The Ministry of Youth Development is to cut its staff numbers almost in half and turn to the philanthropic and business sectors to get money for more youth to take part in programmes such as Outward Bound.

Youth Development Minister Nikki Kaye has announced the ministry will cut staff numbers from 25 to 12 to free up $1 million of its funding to use for more 'youth development opportunities,' especially for disadvantaged youth.

She expected the number of places on programmes such as the Sir Peter Blake Trust and Duke of Edinburgh Awards to increase from 50,000 to 70,000 a year. That would partly depend on help from philanthropists and the private sector and she intended a set up a 'partnership fund' with philanthropic and businesses to achieve that. That would likely take the form of a board or charitable trust. The Government would put $1 million in and seek a matching sum from those private parties to provide more opportunities for disadvantaged youth to take part in programmes.

Many of those opportunities were currently only available for those whose parents could afford it. Ms Kaye said there was a need for "more clarity and purpose" in the ministry's activities and for funding to be channelled where it would make the most difference.

Ms Kaye said it would be a big change for a small department, but currently $2.9 million was spent on operational costs by the ministry which administered $6 million for youth development programmes. "That is too much for a small agency. I guess there'll be 10 fewer officials in Wellington, but that's 10,000 more places for youth development opportunities."

She said 18 per cent of the funding was spent on disadvantaged youth and after the changes that would rise to 30 per cent. She planned to set up either a charitable trust or a board that would include the ministry and philanthropic and private interests. She said many young people who had gone off the rails and then turned their lives round credited either an adult mentor or support to do something they were good at. "We've been too relaxed as a country in investing in opportunities for young people. If they've got access to role models it makes a difference. There's a whole lot of philanthropic and private organisations in this space and we need to use that better."

The Ministry of Youth Development restructure was ongoing and the changes would be in place by April next year.