O’Connor announces stronger focus for MPI
Hon Damien O’Connor
Minister
for Agriculture, Food Safety, and
Biosecurity
13 December 2017
MEDIA STATEMENT
O’Connor announces
stronger focus for MPI
Minister for Agriculture, Biosecurity, Food Safety and Rural Communities Damien O’Connor announced today that the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will reorganise its functions to create a stronger focus on core responsibilities.
Mr O’Connor says government will set up four portfolio-based entities, Fisheries New Zealand, Forestry New Zealand, Biosecurity New Zealand and New Zealand Food Safety.
“Our priority is to achieve greater clarity and unity of purpose for these areas. We are seeking enhanced visibility of government policy and regulatory activities and clearer lines of accountability and engagement for stakeholders.
“We are now looking to the Director General of MPI to work with his team to achieve this, while ensuring prudent and efficient use of taxpayer and industry funds.
“MPI will continue to meet the expectations of our international trading partners as the competent authority.’’
MPI will build up its forestry presence in Rotorua, Mr O’Connor says.
“Rotorua’s location puts it at the heart of our forestry sector and makes it the most appropriate site for a dedicated forestry presence to support the Government’s ambition in this important sector.
“It’s likely further change in the forest space will occur after policy and operational work to deliver the Government’s ambitious goals in this area.”
Reorganisation of MPI’s functions will occur in the early part of 2018 and will be in place by April.
“I would like to thank MPI staff for their commitment and hard work in the primary sector and assure them that there will be no reduction in staff numbers as a result of these changes. This change is about increasing focus and ensuring greater visibility of fisheries, forestry, biosecurity and food safety,” Mr O’Connor says.
The estimated cost to implement the changes is $6.8 million to establish the four portfolio-based business units. Additional ongoing operating costs are estimated at $2.3m per annum.
Mr O’Connor says reprioritised money from the Primary Growth Partnership Fund will pay for the changes so there will be no additional cost to taxpayers.
“This is a prudent and cost-effective change that can be managed with existing monies.’’
Questions and
answers
1. What
are the changes that are being proposed?
The
Ministry for Primary Industries will be reorganised to
create a stronger focus on core responsibilities.
Four
new portfolio-based entities will be established within MPI
– Fisheries New Zealand, Forestry New Zealand, Biosecurity
New Zealand and New Zealand Food Safety.
As well as the
establishment of portfolios, MPI will also expand its
forestry presence in Rotorua.
2. What is the Government aiming to achieve?
• Increased focus on
portfolios, particularly fisheries, forestry, biosecurity
and food safety and a corresponding lift in
performance
• Greater clarity and unity of
purpose for staff working in portfolio areas, aligned to
Ministerial focus
• Enhanced transparency of
government policy and regulatory activities within portfolio
areas
• Prudent and efficient use of taxpayer
and industry funds.
3. Will
MPI have a change in name? If not, why not?
No,
MPI will not have a change in name. MPI will remain the host
agency for the new branches.
The Government has carefully
considered the impacts on trade and market access for
primary sector exporters of any changes to MPI’s status as
New Zealand’s Competent Authority. As such, it is
recognised that it is important to maintain consistency with
our branding and continue to provide assurances that New
Zealand’s products are fit for export and meet the
requirements of trading partners and the potential for
disruption to trade.
4. Why
aren’t separate agencies being set up?
MPI
developed four options for changes to MPI for Ministers to
consider, including the establishment of separate agencies
and services to industry and the public.
The Government
made the decision that four new, separately branded
portfolio-based entities within MPI is the best option to
minimise the cost and loss of productivity to MPI while also
achieving the necessary refocusing of MPI.
5. How much will the
change cost?
The estimated cost to implement
these changes is approximately $6.8 million to establish the
four portfolio-based business units. Additional ongoing
operating costs are estimated at $2.3 million per
annum.
6. How is MPI
funding this change?
Funding from the Vote:
Primary Industries and Food Safety will be re-appropriated
to support the changes required.
Reprioritisation of the
Primary Growth Partnership Fund will pay for the new
structure so there will be no additional cost to
taxpayers.
7. When will the
changes be fully operational?
MPI will commence
planning immediately. Reorganisation of MPI’s functions
will occur in the early part of 2018 and will be in place by
April.
8. What is the
implementation timetable?
In order to implement
these changes, MPI will undergo an implementation planning
phase to ensure that all required changes are
operationalised and effective.
In early 2018, MPI will
identify options for how to separate appropriations for the
new branches and identify impacts on staff and
stakeholders.
Once this planning phase has been
completed, MPI will then seek to implement the new
organisational structure. MPI intends to commence
implementation of the new organisational structure in April
2018.