A Ministry of Justice proposal to move provincial court collection units to cities could threaten jobs and leave regions deprived of locally experienced bailiffs and fines staff.
"It does propose to relocate some positions to better meet workloads, and there would be fewer management positions," ministry general manager of collections Bryre Patchell told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
"Our analysis shows there will be a requirement for more frontline resources in the North, and fewer resources in parts of the Central and Southern regions."
It is understood many frontline staff positions would migrate north to Auckland.
Ministry staff were told in June a formal organisational review would be undertaken.
Mr Patchell said some provincial collections units would be closed down and operations moved to city hubs under the model.
For example, the Queenstown operation would relocate to the Invercargill District Court.
The national service delivery model was shown to staff on November 3 and would "allow better flexibility and improved use of resources in providing collections services".
"The proposal is a starting point for discussion," he said.
"The review which led to this proposal was about taking a look at our business, how it has changed over time, and how we can respond to that and achieve even better results," he said.
"[It] is about achieving better service delivery for the public and using resources efficiently. It will not reduce the numberof frontline staff."
The ministry was "fully committed" to consulting staff and decisions would not be made until consultation was completed.
Final decisions were expected in the new year.
Until then, Mr Patchell said, he was unable to comment on the potential for job losses.
The proposal could leave court districts across the provincial South Island without collection units - possibly leaving a vacuum through Central Otago, Canterbury and the West Coast.
A spokesman for Courts Minister Georgina te Heuheu said she declined to comment.
"This matter is for ministry officials. The minister is aware the management of the Ministry of Justice are currently undertaking consultation with its staff," he said.
