Cuts, closures and a culture of ‘restraint’: What’s the latest in the public sector?
The Spinoff Daily, Wednesday August 14
Ahiahi mārie, welcome to The Spinoff Daily.
Today on The Spinoff: A report comparing Auckland’s performance against 10 other cities reveals familiar problems, what lifting the ‘ban’ on genetic modification means for New Zealand and a love letter to Wellington’s City to Sea Bridge.
Lyric Waiwiri-Smith: “Stretch, squeeze and suck in: listen closely and you’ll be able to hear the pop of the government forcing its belt-tightening measures over an already under-pressure public sector. Despite falling inflation rates and a glint of economic hope on the horizon, the government remains laser-focused in its mission to cut costs across its agencies and adjacent services, leading to nearly 6,500 job losses in the sector, with more expected to come.
A recent Workforce Policy Statement has outlined further spending expectations for government departments, while providers are forced to let go of staff or else close operations due to minimised funding. Between job and service losses and new directives, here’s the latest from the public sector.”
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What does lifting the ‘ban’ on genetic modification mean for New Zealand?
New report reveals Auckland still has no idea what it wants to be when it grows up
In praise of Wellington’s City to Sea Bridge
Why so many women get screwed in divorce
Live blog: The NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2024
This is my place: Micheal Davis
“From Ngāti Whātua’s perspective, we view the city as part of us, so when we see that narrative being spilled out there, we feel the need to get in there and do what we can to improve the situation.”
If you only read headlines in the media, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Auckland’s central city was some sort of war zone. But the lens through which the media has been viewing the central city is a distorted one. To get a more nuanced view of the situation, Britomart Group’s Jeremy Hansen spoke to central city residents about the state of their neighbourhood and its future.
Read what Micheal Davis has to say here.
Coming soon: Takeout Kids season two
Coming-of-age documentary series Takeout Kids returns next week for season two, centred on the lives of five young people growing up between the classroom, home and their parents’ shops. Episode one premieres Tuesday August 20 on The Spinoff. Made with the support of NZ On Air.
