What roles are being cut at the Ministry of Justice?

The proposal includes cutting 26 roles, including policy positions, the entire Inquiries team, and roles within the Ātea a Rangi team focused on Māori-Crown relations.

Why are these cuts significant for Māori-Crown relations?

These roles help ensure the Crown participates in Waitangi Tribunal inquiries in good faith and maintains its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

What is the Inquiries team at the Ministry of Justice?

The Inquiries team supports the Crown’s involvement in Waitangi Tribunal kaupapa inquiries, ensuring responses are coordinated and consistent with Te Tiriti obligations.

How do these cuts affect the justice system for Māori?

Reducing Māori-focused policy and advisory roles risks weakening efforts to address inequities in the justice system and undermines trust between Māori and the Crown.

Govt Cost Cutting Puts Ministry Of Justice Jobs Supporting Māori-Crown Relations At Risk – PSA

The Government’s Ministry of Justice cuts to Māori roles aren’t just bureaucratic reshuffling — they go straight to the heart of Te Tiriti. Strip out the people responsible for holding that relationship together, and what you’re left with is a Crown talking to itself.

A proposal to cut 26 roles at the Ministry of Justice would undermine the Ministry’s ability to deliver on its Te Tiriti obligations, in the latest example the Government’s extreme anti-Māori agenda.

The proposal, released to staff yesterday, includes a net loss of 21 policy roles, including the entire Inquiries team. It also includes a net loss of five roles in the Ātea a Rangi team, which provides strategic and policy advice and leads partnerships with iwi and Māori.

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The Inquiries team supports the Crown’s participation in the Waitangi Tribunal’s Justice and Constitutional kaupapa inquiries. They have a mandate to ensure that the Crown participates in and responds to these inquiries in good faith.

What happens when the Crown stops showing up in good faith?

“These job cuts are a continuation of the Government’s relentless attacks on Māori and is yet another example of how Māori and Te Tiriti capabilities in the public service are being hollowed out,” said Jack McDonald, Te Kaihautū Māori for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

“Disestablishing the Inquiries team will further harm the Māori-Crown relationship, breaking the trust of claimants that the Crown is genuine in participating in these inquiries.

“The disproportionate impact of this country’s criminal justice system on Māori is extremely well documented. Cutting these workers will undermine the Ministry’s ability to meet its Te Tiriti obligations and work alongside Māori communities to reduce inequities in the justice system.

This isn’t cost cutting — it’s capability stripping

“The Government must stop its insidious, ideological drive to cut costs at the expense of Māori. It is undermining the job security of dedicated workers, and it is harming the public service’s ability to deliver Te Tiriti-consistent services for all New Zealanders,” McDonald said.

Some examples of Government cuts to Māori capability

Cuts to Te Puni Kōkiri: Government risks wellbeing of Māori with proposed cuts to Te Puni Kōkiri
Cuts to Māori Public Health team: Ministry of Health proposes slashing top public health experts
IR cuts Māori Research team: Disestablishing IR’s Māori research team will disadvantage whānau – PSA
StatsNZ disestablish its Tangata Tiriti Learning Capability Team: Statistics NZ proposes axing Māori Learning Capability team in latest cull
Pharmac removes Te Tiriti policy: PSA condemns Pharmac move to dismantle Te Tiriti policy and Māori protections

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.