The restructuring will “sharpen the Centre’s focus”, justice secretary Andrew Kibblewhite says
Twenty-two positions will be removed from the Centre for Family Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention per the government’s final calls on proposed reforms.
The government announced the decisions on Thursday 27 August following a consultation with staff. A total of 35 roles will be eliminated while 13 new positions will be created.
Eleven of the discontinued roles were vacant.
“The new structure will sharpen the centre’s focus. The decisions respond to consultation feedback by retaining specialist capability and relationships, strengthening Māori capability, clarifying policy capability, increasing governance and communications support, and strengthening coordination and data capability”, said justice secretary Andrew Kibblewhite, who chairs the Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence, in a media release.
Kibblewhite added that the reforms would “support a more focused, joined-up, accountable and effective system response”. The structuring changes are set to take effect on 28 September.
“Throughout consultation, we heard how important it is to maintain strong and trusted engagement with the family violence and sexual violence sector, and to ensure the voices of communities, Māori, iwi, providers, victims and survivors continue to shape strategic direction. The board remains strongly committed to those relationships”, he said.
The board initiated the consultation in June after a review of the family and sexual violence prevention system’s current requirements. The review looked into the structures, capabilities and leadership required to support the system’s objectives.
The initial proposal called for 36 positions to be disestablished while 10 roles would be created.
“I want to recognise this has been a difficult and unsettling time for many staff, particularly those impacted by the proposal and final decisions. I want to thank them for the professionalism and commitment they have shown throughout this process”, Kibblewhite said.
Nonetheless, he recognised that more work needed to be done to achieve Te Aorerekura goals beyond the restructuring.
The justice ministry hosts the Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence. The board was launched in 2021 to advise, coordinate and provide system leadership to agencies.
Te Aorerekura is the national strategy which aims to end family and sexual violence by unifying and driving government, according to Kibblewhite.
