Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The Department of Internal Affairs is proposing 27 roles to be cut across Archives NZ and National Library as workers in the public sector continue to face job cuts.
DIA wants to bring the two organisations under the joint leadership of the Chief Archivist and National Librarian.
It had proposed the current structures to be replaced with a new organisation, which would allow collaboration while maintaining the unique purpose of each institution.
"This proposed new way of working is an opportunity for us to collaborate more closely to deliver shared services and resources while addressing current and future challenges," said National Librarian Rachel Esson.
"While we are proposed to remain as separate institutions, we want to optimise our resources to ensure we can meet the future needs of New Zealanders and deliver core services, which are vital for a thriving Aotearoa, in the most effective way. It has taken time, but it's about how we best position ourselves for the future," said Chief Archivist Anahera Morehu.
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The DIA said that although a large number of positions were being disestablished, many new positions were also being created, leading to an overall reduction of 27 positions.
Approximately a third of the proposed job cuts were understood to be vacancies.
The department noted the work was happening in the context of wider departmental and public sector changes.
"Although the work started before the government's directive on fiscal sustainability, it has been able to take advantage of the shared services ambitions to make the most efficient use of public money."
On Thursday a consultation pack was sent to Archives New Zealand and National Library staff following an all-staff meeting for both institutions.
Staff consultation for the proposed new way of working would close on 16 December.
Decisions and implementation were expected from early March 2025.
"Another in a long line of broken promises" - PSA
Public Service Association assistant secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the proposed cuts would include librarians, curators, archives advisors and other experienced staff.
"These two institutions carry out critical work for all New Zealanders, yet the government is ploughing ahead with cuts to jobs that will again impact a frontline service thousands of New Zealanders rely on accessing every week."
Archives NZ collected a variety of information including court records, citizenship files, police and prison records, artworks, films, maps, plans and health, mental health and welfare records, and with fewer staff, backlogs would grow, she said.
"The public will often go to Archives with time-sensitive requests for legal/civil processes. For example, if someone needs to access their divorce record from archives to prove marital status, it could delay applications for pensions, impact re-marrying, or the processing of wills."
PSA audited public service agencies to ensure they were abiding by legislative requirements for record keeping, and these would also be affected, she said.
Fitzsimons was also concerned how cuts to the National Library would affect literacy.
"The government promised to lift literacy rates, but again these cuts are undermining its own policy. Librarians in Reading Services for Schools in the National Library are being reduced. They do important work liaising with teachers and source reading material to help students to achieve.
"You can't get more frontline than that."
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