NZPIF slams ‘Super Ministry' plans

Yesterday Prime Minister John Key revealed plans to merge the operations of the DBH with the Ministry of Economic Development, Department of Labour and Ministry of Science and Innovation, creating the new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

"I'm not sure what the Department of Building and Housing has to do with business, innovation or employment," said NZPIF president Andrew King.

"We are concerned that the measure is purely for cost cutting purposes and we have already seen a dramatic drop in services in the past two years. While the people at the DBH are trying to cope as best they can, their income from the interest on bond deposits has fallen at the same time that Government Departments are being squeezed in general."

King said a recent restructure, purported to be for service improvements, led to a deterioration of a previously good service.