The Public Service Commissioner says deep cuts to the public service may seem dramatic, but the problem's built up over a long time.

The Finance Minister says about 8700 staff will go by mid-2029, and most agencies' operating budgets will progressively reduce in coming years. 

Sir Brian Roche says cutting staffing down to 55,000 brings it to about one percent of the population. 

He says cuts and finding efficiencies should be more constant. 

"We only seem to reform ourselves every 30 or 40 years, we actually need to get much more cotemporary and dynamic in the way we think about organisations." 

LISTEN ABOVE

• Budget 2026: Labour hints Peters' team's reprieve from cuts could imperil $2.4b savings goal
• Willis’ public service cuts to save $2.4b, 8700 jobs to go, Govt agencies to be slashed ‘significantly’