'Meth' ministry moves: staffing data sought for four-way merger

Moves are afoot in Wellington to explore the merger of several government departments connected with urban planning. (Image: Getty)

Dileepa Fonseka

Tue, 14 Oct 2025

Work is progressing on a four-ministry merger, known by the pejorative nickname ‘Meth’, a combined agency that could create the equivalent of a New Zealand planning ministry. BusinessDesk understands that departments involved in the merger have now been asked to provide staffing information to the Public Service Commission, which will aid in planning work around how such a merger could occur.Sources aware of the requests told BusinessDesk the information requested was for staffing information that would be highly relevant to an...

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