Mayor says losses will hurt region

The loss of 13 DoC jobs will have a "huge impact" on Wanganui, says Mayor Annette Main.

The loss of incomes, expertise and the community contribution these staff and their families make would be felt deeply.

"They are part of our social, educational and sporting networks and every time a decision is made to centralise government agencies in larger centres, it has a negative effect on the economy, population and social fabric of the regions," she said.

Ms Main said provincial centres wanted to retain government departments and improve infrastructure in the regions "but there seems to be a growing trend by central government for centralisation which is putting huge pressure on smaller economies like ours".

"It's extremely disappointing to have lost the NZ Transport Agency's Wanganui office and now the DoC staff in such a short space of time.

"Decisions like these are really hurting the provinces and we need to see some commitment from central government to supporting regional NZ." Hamish McDouall, the Labour candidate for Whanganui has called MP Chester Borrows to resign following job cuts.

Mr McDouall said after the loss of the bailiffs, the child advocate, the NZTA office and cuts to the emergency department at Wanganui Hospital, this was the last straw.

"I had two calls before 8am today from people in tears because of these job losses. In a time of recession the very last thing you do is strip Government jobs away from the places feeling the pinch the most," he said.

"I believe Chester is a good person but he has been unable or unwilling to advocate forcefully for this city in any demonstrable way."

However, Mr Borrows said it was heartening that DoC was focusing on supporting staff in the field by restructuring administrative support.

He said all the positions were administrative or technical, positions created by the previous Labour Government when it undertook an unnecessary public sector expansion.

"The jobs replicated activity and added little to the efficiency of DoC's overall operations. In a time of constraint and recession the Government has to reconsider positions and how they are best used," Mr Borrows said.

"I'm sorry that this has meant Wanganui will lose some local positions but note that the city has had an overall increase in government-related jobs and jobs in private enterprise on the back of National's clear leadership of the economy."