’s northern suburbs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis outlined three goals to Want to read more? It’s easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account? Login Smartphone Only Subscription NZ$29.95 / monthly Monthly Premium Online Subscription NZ$49.95 / monthly Smartphone Only Annual Subscription NZ$299.00 / yearly Yearly Premium Online Subscription NZ$499.00 / yearly Premium Group Membership 10 Users NZ$385+GST / monthly $38.5 per user – Pay by monthly credit card debit Premium Group Membership 20 Users NZ$660+GST / monthly $33 per user – Pay
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News tip? Question? Typo? Let us know: editor@nbr.co.nz © All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription. Nicola Willis public service Budget 2026 public servants government departments Free News Alerts Sign up to get the latest stories and insights delivered to your inbox – free, every day. Related News Politically Speaking Budget restraint, the immigration debate, climate change Govt cuts $300m from Budget operating allowance The Treasury advises recovery is delayed, not derailed Election
2026: Will voters care about the deficit? The case for making structural change to the Public Service Free News Alerts Sign up to get the latest stories and insights delivered to your inbox – free, every day. Related News Politically Speaking Budget restraint, the immigration debate, climate change Govt cuts $300m from Budget operating allowance The Treasury advises recovery is delayed, not derailed Election 2026: Will voters care about the deficit? The case for making structural change to the Public Service
public service job cuts, 8700 jobs, Nicola Willis, AI efficiencies, merged departments, $2.4 billion savings, pre-budget speech, Business North Harbour, Auckland