Consultation extended: now closing 10 December

Kia ora koutou,

After careful consideration I have made a decision to extend the consultation on the organisational structure change proposal that is currently with our people for feedback.

The consultation will now close on 10 December 2025. This will give an additional two weeks to provide feedback on the proposed changes.

In making the decision I have balanced up what we are hearing from our people. I know many of our people just want to get it done and understand final decisions by Christmas, however the resounding voice is how much our people want to participate and across the country they have been asking for more time to process the document and prepare their feedback. I acknowledge there is a lot to take in so I want to make sure there is time that allows for everyone who wants to have a say.

Given the extended timeframe and feedback so far, we are expecting to receive a lot of submissions. The feedback we have received so far has been really thoughtful. To ensure we have the time to constructively work through all the feedback and get the best outcome, we will be changing the date on which we will be announcing our decisions. We are now intending to release our decisions on the final structure on 29 January 2026.

This is difficult for the teams and individuals impacted and our initial timeframes would have allowed us to announce our decisions this side of the new year, meaning more certainty for everyone. This change means people who are affected or impacted by the proposals will go into the summer break with more uncertainty than we had intended, but it is important we get the right balance between the opportunity to engage and the timing of decisions.

The changes we are proposing are to help us give effect to Our Strategic Direction, which shapes how we operate and what we focus our efforts and resources on. 

We want to hear your views on whether or not the change should take place, the reasons behind the proposed change, and on the proposed changes themselves. Your feedback is especially important if you see potential impacts on your work that are not addressed or considered in the changes we are suggesting.

I encourage you take advantage of this time and provide feedback on the proposal via our Consultation Portal page.

While these changes will impact our consultation timeline, we are confident there will be minimal impact on the overall timeline for establishing our new structure. We still expect to initiate stand up of any new structure in late March or early April 2026.

I want to acknowledge everyone who has been able to take the time to submit feedback so far. I know that reading the document, reflecting on what it might mean for you and your teams, and then choosing to share your views takes effort - especially during a period that has felt uncertain and demanding. Thank you for engaging with this process so openly and respectfully.

I look forward to hearing the perspectives that are yet to come, and I value the care and consideration you’re putting into them.

Ngā mihi

Kerry Gregory