The Public Service Commission has proposed to gut its specialist Pasifika public services development unit, Le Fale, with a 35 per cent funding reduction and nearly a 50 per cent drop in roles, from 17 to just nine.
PSA national secretary Duane Leo says the proposal is devastating for staff, who work both within New Zealand and across the Pacific to improve public services.
"It's distressing for the team, but they're also worried about the significant impacts this change will on Pasifika both in New Zealand and across the 16 Pacific nations they work with.
"Le Fale is a unique part of the public service that uses Pasifika expertise and lived experience to ultimately improve the lives of Pasifika. It's a catastrophe to cut this team in two, when we know that public services, especially in New Zealand, don't always serve Pacific people well."
Established in 2020, Le Fale is housed at the Public Service Commission with funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
"Because Le Fale is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, we're not sure what the international implications of this will be. The Public Service Commission notes in its own proposal that a long-term strategy for Le Fale is important, as is keeping up the momentum on its work.
"New Zealand has a long history of friendship and support in the Pacific - it doesn't make any sense to knock this relationship to save a few dollars."
The decrease in funding at Le Fale comes in the wake of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples being slashed by 40 per cent last year, and the Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche's comments today that he would not rule out folding the agency's functions into a larger ministry.
"Stripping back provisions for the Pasifika community like this is frankly insulting, not only to the people within it but to any public servant who has worked with Pasifika to deliver them effective public services."
