Fresh restructuring plans at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi are triggering new fears for workers, with more than 140 roles proposed to be disestablished just weeks after another major shake-up inside the agency.
The latest proposals affect teams across Transport Services, Commercial and Corporate, and System Leadership, with a net loss of around 30 positions overall.
The Transport Services group oversees major infrastructure projects including the Government’s Roads of National Significance programme, while the other affected groups support corporate operations and strategic leadership across the agency.
The announcement comes only three weeks after Waka Kotahi revealed another proposed restructure within its Regulatory Group that impacted around 250 positions — roughly 10 percent of its workforce.
Combined, the two rounds of restructuring mean nearly one in five NZTA workers are now facing uncertainty over their future employment.
Public Service Association National Secretary Duane Leo says staff are exhausted and anxious after being subjected to repeated rounds of organisational change.
He says workers are facing months of uncertainty while waiting to learn whether they will keep their jobs, with final redundancy decisions expected in July and August.
The PSA argues many of the affected workers are experienced public servants responsible for planning, delivering and maintaining key transport infrastructure across Aotearoa.
Union representatives say the restructuring is being driven by government pressure to reduce public sector spending, despite billions of dollars being committed to new road-building projects nationwide.
Critics say cutting experienced transport staff while expanding major infrastructure programmes risks creating delays, increased outsourcing and a greater reliance on expensive external consultants.
The PSA also warns repeated restructures are damaging morale across the public sector and contributing to skilled workers considering leaving New Zealand altogether.
The Government has defended broader public sector cost-cutting measures as necessary to reduce spending and improve efficiency across government agencies.
However, unions argue the continued restructuring of frontline and operational agencies is weakening institutional knowledge and creating instability across essential public services.
The PSA says it will continue advocating for affected workers as consultation on the proposed changes moves forward.
