Government ministries are on a mission to cut spending by 6.5 to 7.5 per cent before the coalition Government’s first Budget next month.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has asked all departments to look for savings to “restore discipline” to taxpayer spending.

For some agencies, cutting costs means cutting jobs – and that number is already at about a thousand roles, give or take.

Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell discusses the challenges facing our public sector as departments race to cut spending.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills