The Government has told public service organisations to cut spending.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson has announced a push to slash spending on contractors and consultants, trim programmes and limit future budget allowances.

Robertson says it'll save almost $4 billion over the next four years.

New Zealand Initiative executive director Oliver Hartwich says the Government's trying to make the books look a bit better before their pre-election fiscal and economic update.

"It's too little and too late, because just shaving 1 or 2 percent off spending is nothing in the grand scheme of things."

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