Timaru District Council boss confirms job losses as final restructure plan released

Thursday, 10 July 2025

The Timaru District Council has announced the outcome of its restructure proposal with a net loss of 25 full-time equivalent jobs.

Staff impacted by a restructure at Timaru’s council have learnt their fate, five months after it was first proposed.

Timaru District Council chief executive Nigel Trainor released his final decision document to staff on Wednesday morning, with 59 roles to be disestablished and 34 created, for a net loss of 25 FTE (full-time equivalent) positions.

The original proposal, announced in March, would have cut 71 roles and created 19, resulting in a net loss of 52 roles.

An amended version, released in May after staff consultation, aimed to disestablish 60 roles and create 35.

Trainor said the restructure would save the council $3 million per year, which was down from the original plan’s estimated $3.5m to $4m in savings, but more than the amended proposal’s $2.5m.

Timaru District Council chief executive Nigel Trainor unveiled his final restructure plan to staff on Wednesday. (File photo)

He said he had continued to stick to a flatter structure in the final plan and more staff would report directly to him.

“We’ve had nine voluntary redundancies, and also within that 25 [job losses] there are some vacancies.’’

Trainor said the reaction from staff was “as expected’’.

“I think given it’s been quite a drawn out process, people were getting themselves prepared for it, but it’s not until you actually get your letter saying ‘this is the outcome for you’ that the reality really hits then,’’ he said.

“And I think that is the point when reality will hit, and we’ve got to be standing ready to ensure those people are looked after.’’

Council offices temporarily closed in March after staff were informed of the restructure.

Support was in place for those impacted with employee mental health support and counselling and wellness support on offer.

“Also we’ve got WINZ coming in next Tuesday.”

Trainor said the restructure brought changes in almost every department of the council but “some changes will be quite minor’’.

He said those staff interested in redeployment were asked to express interest in a role by Monday, unless there was automatic redeployment under the restructure.

Interviews would begin the following day, he said.

Trainor said giving people until next week to decide allowed staff time to think about what they wanted to do.

The restructure would still see changes to staffing in almost every department.

Job offers or redundancy notices would be issued by July 28 which allowed time for systems to be put in place such as payroll systems and getting payroll sorted, he said.

The new structure was expected to be in place by August 25, he said.

After the proposal was first announced, more than 200 submissions were put forward by staff, and, in May, Trainor told The Timaru Herald amendments to his original proposal had been prompted by that feedback.

On Wednesday he said the restructure was “not personal’’.

“This is not about staff as people…

“This is about the organisation looking at how they can, for want of a better word, right-size themselves to save some money that otherwise would have to be funded by ratepayers.’’

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He said the council would “lose some really good people”.

“That is also part of the process, but they need to keep their heads high because they’re valuable employees.

“I think the organisation’s responded to this process really well and I think we’ve come out the other side with a structure that will last for quite some time.

“There is absolutely no anticipation of doing this again in a long time.’’