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Source: ONE News -
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Cutbacks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade could leave New Zealanders who find themselves in trouble overseas with only a hotline number to call for help.
The Ministry announced today that 305 jobs are to go as part of a radical overhaul, after the Government asked it to shave $40 million off its budget.
The losses involve 169 New Zealanders based here and abroad, and 136 foreigners who work for the ministry overseas.
Chief executive John Allen said setting up a travellers hotline will ease the burden on overseas' offices.
"It will take a lot of call volume away from posts and free them up to focus on the things that matter, but more importantly people will get a consistent service," he said.
But the idea has been slammed by opponents who believe the cutbacks will damage New Zealand's international standing.
"Consular activities that will be replaced by an 0800 number? That's crazy," Labour's Foreign Affairs spokesman Phil Goff said.
"There were three young women that got sick in Thailand, one of them very sadly died and they had consular assistance. Under the new proposals their family would be given an 0800 number," he told Close Up
Goff said there are 2000 New Zealanders who seek consular assistance every year and rely on the support of the Government's overseas embassies.
Jeff Osborne from the Public Services Association said having people on the ground to provide support is irreplaceable.
"These are the people who get New Zealand nationals out of disaster, war and terrorist zones," he said.
"They use the clout of the New Zealand Government when citizens are taken into custody abroad and they assist bereaved and distressed families when New Zealanders die overseas.
"Do New Zealanders really want these roles contracted out? I don't think so."
As well as the job losses, another 600 staff will be forced to reapply for their positions as part of the proposals.
Allen said staff will have a month to submit their view on the changes, which also include closing embassies in Stockholm and Warsaw, cutting the Maori Policy Unit and cutting overseas allowances.
Minister Murray McCully said the proposals are "a far-reaching and genuine attempt to create a Foreign Ministry that can meet New Zealand's current and future needs."
But the PSA said the impacts of the changes need to be carefully considered.
"It's difficult to see how sacking hundreds of capable staff, including diplomats, is going to advance New Zealand's interests," Osborne said.
"These are the professionals we send overseas to build relationships and open doors to new markets."
McCully had put the agency on notice last year that he planned to tip tradition on its head.
In a speech he said diplomatic postings would be advertised for all-comers and warned that MFAT focused too much on Europe, when the balance of trade and economic opportunity had moved toward Asia, South America and regions like the Gulf states.
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